Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-05

EAe OOnteBt-N nat 1hey nope 10
Accomplish In the SOuth-TheIr
Caucus YesIerday-Another Day of
Speeches and Roll CaIls-Riddle-
berger's Record shown UP-SauIs-
bury's Sympathy for Garfield.
WASHINGTON, April 4-The Republican
Senators, after their caucus to-day, an
nounced that they had decided to remain
firm in their demand for reorganization of
the Senate officers. The question of yield
Ing by going into executive session was
discussed, and many were found to be in
favor of it. Leading Republicans who have
taken stand against continuing the pres
ent deadlock were absent.
1t is known that President Garfield has
expressed the wish to the leaders of his
party that the senate go to work upon the
business for which 1t was called In extra
session-that of considering nominations.
There is an objection, however, to "back-
ing down" 1t will have to come, however.
Already signs Of weakening are multiply
ing and the fight will be kept up for num-
Der of days yet, but the Republicans will
have to yield. Opposition to the course
they are pursuing is already manifesting
itself Enthusiastically in their party in the sew
eral States.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS
The Senate resumed consideration of
the pending business, the resolution for
the election of Senate officers. A mo-
tion made by Mr.. Pendleton to go
into executive session having been lost
yeas 20, nays 29-Mr. Johnston took
the floor. He quoted extracts from
the KIrginiG'a newspaper, edited by
Mr.. Riddleberger, to prove the De-
mocracy of that gentleman and of his
colleague (Mr. Mahone), and from the
Riddleberger bill to show that the Republi-
cans were now found supporting man for
office who had announced in that bill that
the adoption OF the thirteenth, fourteenth
and fifteenth amendments was equal in its
terrible effects to the war itself.
MIR. Johnston went with some minute
ness into the question of the debt of the
State of Virginia, contending that any fail
ure to pay the interest on that debt was not
attributable to any desire to repudiate, but
to the unfortunate condition of affairs
which had prevailed in that State immedi-
ately after the war.
Mr.. Dawes inquired whether the Senator
West Virginia ought to pay part of that
debt.
Mr.. Johnston replied that he agreed with
his colleague, and with the Supreme Court
of the United States, In holding that West
Virginia should be responsible for one
third. Leaving the question Of the debt, he
inquired of Mr.. Dawes where and when in
Virginia anybody had had to wade through
blood 10 the ballot box, as had been stated
by that Senator.
Mr.. Dawes replied that the mississippi
plan" was general term. Specific names
attached to different phases of it in differ
ent Southern States. In Virginia 1t was call
ed opposition to vagabond suffrage. Did
the Senator pretend to say that nobody had
got hurt in Petersburg in vain attempt to
assert his right as a voter.
Mr.. Johnston stated that the charge that
there was any smothering of the Republican
vote in Virginia was absolutely false. If
any tissue ballots had been used in Virginia
they had been used In his colleagues dis
trict. Mr.. Johnston, continuing, confined
his remarks to local questions commenting
upon and vindicating the measures adopt
ed in Virginia by the Funder Democrats.
In conclusion he said: Judging from the
speeches of the Readiusters, and from the
articles In their journals, the platform of
that party was, first, "a deluge of greenbacks;
second, to place clause in the constitution
providing that no contract between individ-
uals shall sbe enforced; third, to burn the
law libraries, and fourth, to repudiate."
Mr.. salisbury appealed no longer to the
sense of duty to the patriotic feelings of the
other side, but to its party fealtv to ground
its weapons of rebellion against its own ad-
ministratlon. If any one needed eommiser-
alton 1t was the President, who had been
treated with such marked disrespect by his
own friends. Even Mr.. Hayes, whom no
body believed to be elected, commanded
some respect at the beginning of his term
Mr.. Jones, of Florida, briefly denied the
statement made on Friday last by Mr.. Lo-
gan, that political outrages were perpetrat-
ed in Florida.
Mr.. Harris moved to lay the resolution on
the table: Rejected-yeas %, nays 27. Then
roll call followed roll call in quick success
sion upon dilatory motions.
Mr.. Dawes inquired as to when the DEM
ocrats would permit vote to be taken on
the resolution, being always met with the
response 'on the first Monday in Decem-
ber." Finally, Mr.. Dawes, remarking that
jority of the Senate was opposed
to postponiug the consideration of this reso-
luton, and expressing the hope that the
minority would come tomorrow prepared
to stay until the will of the majority was
bowed to, moved to adjourn, which motion
was, at $40, agreed tQi
THE REPUBLICANS WIZ ---
The ReBuh''-- FIGHT IT OUT.
mo- Ian Senators, in caucus this
.uIng, decided to continue their efforts
to procure the passage of the pending reso.
luton for the immediate election of the
Senate officers by adhering persistentlY to
the policy and programme heretofore pur-
sued.
This determination was reached after an
exhaustive interchange OF views, and by q
vote which is said to have been substan-
TALLY unanimous. The caucus discussed the
suggestion of the eXpediency of allowing
the dead lock to be broken, from time to
time, by executive sessions for the confr-
nation of uucontested nominations, but it
was decided, at least for the present, that
this course would be unadvisable
The only other matter touched upon at
to-day's meeting was the long continued
delay IN transporting the remains of the
late Senator Carpenter to Wisconsin, and It
was agreed upon all hands that the MEM
bers of the Senate Committee, appointed
for this purpose, should make immediate
arrangements for pairing, and proceed to
perform their mission.
The arguments advanced in the caucus
to-day as reasons for the indefinite main
tenance by the Republicans of their present
position were In substance as follows:
First. The question involved In the Demo
cratic opposition to the pending resolution
is whether the majority or minority of the
Senate shall control its action. That for the
majority to suceumb to the minority now In
the matter Of the choice of officers would
pave the way for submission to the minority
in matters Of greater importance here
after. That If there is no legisla-
tive business to be transacted at
this session, and no injury to result to pub
lie interests from delay In confirming nomi
nations to offices already filled, the present
is the best time to meet the issue above in
dicated, and to maintain the principle that
the will OF the majority must prevail.
Second. That the election of the candi-
dates nominated by the majority, including
Mr.. Rtddleberger, must be insisted upon
as means of sustaining and promoting the
alliance between the Republicans and the
Independent Democrats in Virginia and
other Southern States. 1t was argued in
the caucus that the issue whether or not
the Republicans of the Senate will
support the alleged movement in Virginia
Tor "a free ballot and fair count" has been
joined by the nomination of Riddleberger,
and that to abandon his proposed election
would be prejudicial to the success of the
movement in the fall campaign, and greatly
diminish the prospects of its spread through
other portions of the South.
The New York nominations were not re- .
ferred to at the meeting to- day, and 1t was
noticeable that the policy Of delaying the
transaction of executive business until after
the election of the Senate officers was advo-
Gated by Senators who had Numerically
opposite views concerning the proprietY Of
confirming in these and other cases.