Year: 1879

THERE was not entire harmony in the Sen


ate discussions over the matter of new ac-


commodations for the Congressional Library


Senator Conkling wanted new and separate


building. Mr. Edmunds preferred that


wing should be added, extending from the
centre of the present capitol building either
east or west. Senator Voorhees, opposed any
change of the capitol builling, for the rea-
son that the westward course OF empire


would soon render it necessary to remove the
seat of government to some pOin! in the Miss
issippi Valley Mr.. Elmands is reported to
have characterized the dome of the present
Capitol as an excrescenee reminding him ofa
battered old hat stuck on high pole, while
his colleague contended that 1t was the
crowning glory of the finest State building
in the world. Senator COnkling referred t
the Senate Chamber as an iron box in which
life is maintained under great difficulties. ard
he compared the Senator's to rats in an ex-
hausted receiver. Mr.. Morrill, believed that
no other room in the world was 50 well ven
tilated as the Senate Chamber. Senate
Thurman had no idea of his own upon the
matter, and was not going to injIre bis Pres
idential prospects BY committing himself on
the subject


The Democratic Rev olutl0nary scheme
Washington letters suggest, that the res
explanation of the anxiety of the Democrats
to have the political amendments attached
to an appropriation bill at this session, is to
be found in a passage OF an unreported
speech in the Democratic caucus. A South
ern Representative said in that gathering
that it was essential to Democratic suprem-
scy in the next House that these amend
ments should be enacted at this session, for
the reason that the Democratic majority in
the next House is but four, and that two
Southern Democrats are already under in
dictments and are liable 10 be sent to the
penitentiary before Congress can convene in
December, unless the election laws shall be
repealed. The Republican programme, in
view Of ths demonstration, has, it il said,
been fully decided on. They will not insist
on the retention Of the test caths; but will
resist to the last all attempts at repeating
the laws for protecting the purity and free
dom Of Federal elections. The sections, the
repeal of which is demanded by the Demo-
crats, include the only proyisicas which give
the United States the right to exercise any
sort of jurisdiction or control to secure free,
untrammeled exercise of the right Of suffrage
These sections in no way relate to the army
and are designed solely to preyent fraud and
to protect the purity Of the ballot. If the
Democrats want to take the responsibility
of an extra session of Congress, consequent
on the defeat IF the appropriation bill, the
Republican party Is willing they should.
Further, if they want to make the repeal Of
the only law on the Federal statute-book
that provides for the protection Of the bal
lot at the South against the bulldozers, the
battle-ground. the Republicans will COM
plain still less. If there is an extra session,
and the new Democratic Congress should re-
peal the statute, a Republican President
will veto it, and the responsibility of stop
ping the wheels of the Governmental machine
will rest at last where it rested at the outset,
with the reactonary Democracy.