The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-03-31
The Senatorial Contest.

temperature On last Friday when the
subject came up Senator Johnston, allu-
ding to a remark made by Senator Hoar
to the effect that the proposition of the
Democrats to tilibuster against the reso-
luton was reasonable, suggested that
some Eastern college should confer on
that gentleman the degrees Of which DR..
Pangloss was so proud, LII. D., A. S. S.
Laughter. The Republican party had
kept the North solid by declarations that
the South was in favor of repudiating the
public debt, and that the only way to
strangle the doctrine of Reputation was
to keep the North solid against the South.
It was great revolution which saw the
Republican party in caucus nominate for
one of the highest Offices of the Senate
Democrat and Repudiationist, man
who would be only petty lawyer but for
the prominence given him by his repu-
dating opinions. He Johnston wanted
to see whether the Senator from Ohio
(Sherman), who had 80 builded up the
credit of the United States, would vote
for Riddlebarger. He proceeded to give
a brief record of the public acts of Ma
hone and Riddlebarger, to show that they
were Democrats and Repudiators, and in
reply to suggestion by Dawes that his
colleague (Mahone) was sick and absent,
said that he was willing to postpone his
speech if Senator Dawes would postpone
his resolution, an agreement which Sen
ator- Dawes declined to make.
Senator Logan inquired what effect the
election of a Sergeant-at-Arms could
have upon the public credit.
Senator Johnston replied that if the
Republicans elected man they endorsed
his public life and career. He quoted
from editorials in prominent Republican
journals strongly condemnatory of the
"Riddlebarger" bill. Amongst the ex-
tracts was one from the Providence Jour-
nal, paper partly owned by Senator
Anthony, stating that the Republican
party could not consistently and honestly
ally itself with the Reputation party of
Virginia.
Senator Hawley, Senator Anthony not
being present, called attention to the
fact that although the paper partly be-
longed to Senator Anthony, it did not
follow that he had written a word of that
editorial.
Senator Johnston: "Don't you believe
they are his sentiments"
Senator Hawley "I don't know. They
are very nearly mine, if there is any
comfort about that"
Senator Logan inquired whether Sen.
ator Johnston's proposition was that be-
cause the Republicans elected Riddle.
barger they endorsed his sentiments, and
was answered in the affirmative.
Senator Logan: 'Riddlebarger was an
officer in the Confederate army. Will
the Senator pretend to argue that. be-.
cause this side intend to elect him, it
therefore endorses rebellion? Will he
pretend that because Gen. Longstreet is
Minister to Turkey, appointed by Re-
publican President, the Republican party
endorsed the treason of Longstreet in
former years I"
Senator Johnston: "The war is over.
Gen. Longstreet has repented very hum
bly, of his sins, and, when man does
that, you take him to your bosoms; but
the war is over, and there is no question
of secession or rebellion before the coun-
try. But the question of public faita
and credit is before the country, and,
when you endorse man on those points,
you endorse him on living question"
Senator Johnston then proceeded to
describe the improved condition of Vir-
ginia under the control of the party
called "Bourbons," and at the conclusion
of his speech a motion to 60 into Exec
utive session was made by Senator Pen
dleton, but was defeated, yeas 20, nays
20. 80.
Subsequently Senator Brown, of Geor-
eia, obtained the floor and commented
on the great hardship and injustice which
would be done to the present officers of
the Senate and their subordinates by the
election of new officers. This question
had been made one of endurance by the
Republican side; one as TO whether the
special session should extend till the first
Monday in December. The Democratic
side, he said, was ready to go into Exec
utive session at any moment and do the
business which the Republican President
had called the Senate together to do.
There were large number of important
nominations before the Senate, why
would not the Republicans confirm them ?
Because they thought it was more i'm
portant to stay here and elect Secre-
tary of the Senate and Sergeant-at.Arms
by turning out the little remaining hand.
full of Democrats. If they choose to
make that issue, he was not afraid to