Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-01-10
A Scene in the Senate.

There was scene in the Senate, Monday
afternoon, which the correspondent of the
Boston Herald describes as follows: Sena-
tor Hoar was speaking on the presidential
succession bill and in the course of his
remarks said: 1.-THE Senate committed to
its judiciary committee the duty of sug-
costing a method of providing against
that contingency. They made their
report. They did their best to have it
considered at the last session, and, under
their instruction, it has been pressed for
ward at the present session. Now, the
senator from Vermont appeared not at the
beginning OF the session, not when the
bill was reported, not even at the begin
ming of the debate, but the day before
Yesterday just as we had almost exhausted
the debate, he appeared with motion,
which is to recommend this bill to the
judiciary committee to see if they can moi
work out (hereatter) the details of a
scheme of which be sugg ests himself not
IA single practical detail" At the time
no one except Mr., Edmunds attached any
particular significance to the words EN-
ployed by Mr.. Hoar. The senators saw
that Mr.. Hoar had made good reply, and
every body on the floor and in the CALLER
les leaned forward in anticipation OF
some sharp thrusts in return from Mr..
Edmunds. Debates between these sharp.
.ongued gentlemen are always watched
with intensity. When Mr.. Hoar sat down,
Mr.. Edmunds rose, and, as is his custom,
stepped forward between two desks in the
front row, and looking right at the
president pro tenn, addressed the chair.
His face was flushed, but otherwise he
looked as he always does. He began in
his customary firm, clear tone, with a
remark to the effect that it was unjust
on the part of Mr.. Hoar thus to refer to
his personal conduct respecting this bill.
He knew"-then he stopped suddenly
| and bowed bis head, overcome, apparently
| by emotion.
Senator uoar rose at once right fehind
Senator Edmunds. and protested. in an
earnest manner, that he had no intention
| If refecting upon Mr.. Edmunds' personal
course in anything that he had said. He
| repeated this several times, and every body
looked to see Edmunds 60 on, with posi-
ply bright retort or two, and finish bis
speech; but his eyes were wet with tears
ind his voice was broken with sorrow. 81
hat he could only say, in strangely un
| familiar tone, II was no. able to be here.
before he sank back in his chair over
whelmed with feeling Hoar again rose
and dlsclaimed any such intention a. had
been imputed to him. Mr. ingalls, rose
suddenly aud moved an adjournment in
his sharp tone, Withdrawing the motion
when he saw that Mr.. Hoar had not finish
ed what he was saying Mr.. Edmunds
red 10 master his emotions, so that lie
could remain and listen to lloar's expla-
/ nations but they were too strong fol him,
and he was compelled to rise suddenly and
hastily leave the Senate. Thence he went
with saddened face and fearful eyes, to the
judiciary committee room, where he gave
full vent to his grief for the daughter he SC
dearly loved, whose last illness had detain-
ed him from the Senate when the pres.
dental succession bill was originally
| under discussion. Meanwhile, Mr.. Hoar
had again expressed his regret at the
uniform apprehension, of what be had
said, and Ingalls, having renewed his mo-
ION, the Senate had adjourned. This
pathetic little episode which closed the
| ldp wis lue uulfclsitl loltC olAoh5 'Ae
Senators Monday evening.
The press opinion of The episode is fully
expressed in the following editorial
paragraph in the Springfield Republican
Senator Hoar's nagging spirit has again
placed him in a most painful position
He yesterday twitted Senator Edmunds
with being absent from the Senate last
summer when the presidential success
sion bill was under discussion. 1t will be
readily remembered that the Vermont
senator was then at home in constant and
devoted attendance upon the daughter
whom he idolized, and whose death fell
with crushing force upon the father Ma
one who witnessed the grief of the strong
| man on that occasion will wonder that he
broke down utterly yesterday before the
| ill.considered words Of the Massachusetts
senator. When friends offered to watch
beside the dead body Of his child, the sem
ator thanked them, but replied with
touching tenderness: mo, have watch
ed over her day and night, and shall not
leave her now OF course NJ H)l
would not wantonly have re opened 5
Iapn a wOnn1