St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-03-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from Our Regular Correspondent.
W AsHINGTON, Feb. IS, Is.

the Senate all the reasons for removal
except those of confidential natur.
The Republican leaders then demands,
that the confidential reasons le suU
mitted to them also, in order that Il,
Senat> might decide il they veri. It.,iI
confidential, and the direct Issue WI
thereby raised.
1t cannot be known What actiun vi,
be taken by the Administration IA n.
gard 10 this matter until the Question j
officially brought to the notice 1T Il.
EXECUTIVE. Democratic Senators 90 ,.u
consider any further caucusiny o.. H.,
s0-cailed Edmunds rebellion necv>suT.
on their part. They have taken thrl,
stand with the President, since they ho
Iieve he is right, and they intend to stls
s3in him.
A caucus is in contemplation, ioH
ever, for the purpose of appointing the
usual campaign committee to manage
the Congressional campaign. It will
be. held in a few days, and the Edmund,
demonstration may be brought up. but
the CAUCUS " i'll be held without rvic,-
ence to it.
The issue will provoke hot political
discussion in the Senate, which is ex-
pected to begin next Monday. l. will
probably continue for some days a,
Senators of both parties are hunting
mp presidents and preparing speeches
on the question: There are Il number
Of Republican Senators who are op-
posed to this farcical fight, although.
they feel bound by political duty to
abide by their caucus decision iii con-
demning the Administration detcrm-
nation to maintain the Executive pre-
negative. One OF their non sympatlIi-
zers. Senator Van Wyck, of Nebraska,
stiginatizes the Edmunds attack as Il
- hunt for ghosts WOOL"
Senators Pugh, of Alabama, Jackson.
of Tennessee, and Kenna, of West
Virginia, are among the Democratic
Senators who are equipped and anxious
Tor the battle to begin. They say they
viii be abundantly fortified with pre-
cedents to offset those given by the
4 Democratic Senator
has in bis possession the copy of let
ter written by Sherman, when Secretary
of the Treasury, declining to furnish
ConE ling, then Senator, with reasons
for the suspension of Chester \. Ar !
thur, as Collector of the Port of New
York. There are many indications
hat the coming controversy will be
bitter and the debate exciting.
And what will it amount to- At the
worst it can only stop the President
rom filing Offices whose incumbents be
nay see fit to suspend, leaving those.
'fiices in allegiance until the end of
heir regular terms. And at that point
ven the obstructive power Of the
senate must end, unless the Eepnbli-
an majority undertake the desperate
esort of refusing to confirm the Presi-
ent's nominees because they are Demo
rats. In either event the Republican
enators will lose the fight.
Yesterday being WasLington's birth
ay, Congress took holiday as we'll as
government clerks. 1t il at work
gain today, and the Blair Educational :.
i'll is still before the Senate. Some
cry able arguments have boon made
IL and against the measure. Though Il
stronger opposition has been mani
,sted against it this session than last,
0 doubt is expressed that it will pass
10 Senate either by its friends or enc
les. 1t is estimated that at least ten I
,uthern Senators will vote against it
being unconstitutional and impolitic,
though under the provisions of the
II, their section would share more.
rgely in its benefits than the North. !,
All the Democrats of the House and !,
lteen Republican members voted for j
Q Fitz John Porter relief bill. The .
ssage of the bill was fore.one. /,
Inclusion, the only interesting fta- D,
re- of tho vote lying in the number of II
,publicans who would range them %
YES with Democratic sentiment in ".
Voring Porter's full yindication. W
The close of the Porter debate 10
ought the first scene OF the session. as
q ended in uproar and confusion.
ere was medley of comedy and
gedy. Men on both sides of the
II dashed themselves into a passion. ye
g Member accused another of disin- r roi
liOUSnesS. Another accused q Men pu
of trying to cram q falsehood dowp on, ii
throat of tho House. Members 1sIg