Year: 1879

WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE Senate Demo !.
cratic caucus, this morning. received from Sen.
ators Thurman, Mcdonald and Garland vel
bal report of tho fruitless reault of their If
forts to effect an arrangement with Senator
bayard for the withdrawal of his resignation
OF the finance committee Craftsmanship, and
Tor an agreement on his part to allow the War
ner silver bill to be reported back for action by
the Senate in advance of its completed consid-
GRAFTON BY the committee. Judge Thurman,
ON behalf of the committee, reported also that
Senator Herman was alike inhexible
in his determination to adhere to
his vote in the finance committee
in favor of postponing action upon the silver
bill until next winter. Senators Thu, man and
Mcdonald, after stating details of efforts mado
by tie committee to bring about some harmo-
nlous arrangements, proceeded to make brief
speeches Of a conciliatory nature, and eoun-
selling that Bayare's resignatlon be not 40.
cepted. Senator Mcdonald took q lound also
that the caucus should drop the whole sub
ject of the silver bill. Senator Garland thought
che resignation should be accepted and the Bill
be brought before the Senate and passed


Senator Coke then spoke at considerable
length and with much earnestness, contendine
that Bayard's resignation ough t. be accepted
and the finance committee Immediately reor-
ganized to accord with the views of Demo.
cratic Senators on the silver question. He In
sisted that ne. one man ought to be allowed to
obstruct the will OF an overwhelming majority
of his party in Congress. The silver bill
should be reported for prompt action IF the
Senate, and if to obtain an opportunity for
action upon it a change in the membership of
the committee be necessary. that change should
be made at once, for sooner or later it would
have to be made.


n 81 ~


speech, which is described on all hands as one
of great fervor and eloquence. He said the
question before the caucus had both personal
and political aspect. The acceptance of
Senator Bayard's resignation would be in effect
censure upon that gentleman and the sdop-
tion of Coke's resolution would be similarly
construed. He was therefore opp.Aed to either
propositions. Although as loyal to the silver
cause as any other man living, he would not
consent to do anything to strike down man like
Bayard. He knew he could speak for every man
in Georgia, and he believed he could speak for
every SOutherner when he esid that shaft
trans6xing Bayard's heart would give pane
10 every Southern heart. for throughout all
their troubles and trials and expressions since
the close of the war Bayard had been the truest
of the true. In the next place "a q political
matter he thought nothing could be gained
but much could be lost by the proposed ac-
.n~;no .l0n The di...nt;an bare possibility ,b Of
sOWAuk uAbSouV1Ou III Tue party
at this time should be enough to
make the caucus pause and reflect, and upon
reflection it would certainly be perceived that
there could be nothing gained by striking
blow which would reach not Bayard alone but
the great body of true and legal Democrats,
who agreed with him and his financial views
and who were in unison with the re.t of their
party on the greater and more
important questions. In this connection
Senator Gordon counseled his party friends
to take pattern by the Republicans who were
also divided on the financial question but who
stood III solid pbalanx on every other. Beaides
these considerations he pointed out there il no
certainty of obtaining majority vote for
final passage even if it be brought before the
Senate, and that the only result Of forcing
action upon it aeide from prolopetion
of the session might prove to be loading of
the Democratic Senate with an alleged response.
biity for its defeat.


Senator Salisbury made few remarks COM
plimentary to his colleagues and in opposition
TO acceptance of the resisnation, and Senator
Voorhees, then took the floor, but was cut off
very soon after commencing his remarks by the
arrival of the hour for asse bling of the Sem
ate and consequent termination Of the caucus
meeting. An adjournment was taken until
to morrow, and the whole subject
went over without action. Tho
indications are very strong that
the caucus will tomorrow decline to accept
Bayard's resignation, and that it will also then
be determined by large. majority to leave the
silver bill in the hands of the finance commit.
II int