Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-04-27
Vermont at Washington.

The Washington correspondent of the
Boston Advertiser, describing the debate
on the Ku.Klux bill in the Senate, says :
Senator Edmunds closed the debate in
a speech of nearly three no urs' length. II
was one o'clock when he arose, and be
was greeted by larger audience than had
looked down from the galleries since Mr..
Sumner arraigned the President for his
interference with Hayti.
He spoke without notes. and in . rapid
I'M petuous manner which indicated his
m 4ste,y of the subject and a thorough
confidence in his own powers BY far
tha greater portion of his speech was de-
voted to the legal aspects OF the qurstion.
He had no light task to overthrow antag-
Oh ists like Thurman among the democrats
and Trumbull among the republicans.
He boldly charged that the speeches from
he d. mocratic eide v.re likely TO afford
great encourage ment to the Ku Klux,
that they discovered n spirit of sympathy
with the motives which inspired that
murd-rous band. Again and again he
repeated the charge, leach time more point
eddy, and challenged a denial Mr.. Cass'
erly attempted defence. Mr.. Casserly ii
AZ Iriebman by birth, but Scotohman in
the Intensely literal turn of bin mind.
IL. could not ace, or PROGRESSED that he
could not, how the spirit If His speech
could afford the Ku.K any sympathy,
mnlass he openly svowed that sympathy.
Edmunds replied that he had charged
that the democrats were in sympathy
with the Ku. Klux in their opposition to
,evro suffrage (; he bad given them three
opportunities to deny il, ar d it remained
undenied aud nndeniable. Mr.. Blair next
interfered, but found the Vermonter q
very different antagonist from the mild.
hammered Mr.. Pool. It was superb in
ttllectual treat. The speaker concluded
the people for the party which protecte d
the American CITIZEN 10 all parts of the
country E; and when he s~t d.wn there
was moments silence followed by an
audible and simultaneous relaxation all
over the bouse-a tribute to a speakers
power more significant than the loudest
spplsuse.
A correspondent Of tro Free Press says
In reference to the psssaf of the Ku. Klux
bill:
The prolonged discussion on the Ku.
Klux i'll has been a losing business fol-
the democrats. One after smother their
constitutional objections have been met
and overturned. Mr.. Edmunds' skillful
management of the bill elicits praise
NOR republicans very VIE Hia clos
ing argument triumphantly established
the right Of Congress to pass this bill or
one with even more stringent provisions,
II necessary, to protect citizens in their
rights. II was a resl satisfaction to see
how cleverly every interruption from the
opponents of the bill, was met and turned
to his own advantage. Judge Poland and
Mr.. Willard did good service during the
consideration of the bill in tie House !;
the latter, "a q member of the conference
com mittee, contributing largely to the
passsRe of the substitute for the Sherman
amendment, which, M believe is now
generally conceded, materially strength
ans the bill. Your former townsman. ].
II. Plat. now Of Virginia, supported the
bill in very effective speech. His de.
fence of "carpet bsqgers" was both ingen-
ious and vigorous. and has been widely
copied throughout the country, and is, I
understand. to be published by the Re-
publican Central Committee az cam.
paPin document. He continues to fill the
post of Secretary to the Congressional
executive committee and has alec been
appointed member Of the resident com.
mittee-Senator Harlan. Hon. J, N. Ed.
munds and Gov. Cooke, being the other
members.