Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-06-03
speech Of Hon. Jeisn w. John
stem, Of Virginia, in the senate
Of tiic United States, May "a,
1870.


1870.
The Senate having under considera-
ton the bill Is. No. $40 to enforce the
fifteenth amendment to the Constitu-
ton of the United States
Mr.. JOHNSON said:
Mr.. PRESIDENT The Senator from
Connecticut and the Senator from In
diana somewhatdi dispute between them
selves as to which of their positions
and speeches here best suit what both
designate the southern rebels. The
Senator from Indiana, If he desires to
resurrect the doctrine of State rights,
If he desires to resurrect the doctrine
of secession, if he desires to resurrect
The doctrines which he says he abhors
so much, has made just the speech on
this occasion 10 produce that effect.
If all the southern white men are
DISTINGUISHED and not allowed to hold
seats on this floor or upon the floor of
the other House, if they are not per-
mitled to sit on the bench of the Uni
ted States courts, if they are not per-
mitted to be consuls, if they arc not
permitted to be foreign ministers, il
they are not to look to this Govern
N mt for any of its rewards, ambitious
men in the States, men who desire to
have voice in the formation OF the
laws and public affairs, have hut one
place to lock TO, and that is 10 Their own
States. If they are denied the right
to he heard ON this floor, then they
must be permitted to go, AMI they VIII
go to place where they cln be heard;
end that is to the Legislature of their
own STATE, to the judiciary of thciT
own State, and to those theaters for
the exhibition of their powers, for the
exhibition. of their faculties, and for
the outlet of their desire TO take part
in public affairs.
Now, what can contribute more to
drive the affections, the wishes, and
| the hopes of the people of the southern
States from the United States than to
say to them, although you are citi-
zens Of this Government, although you
pay taxes for the support of this Gov
eminent, although you must bear arms
| i'm its defense, one great right which
belongs and ought TO belong TO every
citizen is denied to you; and that Is
the right to be IL Representative oil
your people, the right to make the
| laws which you are required 10 sup
port and obey, and the right to have u
voice in the legislation of your coun-
try, and a share i'm its honors AID emol-
uments." The natural effect, the in
evitable effect of that will be TO drive
all the young, ambitious men TO the
only theater which is open to them
it will cause to revive in their bosoms
that old feeling ofState rights, that ole
love for State sovereignty which the
war was intended to eradicate and has
TO certain degree crushed out.
Can the man in the South who II
unable to have a seat on this floor hav'
the same regard for the Government
as the man who Is allowed the emolu
ments and the privilege of aiding II
the administration of the affairs OF tn
nation? Can he have the same feeling
for it that he would have If he wer
allowed to come forward and take
share i'm public office, public debates
public legislation Undoubtedly h
cannot.
Surely the natural result of thi
course will he that every man in tn
South will look, not 10 this Govern
ment, but to his State, with reverence
and love, ms the place which Is 10 hon
or him, the laws and history or whlc
he has studied and understands, ia
offices or which lac has filed and {
the traditions of which he is prout
These are the things which attach
citizen TO his country, and the coul
try which denies these things To II
citizens rejects their love.
, 1t is not only the case with the pro-
ent, but with the rising generation
for if my son should say to me, "Wh
are you not candidate for Congress
i why are you not upon the bench OF Oh
: court why are you not foreign MN
4 ister; why are you not consul p
! And / would reply, because, althoug
! am "A citizen of the United States,
cannot hold Office without taking viii
, Is called the test-oath | am not pc
. mitted 10 do it.n What do you plai
in the heart of that boy? DO yc
: plant there affection, the love for Il
. old flag, for the United States n
sir: YOU plant In his bosom the see
r of inextinguishable hatred toward tn
/. Government which DISTINGUISHES q
!, person most dear TO him. The chi
> will not stop 20 reason he will n
"a stop to think whether or not his faith
! was right or wrong he knows tn
n the man he reVerences most on earl
is by this particular Government Ill
franchised and kept out of all parti'
e patton i'm governmental ailairsi al
!, his affections, his regard, his patri'
II ism do not go TO that Government, b
v TO the one by which his father Is pt
r mitted to take part in public affairs.
> Mr.. President, | do not think th
q the people of the North understand
3 have ever understood the feelings Z
ideas, and the desires that Animal
s the southern people in the late strugg
We have a complex form of COVER
r ment; we have State governments al
we have the United states Cover
- ment The people of the South al
many people in the North were educ
N ted long ago, from the very louno
nj tions OF the Government up 70 I
.n period of the war, TO believe That On
~ lid not owe any allegiance TO the IN
~ ted States; that they owed obedlen