Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-04-26
A Memorable Day In the Senate.
Thursday.
I Snccial u Boston Adyertiser.

Special t. Boston Advertiser.
WtsuiSeroN, April "a. This day is one
that will ever be memorable in the parlia-
mentary history of this country, and will take
rank with those historical occasions in the old
senate when Webster, Clay and Calhoun
were there. OF Mr.. Conkling's speech to-
day it is conceded by friend and foe, demo
Gratis and republicans alike. that it is beyond
question ''the greatest effort of his life. Mr..
! Conkling. when he took the floor, found him.
self surrounded by an audience composed of
the leading public men of the nation. Mr..
! Evarts was in the front row OF the diplomatic
gallery: Secretary Sherman aud Atty Gen.
| Devens occupied seats on the outer row OF
the republican side, while on his left, among
the democrats, were Secretary Thompson,
who sat next to Mr.. Voorhees, and Secretary
Schurz. who stood few feet behind him.
Mr.. Rogers, the Presidents private secretary,
was also present. The four members of the
administration were among the most atten-
| tive listeners. Every senator was IN his seat
and all turned their faces toward the speaker
the moment he addressed the chair; and for
the three hours that he spoke, with two ex-
ccptions. they followed him with the closest
attention to the end. The exceptions were
Mr.. Beck of Ky, who, after Mr. Conkling
had been speaking for some time, apparently
experimenting from the tenor of Mr.. Conk-
ling's remarks that he was about to quote his
famous speech, and not desiring controversy
against such an antagonist, quietly rctreatcd
to the cloak room; and Mr.. GrOomc of Md.
who has seldom remained five minutes in his
seat since he became senator, and who spent
most of his time as usual in running all over
the chamber, whispering in the ears of sena-
,..r Il
ancc. In the rear of the chamber swarmcd
members of the House of Representatives.
Every sofa from the cloak room was brought
into requistion; then chairs from the com
mittec rooms, until at last cx-Sec'y Robson,
Gen. Garfield and other prominent members
of the House were compelled to take seats i'll
the area in front of the desk. The galleries
were packed so deuselv that it would have
been impossible to seat another human being
in them. In the senator's galleries ladies
filled the aisles, and even the door was open
ed so that those who could not enter might
catch the words of the orator in the corridor
beyond.
The halls and Hobbies themselves were
throngcd by disappointed hundreds who had
exhausted all means of obtaining admission.
An incident that attracted general attention
was the entrance of General Sherman while
Mr.. tOnkIing was referring 10 the rcDelllOn.
The general at first stood in the central aisle,
but few PAGES from Mr.. Conkling. but was
soon afterward escorted by Senator Davis
of Illinois, to his own seat in the front row,
while the Judge himself sat in one Of the
chairs of the Associated Press reporters, fac
ing the audience. 1t was, perhaps, unfortun-
ate that the judge should have placed himself
in this conspicuous position, for subsequently
he was the object of Conkling's kcenest
thrusts. The presence of General Sherman
too, became more marked by Mr.. Conkling's
allusion to him by name, iii connection with
his famous march "from Atlanta to the sea-
1t was four O'Clock when the speech termin-
ated, and and Mr.. Conkling appeared as fresh
and strong as when he began. For five min
utcs after he ceased speaking he held a lcvee,
senators and representatives hocking around
him and shaking hands with him. The dem
ocrats remained in their seats as if spell
bound. No one rose to reply; the argument
was unanswerabe. Tonight the great speech
is the uppermost topic of conversation every
where Mr.. lIamlin of Maine, who first be-
came senator in 1919 declares that it was the
best ever delivered in the Capitol. The dem
ocrats are now completely demoralized, and
not even their leading men have the slightest
idea of what their course will be after the
President vetoes the army bill, which lie will
certainly do