Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-18

ere admitted into the councils OF Tn
l Union, the authority of the government
under which they are appointed, as wei
as its republican character, Is recognize'
by the proper constitutional authority
And its decision is binding on every oth
er department of the Government, am
could not be questioned in Judicla' III
bunal." 5.-
Sir, there is no installing this Language
and the principle announced. Ithss beer
accepted and approved ca pdrte Coup
land 26 Texas, 434; and see Federalist,
No. 81, page 112;) and every State Is no"
representated by its Senators and Repre-.
sentatives in the Congress. We need nc
guarantee such as this bill offers. 1t can
lie no guarantee of republican forms OF
substance to fill the Southern States with
armies and proclaim martial law. The
States are in no completely with the bad
men who commit murder and practice
crime there. We have republican forms,
and Congress by every principle is bound
to concede the fact, having recognized
their Representatives. So much, then,
for the first part of this section.
We come to the second, invasion. There
is no pretense that any, State has been
invaded. Is the great State of New York
invaded every time murder Is commit
ted within her bounds Was the great
State of Pennsylvania invaded when
rioters in the city of Philadelphia burned
a public building Was the great State
of Massachusetts invaded when Webster,
one of her first scholars, within the walls
of Harvard murdered Parkman, or later,
when evil-disposed persons violated her
laws in Lowell2 Did they require the
Army and Navy and martial lawG And,
sir, because midnight murder is some
times found in the South it should not be
regarded as an invasion. ass
We pass to the third part of this cele-
brated provision, protection against do
nestle violence. When, sir, has Con-
gress the power TO grant this protection
1t is alone upon the application of the Leg
islature of q State or when that cannot be
convened the application of the Execu-
tive will do. Sir, when a State by its
Legislature or Executive shall make an
appeal to the Congress for protection
against domestic violence it will be time
then for US to consider the appeal and
take such action as may be needed and
warranted by the Constitution, and not
until then need we engage in legislation.
What State, sir, in the Union has sent up
such an appeal as is demanded by the
Constitution l hear of none; no case is
cited, unless, as has been said in debate,
South Carolina has through her EXecu-
tive, expressed some wishes. In may be,
Mr.. Speaker, that the crushed and down.
trodden people of poor, unhappy South
Carolina need some protection, but it can
not be that they are needing the protec-
ton of this military enactment; for when
put in execution it will afford them the
same protection (Which voltures give to
lambs-covering and devouring them"
What is the curse which broods like q
vampire upon that Statel Sir, hold in
my hands a solution of her miseries. 1t
is q picture of aLegislature of that State.
1t contains the photogra, Jhs of sixty. three
members of that illustrious assembly of
wisdom and patriotism. Of the number
on this card, thirteen are white men and
fifty are negroes. OF the whole number
twenty-five read and write, and of these
only eight dramatically, while the re-
maiIder, forty -one, make their mark with
the aid of an amsnuensis. Nineteen ale
taxpayers to On aggregate amount of
$146 10; the rest, forty-four, pay no
taxes, and yet this body levies on the
white people of the State for s., 600, 900.
In all sincerity, l ask, Mr.. Speaker,
whose work is thisY Is this the work of
the Democratic party? Is there man 30
brazen as to assert the fact2 Did the hate
full Ku-Klux give us this remarkable bodyl
Where on earth in past history, can a
State be found, which flourished and wsi
happy, with such body of aw-makers'
Concluded To morrow