New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-19
THE FIGHT IN THE SENATE.

FOR HEARING AND THE SUBSEQUENT TEST
OF MOUNTAINEERING THE LIE.
10y TELEGRAPH 10 THR rRiBuNE.I
V4sIuNGToS. june 1S.-Alr Beck slipped his
uuzzc of to-day, and opened the debate upon tue
Army bill with long, disconnected, irrelevant
political speech. Since the Army bill hrSt came
into sight Senator Blaine has repeatedly challenged
ANY Democratic Senator to refer 10 single we'll
authenticated instance where qualified voter has
been deprived of his right to vote by reason OF
tle presence of United States troops at
tbe polls. This challenge has always been
coupled with the assertion that thousands upon
Thousands of American citizens have been, on the
other hand, deferred from voting by the presence
Of armed ruilans at the polls. in support Of which
assertion many official documents could be pro-
duced THIS challenge and It's accompaniment have
been exceedingly troublesome to the Democrats.
and number of Democratic Senators have at differ
euttimes essayed TO wrestle with it, always, how
ever coming to grief.
The Senator from Kentucky prepared himself to-
day with great care, and fortified himself with
large pile of newspapers and records. to demolsh
the troublesome obstruction which Mr.. Blaine had
erected in his political path. Mr.. Beck's ma
terials were wholly drawn from events
which occurred in his own State in an
election which took place in August, 1865 Even if,
tlev had been convincing in themselves they were
presented in a tumble in such shape to carry
weight at all owing to the Senator's unfortunate
manner of mixing personal opinions, vltupeTation,
apologies, retractiOns and explanations all up to-
gcther. After charging upon these events for an
hour and half, and mixing in with them incident
ally almost every topic which has been referred to
in the political debates of the last three months be
gave way.
Senator Blaine made characteristic speech In re-
ply occupying about an hour and as usual, distrIb-
uting bis attentions very generally over the Demo-
cratic side of The chamber. He showed, in reply to
Mr. Beck, that there martial law in Kentucky in
1868, and that her quota in the rebel Army had
then Just returned home. The arrests of which Mr..
Beck had complained were made by order of Cen
era Palmer who acted in compliance with requests
of Governor Bramlett. the Executive of the state.
Turning to Senator Voorhees,. Mr.. Blaine
ridlculed the story told by the two Indiana
Senators Yesterday, that Massachusetts, regiment,
at an election during the war, had surrounded the
polls III Indianapolis, without arms and driven
away the Democrats who attempted to vote
there. Mr.. Blaine said he had referred to the
records since last night and was surprised to find
that on the occasion of that alleged outrage
heavier Democratic vote had been cast in
the City of indianapolis than had ever been poled
previous TO that time Mr. Blaine then took up
the story OF the IttcThDuIE tltCiiOu Ou Nllcu oC-
casion. according to Mr.. Withers VrginiaDs had
been outraged and inundated to such an
extent that many Of them had not ventuIed
10 approach the polls. He showed that every
soldier remained all day In the Custom
House, a long distance from the polling-place
MI Blaine then introduced the subject of South
ern school literature. lie showed that literature of
anovel character exists by producing copy OF
new work just from the press, of which the author
was a distinguished teacher in Texas, the book
itsclfbeng entitled The Southern Students Hand
Book of Selections for Reading and Oratory." Mir.
Blaine, in his mimitable style of running COM
mcntary read the list Of authors from whose
speeches or writings selections had been made, and
emphasized the fact which he pointed out that ov-
ey selection contained in the book had been taken
from the period of the rebellion. Nothing, he said,
from the pens or the lips of eminent Southerners of
other DAYS or from the great lights of literature
from other lands had been found worthy of place
IN this work.
y Senator voorhees, then made q speech of two
L hours in length, carefully prepared and designed
exclusively for circulation in country districts as
1 8 campaign document. He set up men of straw and
with tremendous force tilted at them until
II their remnants were scattered by tho wbrlwinds
i which his own stormy cloquence created. He
asceuded above the mountain tops for his
4 metaphors and descended to the lower depths for
bis terms OF kissing reprosch.
1 AtG o'clock Senator Conklng called attention to
the TACT that Senator Beck and Senator Voorhees,
had consumed the greater part Of the day. and that
several Republican Senators wished to make
i Speeches upon the Army bill. He expressed the
| Lare that night session would not be forced upon
| Tie Senate, and he moved to adjourn.
1 M. Withers, in charge of the BILL expressed his
I Willingness 70 adjourn if unanimous consent could
4 BE- given to take vote at same fixed hour to-
Il morrow.
l 10 this proposition Senator Conkling said he
/ would not assent, and threatened that If such an
Il unfair procedure should be attempted the Republic
1 eaus would stand upon their reserved rights.
i HhbnTcring thercupon began. and scene Of
e'liusion, of roll-cas and points of order. OF de-
VISIONS and appeals, and more points of order fol-
""'Ng IL rapid succession, continued for hours.
Alter spending half tie night in flbusterinP,
senator Conkiing, at midnight made one of the
must Sca'hing ariaimmcuts Of the Democracy for
4 '''''ay ana unfair treatment ever heard Ia the
.~.t' II created immense excitement. Incl
0.D'' reference was made to Mr, Lamar.
i'''ei arose and denounced the statement as
tia.sehood
| '''' No'EAng replied as follows: al have only
N' 'ual Il The member from Mississippi imputed
me falsehood. nothing except the fact this the
-''' u tle United States prevents me from de-
-N''ng MN as blsckguard and coward Let me
'sU'clnc' Should themcmberfr from Mississippi
80, 80 iaisehood to me, nothing except this pres
H. '"ouia prevent me from denOuncng him as a
'1suaf0' as coward and liar; and under
---i1g what he said as do, the rules and the
'''eOes ol the Senate the only restraints