Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-02-06
A Searching Argument.

In the Senate, on the 29,h ultmo, Mr. Buck
ALEw. Of Pennsylvania, who unfortunately for
bis State and the country. will be succeeded by
a Radical after the 81 Of March, 1869, made a
most scathing, yet gentlemanly argument
against the vile measures now pending TO rear
a dcspotism in the Southern States. lie dis
sected the monstrosity with a keen blade, and
showed the unjust disproportiou Of representa-
ton in the Senate as arranged by political man
agemeut, Juggling in small States to enhance
Radical control. In 1861 the Republican vote
was >. l84.5 while the Democratic vote was
2.Ol9, 100, showing a republican majority OF
only 1885 out Of a total Of 4,15S,7SS. by
the rule Of proportion the majority should have
but 2s votes in the Senate, and the minority
90. The minority has but Ten Senators whilst
the majority has tor5-tbree.
Mr.. B.. showed the way in which small
States were brought into the union when it was
necessary 70 increase the radical prepOnder-
auce.
"This was most extraordinary proceeding,
Int 10 was done on the plea Of political neceS-
sitv. TO balance by more free State representa-
tives the return Of Southern representatives to
Congress. 10 was In pursuance Of this plan
that Nebraska was admitted, thus swelling by
two votes the already unfair majority in this
Senate. The effort had twice been made to
get Coloradoin here, and it seemed by the news
papers that these efforts were 70 be renewed.
Nevada was the first State admitted under the
enabling act aud al the last election, Neya-
da had polled less than 900 votes. NebraS-
ka and Colorado not so many. Why were the
two former admitted. and why was it sought
70 admit the latter? Because they gave repub-
iican maorities. Utah and New Mexico had
double the population Of either Of them, and
polled about Il 600 votes each. In Utah there
was no political division, in New Mexico the
democrats had the majority. In Idaho and
Montana they also bad the majority, and there
fore there was no attempt % bring them in.
In addition % this admission Of commune
ties which were not Justly entitled to 1t, ten
States Of the South were kept out as still
further means of preserving this unfair and un-
republican majority Of four % one, and 10 make
this majority permanent, they were now en-
gaged I'm carving out acts which they declared
should be placed beyond the reach Of the peO-
pie. Senators get mp here aud triumphantly
state that this policy Is being carried, will he
carried ont aud nothing can prevent 1t. tic
iMr b. bad supposed until now that this was
a government Of the people that 10 was the
province of the people to decide upon the
measures 20 be imposed upon them. Negro
suffrage had never been submitted TO the peO-
pie Of the South for an expression of their
opinion. and this scheme Of Congress bad never
been submitted % the people of the North
This scheme Of reconstruction had never been
submitted % the people Of the country North
or South. It is true that the people did take
up the subject somewhat last fall, aud in an
indirect manner had expressed their opinion.
They had submitted % the people Of Ohio the
model plank If this scheme 20 see whether Ohio
would apply 10 90 ITS own local government,
and those people had rejected il in tones not 10
De mistaken, and he wished this Senate had
listened 90 those tones He repeated that this
scheme was to be forced upon the people, both
North and South without their consent.
Mr.. SHERMAN. Of Ohio. having 10 explana-
ton attempted 20 reconcile some Of the ano-
males by which radical preponderance was
maintained. Mr. BUcEALEw. aptly said the
Senator could not cover up with words the
merits Of this question. The majority was re-
spousib,e for all these acts, and no one else
and Mr. b., thus happily turned one of Mr..
Mortou's scriptural illusions
"Tbe Senator Mr. Mortonl had spoken Of
that great pillar Of reconstruction which the
radical party had reared and affirmed that the
gates Of he'll couIduot prevail against IT," "Iu
this view he Mr. B conceded; he did not be-
leve the gates Of bell would prevail against it
be thought that IL the Internal powers took any
interest boz these matters, they would not OPP
pose this policy of c. lgrcSs. but would lend it
all the assistance jn their power. Il was not
On the gates of hell that he looked for aid, but
be looked o. the votes Of the millions Of intell-
gent freemen Of this country to lay low in the
dust this black pillar