The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-03-24
BEN HILL AND MAHONF.

The scene in the Senate chamber
at Washington ON the fourteenth, is
described as the most exciting that
has transpired there for many years.
The Democrats had vainly tried to
force a vote upon the list of commit
tees prepared by them in order to
put all the machinery of the Senate
in condition to act upon nomina-
tions for Office, which is the chief
business of the special session. Back
of this was also a general desire on
their part that Malone should be
compelled by vote to show exactly
where he stands politically. The Re-
publicans refused to allow a vote un-
less two Democrats would consent
to refrain from voting, so as to offset
two vacancies on. the Republican
side. After elaborate explanations
and defense of the Democratic posi-
ton on the question of organization,
the Republicans put out feeler for
Malone by moving to go into exc
cutive session. The Democrats voted
solidly against it, and Malone voted
with the Republicans. The first
open indication of his decision to
join with them on the organization
was received with applause and con-
gratulations on the Republican side
of the chamber. A Washington
special thus describes the scene:
"Conkling replied to Pendleton
and Bayard, and Hill of Georgia,
followed, in speech that will never
be forgotten by those who heard it.
Denying the Republican claim that
if their seats were filed they would
have a numerical majority of the
Senate, Hill proceeded to denounce
in the severest language any Demo-
crat who could be guilty of such
base treachery as that claim implied.
He held up to the scorn and con-
tempt of the Republicans themselves
any man who would be guilty of
such an act, and asserted that no
such man could be found in the Sen
ate. During HilPs remarks, the eX-
citement of the great crowd in the
galleries had its counterpart in the
throng of privileged persons who
occupied all the standing room in
the rear of the outer row of
senators. His burning words
appeared to sink like live Goals into
the unnamed but well known vic
tim of his invective, and hundreds
of curious eyes sought out the new
Virginian Senator and watched his
slightest movement. Presently the
little form of Malone, clothed in his
peculiar garb of pantaloons tight
legged and pleated vertically in
front, a trock coat, rather closely cut
sleeves, and his wrists ornamented
with rufned cuffs, came quickly for
ward. Straightway the new sena-
torial "What is 1t" addressed him
self to the Georgia Senator, his
small, sharp eyes flashing with anger
and his long grayish beard tanning
his white shirtfront as he delivered
spiritedsreply to the inuendoes
and abusive references to himself.
His appearance and his speech pro-
duced great sensation. not word
was lost and often he was interrupt
ed by deafening applause on the Re-
publican. side as well as in the CALLER
les. Hill replied, and Logan and Hoar
took up the defense of Malone, but
Hill persisted in repeating again and
again the denunciatlons previously
uttered, and declared that his only
purpose was o..save Mahone.from'the
deep disgrace into which the Re
publicans designed to lead him.
Mahone's forbearance finally gave
way. He warned Hill that he should
hold him responsible. Finally, other
senators participated in the discus
sion, and after the Democrats had
gone far enough to develop Mahone's
purpose, and put the Republicans
on record as filibustering against
the organization of the committees,
the subject was allowed TO 90 over.