Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-04-27
CONGRESSIONAL.
ESPECIAL BY TELEGRAPH TO THE REcoRD-uNIo,
Senate.

senate.
WASHINGTON, April 26th-Atter the morning
hour the Senate considered the Kellogg-Spofford
case.
Jonas supported Spofford's claim, and said il the
Packard Legislature was legal that he (Jonas) was
not entitled to seat, proposition nobody would
care to advance. He denied that there had been
any bargain in seating Butler He charged most of
the Louisiana troubles on Kellogg. Louisiana was
now peaceable law-abiding State, and prosperous.
Blaine characterized the resolution as astounding.
The Republican party were charged with sectional
legislation yet the sixteen States lately in rebellion
had thirty out of thrty-two Senators on this floor
from the Democratic party, and of the two Republi-
cans both had seen Democratic successors chosen.
Yet so intolerant these men that they could
not permit the honorable understanding made on
this floor TO be carried out. He declared that the
agreement was thoroughly understood. That all
senators and the country know Butler could not
have been seated except Kellogg had been seated at
the same time. He argued that Keogg's claim
was far superior to Buffers. He hoped the country
would understand this intolerance.
Kellogg briefly contradieted Jonas statements.
Butler asked if 81 line asserted that he made any
agreement by which he retained a seat here.
Blaine said he had not referred to Butler, because
he was then member of the Senate, but paper in
Buffers State-a Democratic paper-had said
the agreement by which butler alone obtained his
seat was honorably binding upon the Democrats.
Bailey asked what this binding agreement was
Was Blaine party toitI Does he agree to admit
as member any man not elected? Did he or any
member make Sucn an agreement! so TAR as ne was
acquainted with Senators, no agreement was made
to that effect He would not believe that upon the
other side OF the chamber could be found men SO
lost to honor and duty as to make such an agree
ment.
Bayard said that the charge of Blaine was so sur
prsing that perhaps he did not hear it all. There
might be some qualifying phrase. He asked in
consideration of the gravity OF the charge that the
words of the Senator be read.
The stenographer read the clause in which Blaine
used the words ' honorable agreement"
Bayard referredto the poor authority given by
Blaine in support of the theory that such agree
ment existed. He then proceeded to deny in the
most complete way that Kellogg was seated as a re-
suit of any barga IL, or in any way except with ad-
verse votes-all Democrats. He scornfully denied
Baines assertion, and said rather than have been
party to the alleged agreement he would have left
the Senate forever
Applause greeted his speech.
Blaine said he absent for two months at the
time alluded to, but read from the Charleston NetCs
and Courier full extracts of the Congressional re-
cord Of proceedings by which Butler and Kellogg
were seated There no use of ignoring the plain
fact that two Standardization and Conover-
then held the balance of power and it is well known
that they would not have voted to seat Butler I'M
less at the same time Kellogg was seated on his
merits. Blaine declared that kelloggs was the only
instance where a Senator seated by yea and nay
vote had been overthrow on the merits OF the
brought in question afteryard.
Butler (interrupting) said the same was done in
his case.
Blaine declared that was prima facie case, but
Butler denied it.
Butler admitted, however, in the course of the
cooQuy with Blaine, that the resolution seating
Kellogg contained the word merits, which was
used i'll his case.
Blaine said that was the whole difference.
Cameron OF Wisconsin said Butler was certainly
sworn in a prima facie case, and it had neve
been held that a.Senator thus admitted should have
his title questioned.
Blaine declared that the Congressional Record
plainly Indicted the existence of understanding,
although it could not be expressed in many words.
Hill of Georgia denied the arrangement. and said
the insertion Of the word "merits was a trap to
bring about this very discussion
Hoar said Merriman, Democrat, inserted that
word.
Blaine said the fact of the bargain established
He referred to the supposed Democratic plan to
have an absolutely solid South in the Chamber, but
said of course that would influence
Kellogg said he made no bargain. He rested his
claim right and justice.
Adjourned