Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-28
COMBINES GREAT SPEECH.

COMBINES GREAT SPEECH.
The Most Telling Argument of the Pres
emf Senate Observation-Disclosures
Covved and Bourbens 81.
fenced.
Correspondence Chicago Times. |
Washington. April 24.-When Nj. Conk.
ling arose this afternoon, in accordance with
the previously-announced programme, he
was greeted by an audience that was an
honor to any intelligent, however polished,
and to any position, however great or COM
manding. The tremendous success OF his
three hours Grafton is not equaled by any
thing that has taken place in the political
debate of this session. For three hours his
vast audience waited, listened and followed
his every word in such a perfect quiet of at
tention that his audience seemed statuesque
in admiration for every sentence of keen
satire, excellent logic, humor and sense that
came from his lips as easily as breathes the
summer wind. 1t was q rare occasion for
even the scenic senate. The audience and
the occasion were remarkable, but no more
remarkable and worthy of it than the brill
liant speech itself. Whether friend or foe,
there is but one opinion, and that is that
this is the masterpiece Of the republican
side, and the great speech, so far as mere
intellectual effort goes. of the whole debate.
During the hour that preceded l o'clock no
one paid any attention to the proceedings.
There was some discussion upon the demo-
cratic propositions to change the rules, but
there was no real interest displayed. Every
one sighed with relief when l o'clock came,
on1 TnnLIn~ ~,;ot1v ~oco - L. ..-A--S
glanced about him with an air Of ease and
confidence that belongs to the orator who
has his audience.
hearsed preparatory to the final effort. Upon
the desk in front Of him rested a very mod
est pile of manuscript. The beginning Ger.
tainly was originally unexpected, and SC
effective that it called at once for Interrupt
ton. Mr.. Conkling held in his hand a
sheet of paper, upon which were figures
taken from the internal revenue reports.
Briefly, these showed that of the two hun
dred and thirty-odd millions collected I'M
der the internal revenue laws for the sup.
port of the government two hundred and
twenty-odd millions were paid by the states
who remained loyal to the union. OF the
eleven states who rebelled, Virginia paid
100000 in the shape of a tobacco tax,
leaving seven.odd millions to be borne
by the fraction of the country once
known as the southern confederacy.
Conkling simply read these figures to indi-
cate what real proportion the south had in
the support of the government and how lit
tie the south as a section was entitled to con-
sideration in it's claim to the control OF the
government itself. The figures told such an
story that they brought Ben Hill
10 his feet and he sought to interrupt. Conk-
ling, thus stopped upon the very threshold
Of his talk, said that he had simply stated
from the official record, and, if the
senator thought two could state
them better than one, why, of course, he
must yield. Mr.. Hill asserted his belief in
being able to make a better statement. Then
Mr.. Conkling bowed icily and said that,
under the circumstances he would yield,
but, as Hill started out to make a speech to
explain the figures, instead of %impuguing
their correctness, Conkling closed him out,
declining peremptorily to yield. Then Conk-
ling took up the story Of the figures and
showed him they had been even reduced
for the southern portion by the reduction of
the tobacco tax, almost the only thing paid
by the south. Taking this subject of the
money, Nj. Conkling proceeded to
ask how it was to be used. The people who
paid it were certainly the ones to be con-
suited in its expenditure. The constitution
requires that it shall be expended only un-
der appropriations. To make these appro-
priations is obligatory upon congress. To
refuse is to commit treason-to rise up at
once in rebellion. Such refusal to obey
plain duties would, Mr.. Conkling said, rem
der the president or any occupant of a fed
Congress was only improbable at the bar
out with perfect clearness, while his manner
had not yet risen above the plain recitation.
1t was the prologue only to the passionate
play that followed. Mr.. Conkling proceed.
ed easily to the discussion of another con
stitutional feature Of the question, and that
was that the president had the undoubted
right to call u the militia to suppress do,
nestle violence, and the legislation that had
been since passed upon the subject was only
specifying plain powers given BY the consti.
tuition. Here Mr.. Conkling caused SOM
of the statutes to be read. He intro
duced the novel feature of asking
a brother senator to read for him
ingalls,, In solemn black with . huge. white
cravat. was Mr.. Conkling's assistant. In
gals intoned the sections and made tht
most Of his opportunity 10 being enabled
to shine feebly in such great COMPANY
When these statutes we're read Mr.. Conk
ling earnestly asked ifthere was any specia
reason why any day should be set apart q,
sacred to violence-t0 say upon an election
day the president should be powerless I,
suppress outrageous infrsctions of law. HI
(Mr. Conkline) had heard that the repeal o
the federal election laws had been urge,
upon the plea Of economy. He smiled
savagely s~atirical smile at this idea. II
spoke Of the millions that had been poure,
out like water In the maintenance Of tn
integrity Of the union, and was the countr
to falter now over the 100000 necessar
for the preservation of the purity Of its elet
tionsi why" said MI. Conkling. with
keen sarcasm that made each jobbing sent
tor vince % II slapped IL the face, "ever
year there 10 appropriated enough In ths
se@@as #