Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-16
CASE OF PECKHAM.
ARGUMENTS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
or THE SENATE.
pu., Present.. the side Of tho Opposition
Alleged Unhtness Of the Nominee
No Result.

WASHINGTON. ID. C., February 15.--
4, 81, unusually carly hour for United
e,,.os senators the advocates and oppo'
,..,,s - the confirmation OF Wheeler III.
...pbnr,. nominated 90 be Associate JUS
eta, ~ the United states SuprsNne Court.
,...~e estir this morning-Mr. hin being
,.,,og the first 20 reach the Senate wing
~ ,bo builllng. Senators Villas and Lind
.,, were not far behind him, and then
,.e.,, tte preliminary struggle TO present
f4 'front.' for the contest which had
h.-, acrc-.d upon for this afternoon. Mr..
tt.i ai4 some active work. and was In
....e,r.rcc with senators IN committee
,.-.. Corridors and cloak-rooms, and In
,t.s missionary work WAS assisted by
e.tsral republicans. The friends OF the
.lrlt.tratipn were not less energetic,
.ul lacked ihe helping hand OF Repuoh-
,.,s ...n rs had declared their intention
o.. s.lpoftiug the nominee contenting
tIers..trs with that and making no effort
:. max. pr.ssiytes among their colleagues.
r.. c.uah-Iooms OF the Senate niled up
. .u earlier hour than usual. and the
,.-g gave way la the cloak-rOOm talk 10
.p about the outcome Of to-days
..'e Both sides SIN professcd conf
,.... hut there were evidences Of anxiety
o.. n- part Of the opposing leaders.
l..t night careful canvass was made
a. Che S.natc by "A leading senator and
t.. yl'r az compiled by him shows ~
...ls alaiust Peckham. 81 for him, and il
...nfmL IL this list De accurate, tho
nominee would be defeated. even II all
o.. doubtful voted for confirmation. OF
,.r-s in such q poll account Is taken
a. f.s ahscutccs who are paired. Those
marked doubtful In this list are Messrs.
Allison Hide Hoar. Kyle. Lodge. McMn-
.n. Mclaurin, Morrill,, Squire. Stock
.rIe.. and Washburn. According TO the
.-t Iossrs. Dixon and Sherman are
..rl in the Affirmative list, but II Is
.rmel that Dixon will not vote TO con-
trm. Allison voted against Honblower,
ana 90 ia expected that he will vote In the
sHe way ia the present case.
H- polph who has been counted as
o. .c opposed 10 Peckham, It IS now said
t.I yot. for him. But this Is Offset by
OBI. fact that Hoar hes come out against
f.- nominee and declared his intention OF
voting foo reject.
fn rls way. also. Lodge. and possibly
I.Iul. viii be transferred from the
doubtful column 10 those in active oppo-
ston As the hour for the executive ses-
sion approached the antl-administrative
men became more aggressive.
PDGH FOR REJECTION.
when the doors OF the Senate were
closed Mr. Pugh at once called up the
nomination. ana proceeded 20 address the
Senate lie laid before the Senate the
matter contained in the letters that had
l..,a sent 90 the committee. and made
.u argument against the fitness Of Peck
l.m for the high place 10 which he had
laen appointed. calling the special atten-
ton az The Senate 10 what he termed
th" prciudiced character Of the mind of
tho nominee
Nfr Pughs speech was addressed mainly
to the legal qualifications OF Mr. Peck
ham. which, he said with much positive
ness were entirely inconsistent with the
duties OF iurist. The nominee was, he
sad more the biased and prejudiccd
special pl,lGer than the impartial judge
cluable OF looking on both sides Of
legal question. lie also opposed him for
hs attitude I'm certain elections. when
Sir Pugh said. peckham had proved by
Is actions that he was not a good Dem
orrnt.
Mr Pugh spoke for an hour and
half making "a temperate. but, as sena-
tors pronounce Il. strong speech. He was
followed briefly by Mr.. Harris d)emo-
craO. Tennessee. In support Of coniirma-
ton.
80 4ij Mr.. Lindsay OemocraO, Ken
tr.ltv. a. member Of the judiciary Com
rul;f-o replied 20 some Of the arguments
ar Mr Turh. and made an earnest speech
la behalf ~ the nominee.
1fr Lindsay spoke for upwards of an
hour. and at $50 was followed by MT
Mcpherson DemocraO. New Jersey. IN
favor Of confirmation
Af $50 Mr.. Villas got the floor, prcpared
f,r "a lengthy speech. and II became evil
dent that no result could be- reached. By
common consent, therefore, an adjourn
mont wav taken until tomorrow, when
th. discussion will hc renewed imme-
d.afelv after morning business.
TDTH SIDES CLAIM VICTORY.
There was no attempt TO test the feel
Me of the Senate I'm the matter of the
Tockham nomination. hut If IL had not
been for social ongaccmcnts. including
'vo dinners and theatre party, night
,.-..on would probably have resulted.
T.e contest viii be renewed Immediately
after the morning business tomorrow,
aud tonight both sides claim victory.
Tie llu men figure out majority or
about mine. while the friends Of Pcckham
sty they believe he will be confirmed by
90 small majority. The effort is being
made 60 consolidate the Democrats on
party lines.