Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-03-25

denounce the proposed amendment OF
the laws as compromise and surrender
of the political advantage they now en-.
joy in having exclusive party control OF
election machinery. While no one
doubts that Mr.. Hayes will approve
of the proposition adopted today,
which was in reality prepared by Gen.
Garfield and shrewdly accepted by the
Democrats, il is believed the Republ-
can leaders of the Senate will make an
intensely bitter fight in opposition to it,
There is, however, favorable prospect
that the Democrats will carry their
point and essentially modify the parti
san character of existing election laws.
After occupying the best part of three
days in considering the case of Sim
mons, the Georgia census supervisor,
the Senate rejected his nomination by a
vote of twenty. to ten. Seven Re.
publicans only voted TO confirm, Sena-
tors Eaton and Hill were the only dem
ocrats in the affirmative, and Judge
Davis made the tenth man ON that side.
Among the Republicans opposed to
Simmons, several of whom, however,
were paired and did not vote, were Don
Cameron, Jones of Nevada, Blaine,
and the colored Senator, Bruce, of Mis-.
sissippi. Senator Hill made probably
the longest speech he has delivered
since his entrance into the Senate in ia.
vor of Simmons, going thoroughly over
the whole history of Simmons, and
making the argument that it would be
most disastrous TO the Democratic party
in Georgia and in the country ut large
if he should be rejected. lie said his
colleague General Gordon) would one
day regret more than any other act Of
his life his action against Simmons
General Gordon, in opposing the con
firmation Of Simmons, did not speak
more than a half hour, replying briefly
to the statements made ty his col.
league. lie took the view that the con.
flrmaton or rejection Of census super.
visor in one State was not A question of
national Importance. lie did not think
the people of the North made pets OF
men like Simmons, who only vaunted
their loyalty when they had claims to
get through or offices to seek. His
efforts were mainly directed to show
that Simmons was unfit for the position,
not only as q blind partisan, but as p
malicious defumcr of his own people,
and of a character unworthy of respect.
Mr.. Blaine made quite humorous
speech. lie said Simmons had
established, beyond any doubt, in
his letter 10 the President asking for
the appoin ntment, that he was firm
and unflinching republican, and in his
subsequent letters and declarations,
seeking confirmation at the hands of
the Senate, that he was red.h and
uncompromising democrat. Further
than this, he had proved himself to
have been an unwavering loyalist and
an enthusiastic Confederate. III regret"
said Mr.. Blaine, THAT | have not two
votes. for then | would take great pleas.
ure in giving one TO confirm this devot-
ed unionist and this sincere republican,
and equal satisfaction in giving the
other TO reject this active rebel and
this ardent democrat. As, unfortunate.
ly have but one vote, think it per.
haps best / should not cast it at all. ="
Afterwards, however, Mr.. Blaine voted
in the affirmative, TO make n quorum.
Several other reflections of census sh.
pervisors were effected by strict party
votes, and after very little discussion
concerning them, the dominant major.
ity basing its action upon the same
ground that was taken in the Ohio
cases viz, that the appointments in
question should have been accorded to
the democracy, in order to comply
with the non partisan spirit of the cen.
sus law and with the understanding as
to n fair division of the census supervi.
sorships when the law was enacted.
II is proper now to give bit Of inside
history in connection with the mooted
retirement OF Justice Hunt from the
bench of the Supreme Court some
months since. aud the proposed ap-
pointment OF Senator Edmuuds to fill
the place. Justice Hunt had, in view
Of his physical infirmities, concluded to
resign, and on it being communicated
to Senator Edmunds that the. place
would be at his disposal, he, after due
consideration, concluded to accept II.
There is no question that the State of
Vermont will continue Mr.. Edmunds in
the Senate as long az he lives, IL he de.
sires, and the point to be considered by
him was whether life tenure ia the
Senate or on the bench of the Supreme
Court was the more desirable. He de-
cidad in favor of tha Iattap moi IA 10