The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-28
3irl,uloud 1ispalrls.
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY ss, 1888.
The Senate.

Az we have heretofore stated. the next
r,n,tod States Senate viii consist OF Us
Democrats and 40 Republicans, classing
Msuoxs and RIpDLEnEnoSR with the Re
publicans. But there are two States wii'ch
have not vet elected their senators--nanie-
N, Michigan, whose Legislature has Tor
months tried In vain TO elect successor to
MIR. fxRaY, and New hampshire, whose
Legislature will not meet until Jtfne next
n h n clear esse. therefore, that unless
Michigan elects a senator this week, 'lc
Senate win consist Of SO Democrats ana %
Republicans Che Virginia senators peing
ewo OF the httei1 II IL shall meet IN extra
session next Monday. So t',sf in the event
supposed, MAHoSg and RIpmEbkRGERWiii
hold the balance Of power
But win there be an extra session OF the
ScnateY The Republicans will OF course
not wish 10 put themselves into the power
of the two Virginia senators unless assured
beforehand that these win vote just as any
other Republicans would--for the nominees
OF the Republican CAUCUS. On the other
hand, the Republicans would not dare 10
take the responsibility Of falling 10 order
I'M extra session unless new heir 10 inc
presidency shall have been chosen before
the 4th of March, at which time the term OF
Office OF the present President pro tenn. OF
the Senate will expire. This new Presi-
dent pro TEN. and heir presumptive cannot
dc chosen before the 4th OF March unless
Mfr. DAVIS, the incumbent, shall resign the
office before that day.
Will Mr.. DAVIS resign? We all know
him 10 be genuine Independent. lie has
steered clear Of party entanglements ever
since he went into the Senate. He agreed
I'm 1881 to serve as President pro fem., ana
thus allowed his own vote TO be silenced,
and so was consenting to the deposition OF
Mr. BAYARD from that high office. But
even that tempting prize would not in
duce him 10 he a party to the removal OF
the other Democratic officers OF the So nate.
The Republicans got rid OF Democratic
heir to the presidency. but they got
instead an independent heir, and one who
would not permit them TO possess them
selves OF the other Offices OF the Senate.
i. is naturally, therefore, question at
Washington whether or not DIR. DAVIS
will resign the office this week, and allow |
n senator TO be elected to il whose term |
will last at least two years longer, without
exacting from the Republicans pledge !
not to remove the Democratic officers OF
the Senate whom he has protected up to !
this time.
III Mr.. DAVIS should insist upon the |
terms mentioned, then the question with
the Republican senators will be whether
or not they prefer an extra session to agree
ing to those terms. 1t is supposed that
General MALONE viii insist upon the cleo
ton Of GoRHAM to be the Secretary OF the
Senate; but it is also said that there are
several Republican senators OF the anti
Stalwart faction who will refuse to vote for
GoRHAM even though he should be the
nominee OF the Republican caucus.
AS we have said, the Republicans would
not dare TO leave Mr.. ARTHUR unsupported |
by single heir to the exalted Office he
fills. To do so would be to offer pre-
MUM to cranks. 1t would be as cruel to
Mr.. ARTHUR as unjust TO the country. 1t
would be an unpatriotic neglect Of duty.
1t would be ineXcusable folly regarded as
D party measure. Therefore, we take it
Tor granted that there will certainly be an
extra session of the Senate called for next
week unless Mr.. DAVIS shall resign this
week. The Republicans OF that body will
be compelled by proper regard for the
welfare and prospects of their own party
10 choose one or the other horn OF the di-
emma, if dilemma it be.
L. s. Mr.. DAVIS has notified the Senate
hat he will resign next Saturday the office
of President pro tenn. OF that body. We
let the above article go as it is, neverthe-
less. We will add here, what we forgot to
say when we We're writing the foregoing
a ticle, that Mr.. DAVIS will not only have
t. resign, but to abstain from voting i'm
order TO the election of Republican Presi-
dent pro tenn. Of the Senate next Saturday.
The Senate stands: Democrats, SO Gnclud-
Ing Mr.. DsvIS); Republicans, 80 GncIudlng
General MAHONE).
The election Of new President pro TEN.
at the present session OF the Senate will
have the effect of retaining i'm their offices
the Democrats now offering that body,
and will postpone until next December the
quarrel between the Stalwarts and the HALF
Breeds rs TO whether GoRHAM shall be
elected secretary OF not.
When the school-children learn from the
n "A