Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-05-26
Adjourns Sine Die.


ecutive session of some duration, in
which large number of appoint
ments were confirmed, the body adj
journed sine die. This extra session
of the Senate was long and eventful
one 1t lasted almost three months,
and will be noted in history as a PEE
riod during which the country was
treated to many strange episodes and
startling surprises.
The body was convened in extra
session by the President for the few
simple purposes that pertain to execu-
tive business-the Constitution requir-
ing the consent of the Senate to the
appointment of certain public officers
and the ratification of treaties with
foreign nations. Plain folk, remote
from the turmoil and excitement of
the great political centres, supposed
that the duties thus devolving upon
honorable and dignifed Senators
would be quietly and decorously per-
formed. There was no expectation
that months would be uselessly spent
in exciting political discussion and an
cry personal controversy. Least of
all was it supposed that a great polit-
ical party, flushed with victory and
enjoying an Unprecedented degree of
public confidence, would signalze its
advent into renewed power by confirm
ing corrupt and disgraceful bargain
with an avowed repudiator for the
single purpose of possessing them
selves of few Insignificant Offices in
the Senate. And yet the wheels of
executive business were blocked from
the very moment the present Admin
istration breathed the breath oc life.
Malone was impudently put forward
as the modern Moses who was to lead
the people of the South into the prom
ised land of fair elections and free
ballot. Gorham, the partner aud
apologist of Star route thieves with
Riddleberger the unrepentant rebel
and blatant repudiator, consumed the
attention of Republican Senators
while President Garfield 'snominations
for important public offices lay un-
needed and unthought of upon the
Vice Presidents desk. The Demo.
Gratis amidst the applause and appro-
baton of the honest people of all
parties, resisted this attempt to black.
en- our credit and bring reproach upon
our institutions by introducing repu-
diation as factor of our political
system.
The disgraceful effort of the OBJ
structionists to prevent the trausac.
ton of the public business continued
for weeks, and was not abandoned un-
til it became apparent that the Demo
crat side of the Senate, encouraged
by the honest and enlightened senti-
ment Of the country, would never
yield its consent to the contamination
Of a corrupt and debasing intrigue that
has no exact counterpart in the history
of legislative venality. When the
fact dawned upon the minds of Hoar,
Dawes and other prominent parties to
the intrigue that no one of the opposi.
tion-equal In numbers to themselves
would yield to their arrogant de-
mands, they subsequently agreed that
the Senate might proceed to the con.
sideration Of treaties and the confrma.
ton OF the Presidents nominations.
A few days sufIiced for all, and then
came the unexpected designations of
Senators Conkling and Pratt. These
designations placed the control of the
Senate in the hands of the Democrats
and they are to be congratulated upon
the wisdom with which they used their
power. Unlike their opponents, they
did not long for spoils and position.
They permitted the committees to re-
main undisturbed; promptly confirm
ed every proper nomination made by
the President, and when the objects
for which they had been convened
we're accomplished they adjourned the
knI.w eel s..m.a |