The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-04-01

THE CAPITAL.
The First Time in Eighteen Years.
WORKING MACHINERY OF
THE SENATE IN DEMO-
CRATIC HANDS. ~
WARRINGTON, March "a The Repub
hcan minority of the Senate INDUCED in
a protracted. vicious, aud pusillanmous
"squeaf' to-day before they could make
up their minds to let 60 Of the public
udder, at which they have been pulling
Justify for the past Is years and the
Democratic majority committed the biun
der OF discussing the subject, instead of
telling the. minority in plain English that
they were bypercriical, impertinent and
cheeky in asking for the retention of the
Radical Office holders of the Senate Be
cause of these discussions it took the
msjqrity all the afternoon to get the new
officers whom they had elected sworn in :.
and the Republicans hal On opportuni-
ty, which. they, of course, improved, Of
giving tue msjority several clever thrusts
on the subject of civil service reform,
aud of resurrecting once more the hide
Gus cadaver of the rebellion. The open
ing squall was vented by Anthony, the
solemn yisaged conno;sseur OF terrapin
from Rhode Island. Wallace had offered
a simple resolution that the Senate pro,
coed to elect Secretary, Serge ant-at.
Arms. Chief Clerk. Chief Executive Clerk
and Chaplain. Everybody knew that
the resolution meant simply the ratifica
| ton of the Democratic caucus nemina-
tions. Everybody knew that the Demo.
Gratis proposed to. follow the precedent
invariably. set bv the Republican party,
ard to elecG officers in accord with the
principles of the Democratic majority,
which is now responsible for the iegisls
lion of the Senate as well as Of the
House. Every body was astonished, ex-
cept the initiated, when ANTHONY, the
champion eulogist of the Senate proceed
ed to eulogize the political officers about
to be deposed, and TO plead for their re-
tention It was evident that be had care.
fully prepared his eulogy, and had com
mitted it to memory. He had looked
upon the list of Senate officers from the
beginning until now. He had the years
OF their service at his tongues end, and
with tears in his eyes he recounted the
history. of the good old days. and la.
mented the sacrilege which hefeared was
about to be committed Then he eulo
gized the unfortunate officials who, after
living for eighteen years on Republican
pap, must now go out into the world and
earn their Lying like other folks; while
they poor gentlemen !-sat all in row
With the corners of their mouths drawn
down,and blinked with satisfaction, while
Anthony plastered on the soft soap to
their very faces. 1t was disgusting ex
hibition of hypocritical cant, feebly re
echoed by the aged Hamlin. The Dem,
ocrats ought to have dropped the matter
there, simply reminding the Republicans
of their impertinent cheek, and depreca-
ting the anguish it gave them to give up
the Offices; but Bsyard was indignant,
and could not resist the temptation to
read, the Republicans a little lecture on
their practice versus their preaching, in
the course Of which he arraiened Secre-
ltary Gorham pretty sharply for his po-
litical work for the Republican party.
and especially for the circulars he signed
and sent out, levying tax on the Office
holders in the public service for the ben.
eft of the Republican party.
This gave Conkling chance to de-
fend the official ability of the Senate Of
ficers, and also to ring the changes in
the vacancies made in 1851 by the re
bellion. Conkling was In good trim,
and made some keen thrnsts at the ok.
pense of Democratic consistency; bul
after Bavard had spoken again Beck
took the wind all out of Conkling's sails
by saying plumply what should have
been said earlier, that the majority we're
responsible for the legislation of the
Senate, and proposed to have officers in
sympathy with them, and did not pro-
pose to tolerate Republican interference
in the matter Voorhees, made a good
speech in the same vein, aud Blaine and
Ben Hill had little legal tilt, in which,
as usual when Blaine strikes law, the
Maine statesman was all at sea, and go'
badly used up. At last, however, after
a stormy debate, vote was reached, and
Colonel Burch, of Tennessee, was cho
sen Secretary, and was escorted into The
presence of the Vice President and
sworn into his new Office The las
words Of the solemn form died away
and for the first time in eighteen years .
Democrat took his seat as Secretary o.
the Senate The clouds which had beer
lowering above the Capital all day sud
denly lifted, and wave of sunligh
4 doated down through the beautiful stain
ed glass ceiling OF the Senate chamber
4 A murmur of approbatlon ran through
the great audience assembled at natures
beautiful smile, which seemed an omel
of good portent, and an augury of ,
true and perfect reconciliation between
the erstwhile contending sections TIL,
other officers nominated by the caucu
we're sworn in without trouble, and to
nighi the Senate Is differed by Demo
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