Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-05
The Deadlock in the Senate

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Our Washington dispatches this morn
ing that the Republican Sena-
tors, In caucus yesterday, determined to
continue the fight in the Senate over the
election of officers. including Riddleber-
ger, indefinitely. This simply means q
prolonged session Of the Senate, for the
Democrats are able to resist indefinitely,
aud having taken their position. cannot
very well surrender.
In this conflict the Democrats are
clearly IN the right. In the first place
the Senate was convened by the Presi-
dent for a special purpose, viz: consid-
ering nominations to Office by the execu-
tive. To do this properly it was neces-
sary that the committees be organized,
and though the Democrats clearly had q
msiority elect in the body when it
was known that Hon. David Davis
would vote with them, as DON as
it was ascertained that their ma
jority had been changed to a minority
through the purchase Of Malone, they
Immediately a%cquiesced, and raised no
objection to the status of the committees.
This done, the Senate was organized for
the purpose for which it was convened,
and there was no necessity whatever for
any delay. The Republicans, however,
were so greedy for the spoils that they
determined to possess themselves of
them Immediately, even at the expense
of the public welfare. The Demo
Gratis insisted that the regular work
of the special session should be
transacted; that, as the officers of the
Senate had anticipated holding their po-
s%itions, and would lose them only
through the Malone detection, and as
there was neither necessity nor fitness
in making a change just now, it was
equitable and right that they should hold
on until the regular session, when their
successors could be regularly elected.
In the next place, the Democrats are
right, and will receive the Endorsement
therefor of the conservative element of
the Republican party in the North, in
their special fight against reputation
and Mahone's lieutenant Riddleberger.
He, like his leader, has always been a
Democrat, and has only affiliated with
the Republican party for the purpose of
being strengthened in his plans for
effecting a reputation Of a por-
ton of the debt of Virginia.
To rebuke the shameful coalition
between the Republicans and the repu-
diationists, and to cripple the latter as
far as they may do so, the Democrats
have persisted in their present position.
They will, therefore, not only do them
selves good by making a record for
themselves as advocates Of honesty, but
they will, as we have said, gain the con-
idence of the best elements of the Re-
publican party in the North, for. as the
debt of Virginia is largely owed in the
North, it will be to the interest Of the
creditors Of that State that the coalition
with Malone be defeated if possible.
Fol- these reasons the Democrats of
the Senate will be rs persistent and
obstinate as the Republicans, and at this
time no one can tell when the conflict
will end, and the work Of the Senate be
proceeded with. The result will be
probably that, from some unforeseen
causes, some one Senator from one or
the other party will be unable
to appear in his seat, and then the party
in the majority will carry their point.
This is about the only solution of the
difficulty which we can at present fore
see. In any event, the country will be
glad when the wraugle is over, and the
real work of the session, and perhaps
the most important conflict which can
occur-that between the stalwarts and
the administration-is begun.