The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-03-24
Ron. putler,s Manifesto.

of the times, as an evidence of the want
of harmony in the Radical councils at
Washington, and as a refreshing combi-
nation of insolence and impudence-
and something for Democrats to laugh
at.
10 me Republicans Of TIE House n Representatives
Having been appointed against my
wishes, expressed both publicly and
privately, by the Speaker as chairman
of committee to investigate the state
of affairs in the South, ordered to-day
by Democratic votes, against the most
earnest protest of more than two.thirds
majority of the Republicans of the
House, and certainly against the almost
unanimous wish of the Republicans of
the States whom it most specially con-
Germs, my selfrespect and Difference to
your good opinion require me to explain
to you, and through you to the country
why shall not serveo that committee,
being convinced, as am, that no good,
but harm only, can come of it to the
Republican party.
First. Because this committee was
forced upon the Republicans by the
nearly unanimous vote of the Demo-
cratic party in the House, aided by some
twenty or thirty Republicans only,
against the decision of majority of
that party in duly. called caucus of the
members of the House.
Second. Because this committee was
raised by combination of the high.
tariff Republicans with the Democracy,
the one class willing to permit the
| slaughter and determination of their
political friends in the South if the tariff
could be saved even for nine months by
an early adjournment Of Congress, and
| the Democracy acting with them in
| pursuance of a deliberate plan carefully
concocted, in my belief, TO murder and
outrage enough Union men of the South
to overcome by fear, intimidation, and
| injury the Republican majority there at
| the next Presidential election, they well
knowing that this committee can do
them no harm, and that it will furnish
an excuse for the tariff Republicans to
vote wit u them for an early adjourn
ment without legislation to protect I'm
ion men in the rebel States.
Third. Because such committee would
be wholly powerless for any good pur-
pose. Sitting in the vacation, it can
| have, under parliamentary law, no
power to compel the attendance of a
single witness who does not choose to
come, or answer from one when he does
come, as the only method by which a
witness can be brought before Con.
gressional committee and made to an.
swer when unwilling, is, the House
being in session, by its order of arrest
and imprisonment for his contempt
during the session only, so that any un-
willing witness cannot be compelled to
testify to anything, and the witnesses
willingly coming before the committee
to testify to anything against their Ku-
klux neighbors would be killed on their
way home from the committee. room.
do not, therefore, propose to make my
self accessory before the fact to the
murder of every faithful Union man in
the South who shall be brought before
the committee and give truthful evil
dence of the state of outrage and wrong
which know to exist there.
Fourth. Because my service as chair
man of the committee would furnish
the best electioneering document that
could be placed in the hands of the De.
mocracy in the coming contest, in this,
that the report of the committee would
be wholly nugatory, illusory, and use
less to show the exact state Of things at
the South. Whenever and wherever
the committee would go there would be
sunshine and peace, and we should be
compelled so to report. Where we were
not and could not be, banded murder
robbery, and arson would stalk abroad
at night, to be disbanded by the rising
sun. Besides, i have not the slightest
doubt that while serving on your COM
mittee in the Southern States l should
be treated with the highest and most
distinguished consideration and respect
That would be in the farthest degree
polite, and Southern men understand
politics. fully believe that / can &C
anywhere through every portion of the
South alone and unattended, and {
fortiori, when at the head of q Con
gressional committee of investiga
ton, without personal harm or in
suit Therefore, when Republicans
should claim in the canvass that it wa!
necessary, to maintain the Republican
party in power, to have peace at thu
, South and to protect our loyal friends
there, they would be answered on every
Democratic hustings, "You are not tt
be believed when you say that the law
cannot be executed at the South, ant
. mems lives and property are in danger
, there, when you see that General But
LER, the man who hanged one of thei
rebel brethren, the man who brough
=, New Orleans into subjection, the mai
who is more hated and villifled in tn,
South than any other, can go through
it untouched and unharmed." l hav
no intention of aiding the Democrat
cause and breaking down the Republi
, can party by furnishing in my own per
y son any such argument, with no coun
tervailing good.
FVth. Because, with these views @
:, the efficiency and powers of the com
mittee, my services would be useles;
- and am not accustomed to undertak
= to do that which / feel that l have n
power successfully to accomplish; an
~ it is parliamentary practice which ha
= lately been illustrated in signal in
= stance in the Senate, that the chairma
- of committee should be in harmon
= with the majority who constitute j
," There is no element of harmony bt
tween me and that Democratic party
II largely composed of Secessionists, oil
is Wings, and Know Nothings, who al
is the majority that constitute this con
Is mite.
is ,Sirth. Because this committee wf