Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-03-18

Last Friday the Democrats in the United
States Senate, taking advantage of the four
vacant Seats soon to be filled by Republicans,
attempted to elect the standing committees
and organize and control the Senate. ALVEY
contest arose, and the Republicans finally
succeeded in having final action put over.
When the matter came up on Monday, one
of the most remarkable scenes arose which
has been witnessed in the Senate in the last
twenty years, the chief feature of which was
Ben Hills abuse of the new senator, Malone
of Virginia, because of the latter's supposed
intention to vote with the Republicans, and
Mr.. Mahones reply. An account of this ex-
citing scene says:
The speechmaking begun by Senators Bayard
and Pendleton who vindcated the Democratic course
in attempting to appoint the committees necessary to
the proper carrying Of the work Of the extra ses-
sion. Then Senator Conkling, in a thirty minute
Speech contrved to expose all the weak points OF the
Democratic position, and to insinuate all the ques-
tionabe motives their conduct suggested possible,
while protesting all the time that he insnuAted moth
ing Senator Hill Of Georgia followed with an nso-
lent bullying speech in which, plainly referring to
Mr.. Malone and wildly shreking and gesticulating,
he scathingly denounced any Democrat who would
prove false to his constituents by voting with the Re-
publcans insisting that Mr.. Conkling was mistaken
in saying there such unworthy person in that
chamber. This brought the senator from Virginia to
his feet, and in few words, addressed directly to
Hill, he said he did not recognize Hills title to speak
for the Democratic party did he anything Of
allegiance or favor to that kind Of demooracy-the
Bourbon Democracy-for which alone Hill spoke. He
his own man and not their man, and he would
take care to be true to the Uhe djusters who
sent him to the Senate but he would not be instruct
In tba q f.gt
elected to the constitutional convention Of his state
Union man, voted in favor Of secession Hill took
the floor again, and made a sorry exhibition Of him
self in attempt to reassert his condemnation but
Malone was now thoroughly aroused, and, as soon
Hill approached anything like personal imputaton
upon him, he interrupted him with prompt demand
to know bis meaning, and Hill prudenty retreAted,
Malone warning him in plain terms that he would
endure nothing Of the sort from him. At the start
Hill had set himself TO smoke out" Mr.. Malone, but
when he had done he probably wished he had not for
Malone compelled him to shift his ground and hedge
himself about with 'ifsr and ''buts" in a way that
made him very ridiculous.
Mr.. Hoar OF Massachusetts, the last speaker In
eloquent speech he voiced the indignation of both
parties, and characterized Hills harangue insult
to all honorable men and degradation OF the chArac-
ter of the Senate 1t Of the business Of the
senator from Georgia, he said how any other senator
should cast his vote No slave-master plantation
ONefheer bnOdlu CRACK over American tena-
tors. Turning from that, Mr.. Hoar used these mem
orable words:
''There are Democrats in the South who mean TO
vote down the men with whom they differ but who |
do not mean to assasEinate them. There are Demo-
Gratis in the Senate who to live in nation, and
not In aggregatesof petty provinces any longer.
There Democrats In the south who do not mean |
to live any longer in the grayeyards and among the
tombs; whose faces are toward the morning, aud
whose brows the rising sunlight Of the future genera
tons Of this country is already beginning to be wish
BILE. OF such Democrats, the avant courier Of this
column has already reached the senate chamber after
long waiting and yearnng. The Republicans Of the
desire is inspired by miserable ambition for ONCE
for political victory, but by spirit Of patriotism
which loves the South fully much it loves the
North 1t is the spirit Of united, not Of divided,
country 1t is in the spirit of the future, and not the
past 1t is in the spirit Of union, and not Of sectional
ism that we holding out our hand 10 those brave
and noble Democrats Of Virginia, whose representa-
tive took his seat to-day on this floor"
After this speech it became evident that |
the Republicans would not consent to vote |
unless the Democrats would make pairs for |
the vacancies, and an adjournment was car
ried The dead lock over the committees |
continued on Tuesday and Wednesday, but |
there were no exciting scenes, and the Demo- |
Gratis gracefully submitted to the inevitable |
by allowing an adjournment after a short ses-
sion on both days.