New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-05
SrN41nR E4rON,N nETIEENrNE

The debate i'm the senate on the Electoral
Couut resolution on "Wednesday h.s b,rn
remarked upon heretofore a having been con-
dnctrd with rather unusual fiankncsS ana
with some demonstrations of friendly accord
between Senators whose relations have been
hostile hitherto. II was noteworthy also for n
few words uttered by Senator EIton, of Con-
necicut. IN incidental alu>ion to the tcrmiua-
ton OF his service in the Senate and Oi his
public HE. The Senator SAID;
I would do what u necessary TODAY. not because
IN, re IL any doubt with regard 10 who viii be de-
cIared elected President and Vice President; have
no doubt --uo sane. sensible has duubf that
subject but In GUds let us DO II right. Set pre-
cetent establish rule and let us al vote Tor It. rue
that determines that officer presiding this body
has nothing with the count Of the votes. Let Il
down TO Successors. Ny public liie WILL BE- over III
thirty days 20 of this body return,
under any circumstances My public iife Is ended. ~
out OF II dcyordly attached 10 the Constitution OF onr
common country I,halln.aEc notion Offer no amend
mcnt utter no word that III my Judgment Is not neces
sary In order maintain that instrument III It's nil
poEcr and To MAINTAIN the honor OF cominun
country.
There's a touch of gcntcncss and pathos in
this that no doubt seems strange to those who
have only known the hard, stubborn political
side of the Senator's character; though IT
could not have surprised his associates in the
Senate who have enjoyed his personal ac-
quaintancc, and who know him on his social
side and by his genial qualities.
Senator Eaton has been i'll public life for
nearly forty years. For twenty five years he
has been the most conspicuous man of hi.
party in his own State, aud it is not too much
to say that during that time he has welded d
larger influence i'll the party in Connecticut
than any other man i'll the State. Very few
have been the State Conventions in which ht
has not been a delegate, and we recall
none of them in which he was not the con-
trolling spirit. Through almost the entire
period he has been in a minority, but under
| his leadership 1t was stubborn minority
| that was never discouraged by disaster. bu
| that fell back sullenly inch by inch anC
seemed to gather pluck and persistence from
| defeat. Before the war he was as ardent {
pro-slavery and State Rights man a.
any South Carolina firo-eatcr durin!
| the war ne was in entire sympathy with tn,
| South; az strong Peace Democrat rs Val
| landigham, and since then he has neye
| wavered from the strictest line of the straites
| sect of State Rights Democracy. But often
| slve az his utterances on political questions
were to his opponents during all this time
Their was this about him that they Away
Ikea they never had any doubt abou
| where to find him. He was Away
outspoken to the verge OF indlscretion an
impohcy; he took good-naturedly as har
blows as he gave IN controversy he marlboro,
Do malice, and his fellow-citzens Of all par
ties believed In his honesty and sincerity
If he angered the loyal Union sentiment @
the people by his outspoken sympathy witt
the rebels. he at least made the issue pai
and brought the people of Connecticut eac
year of that long and close struggle face t