Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-04-19
SENATE.
The Day Passed as Usual In Useless Dis.
cussion.

The Day Passed as Usual In useless Dis.
cussion.
WASHINGTON, April lS.-The Vice.
President laid before the Senate the
unfinished business, the resolution for
the election of Senate officers.
Mr.. Harris referred to the article re-
Gently quoted by Malone from the In.
ternational Repielr, to the effect that the
State of Tennessee repudiated $ll, ,0OO,.
600 OF her debt, and asserted there
was no truth in the statement, that
Tennessee had at no time repudiated
single penny OF her debt. 1t had been
said that Porter OF the census bureau
had been the author OF the article, thus
giving it a semi.officlal character. Porter
had indeed been the author but had in
a communication to him Harris denied
that il was an official statement OF the
debt OF Tennessee, and corrected vari-
GUS misstatements in the article.
A motion to 20 into executive session
was lost; yeas 20, nays 2l.
Mr.. Johnston was permitted to offer
a resolution, which was adopted, calling
on the Attorney. General for certain
papers in relation To the report OF the
special agent OF the Treasury Depart
ment tonching the western judicial dis.
trict of Virginia.
After some time consumed in roll calls
and various dilatory motions, Mr..
Dawes said he did not care copper
whether one officer or another was in
office, but he desired to have it settled
before the country whether this was q
government OF the majority or not.
The debate was continued by Messrs
Dawes, salisbury, Burnside and Beck.
The latter argued against the right OF
the MAJORITY TO elect officers at the extra
session, and declared that in December
next they would be willing to consider
the resolution, hut in his judgment
Riddleberger would not, in December,
be made Sergeant-at-Arms. The Nir.
ginia election would then be over, and
II the Republicans did not tender some
body else for Sergeant.at.Arms, some
one who was Conservative Republican
who had fought through the war
in the Federal army who would be here
with his wounds on him, and then the
Republicans could choose between
Confederate, repudiatiDg Riddleberger
that man who would be rendered to
them, he thought, by Republican Sena.
tor. 1t might as well be understood
in December next IL the Republicans
would not put Riddleberger in. Any
promises which he might make in Viz
glnia would prove fsllacious.
Mr.. Beck declared the purpose oil the
Democrats was to continue the opposi-
ton to Riddleberger even alter next
December. He said Rlddleberger was
obnoxious TO the Democratic Senators,
and the latter could never hold proper
official relations with him. That next
December there would be nominated
for Sergeant alarms q gallant soldier,
who bears wounds received IN leading
troops on the field OF battle, and every
Democratic Senator will vote for him,
aud he believed the nomination would
b made by Republican Senator.
Mr.. Beck declared that Riddleberger
would never be elected Sergeant-at.
Arms. The gallant Union soldier re.
ferred to by Beck is said to be a citizen
of Kansas and Republican, but Beck
and his friends declined ogive his name
as vet, saying only that he is O promin-
ent Republican and a popular man.
Senator Vest intends whenever the
election OF officers shall be reached to
nominate John d. Stevenson OF st.
Louis, who was under Logan and one
of his best fighters. When asked how
he would vote with Stevenson as 9
candidate Logan replied that he could
saw nothing but good Of Stevenson a. he
was one Of the most gallant generals ol
the Union army and true Republican.
After discussion during which no new
points we're developed the Senate 3D.
iourned.