The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-04-13

Wlsu.xnra.. A.,.,l

,Cn motion oi MIR. Vance resolution was
ADOPTED calling on the Secretary of the
/ Navy Tor Information as TO what alterations
nave been made In the relative rank Of
graduates Of the Naval. Academy as origi.
nally established.
On motion o! Mr.. Burnside resolution
was adopted requesting the President 10
communicate to the Senate any information
10 possession OF the Government touching
me ALLEGED arrest and imprisonment OF
Mtcbae' Boyton, who claims 10 be citizen
OF the United States, by the Government OF
Great Britain.
The Nice-Prcsident laid before the Senate
The unfinished business, resolution for
Tie election Of Senate officers. and the usual
motion to go into executive session was
Withdrawn at The request OF Mr.. Dawes.
The motion was Withdrawn because II
persisted In II would have necessitaled the
call OF the Senate, there being at the time
no quorum PRESENT.
Mr.. Beck then took the Aoor, stating that
he would not detain the Senate as long as
he had originally intended, but would con-
fine his remarks TO the subject directly I'M
der consideration. The Republicans had
said, he continued, that the Senate should
not go into executive session because they
had held caucus and had determined TO
turn out the officers now holding places and
Install Others, and that the Democrats were
| guilty OF treason and revolution unless they
acquiesced in everything. The Democrats
HAD replied: Yoh have organized the Senate.
| \ OIL have the power over all committees. We
have surrendered everything that tends to
the convenience and comfort OF senators, but
when you present 10 us the list OF names for
officers. and among them that OF a man from
Virginia who wa, at the head and front OF
reputation in that State, we do not propose
TO 60 any further. He was not going to say
the Republicans were doing this because of
a corrupt bargain, or because he did not in
tend TO make the Senate chamber beer
garden, but the country at large bad strong
suspicious that the alliance was a foul
one. The leading Republican press OF the
country had charged ii in terms so
offensive that when the Senator (Mr.
Voorheos) had had an extract from Re-
publican paper read The danger OF per-
sOnal responsibility bad been threatened.
He referred 10 facts which tended 10 show
that there had been bargain, emphasizing
the fact that Malone had been placed on
committees which would give him the
greatest Influence with the people OF Vir-
GINA, while he had avoided expressing an
opinion here when the virginia election
came on. As the Senator from Massachusetts,
|
until December. he would invite tina. Sena.
tor 10 pair with him and 20 there in Septem-
Der and October. He Or. Beck would tell
the people. what he could DOT decOrOUsly do
here. what he thought was the meaning,
purpose, and intent OF all this action. The
senators might as well spend their time can
wasting in Virginia as quarrelllng in this
chamber. Whether the action OF the Dem
Ocrais was revolutionary or not depended
on this fact II they believed that the Re-
publicans had entered into corrupt bar
gain and were seeking TO carry it out, ought
! the Democrats not II resist the cousumma-
ton Of that bargain by every means IN
their power? Could anything be more
dangerous than legislation organized
by corruption Were the Democrats
right in assuming that the bargain was
a corrupt one: II so, they could
go before any community in America and
say that they had prevented the con-
summation Of that bargain, and the
answer would be, Well done, thou
had not done right, they would be
held responsible. They would take that
risk on the facts, and would discuss them
with the Republicans anywhere in Virginia
or elsewhere. He proceeded to argue that
there could be no constitutional majority
where there was no constitutional quorum,
and called attention 10 the fact that il the
Democrats should 90 home there would be
but IS Republicans eft-less than quo
rum; so that the Democrats were relied
upon TO help them coDsummate the bargain.
The Democrats did not intend to do so and
TO allow the honor OF the old Common
wealth Of Virginia TO pass into the hands
OF the worst elements OF Virginia society.
The men OF Virginia who were resisting
the Readjusters were men who had been
standing up for free vote. fair count, and
an honest payment OF The debt.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Beck's remarks
Mr.. Pugh took the floor. and stated that his
objection to the pending resolution was be-
cause of his belief it had lis origin in a co.
alition OF questionable origin. III Demo-
cratic senators were to submit to the adop-
ton OF the resolution in the face OF the
announcement that the patronage OF the
South was 10 lie used to dissolve the
solid South they would dishOnOr them.
selves and forfeit the respect and
confidence of their constituents. Tbs
attempt to destroy the solid South would
only cry>taze its solidity by purging ii OF
traitors 10 the race and party and make IL
| eager to Illustrate such plans and diSlppoint
such expectations. The solid South would
never be disintegrated by any movement or
policy founded on the distrust and hatred Of
the whites and an intent to make the negro
! the do inant race in that section.
Mr.. Saunders argued briefly in support OF
the doctrine that the majority should have
| the right to elect the officers OF the Senate,
and pointed out the dangers that might at
tend the contrary doctrine that the majority
should be subiect to the will OF the inoriiy.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Saunders's
| speech, motion made by Mr.. Pendleton TO
20 into executive session was lost-yeas,
2O nays, 30. Several rolhcalls followed,
and Mr.. PendletOn then took the floor,
but stating he would prefer to proceed with
his speech tomorrow, he yielded TO hr.
Dawes, on whose motion the Senate adj