Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-04-05
Congress-.

Senator Blair having been awarded the
floor on Monday quoted from the debates in
Congress when the l4th amendment was under
consideration, to show the construction
placed upon it by its authors and supporters,
and held that it was plainly laid down at the
time that the only power ofleglslatlon which
| Congress held under it was to prevent any
violations of its provisions under color of
| State law The measure which was now
proposed was an assumption of the power of
Congress to punish the violation OF State law.
| The design of this legislation was to carry
| out the designs of that remorsless set of
scoundrels, carpet baggers, and their alders
and abettors, and continue Gen. Grant per-
petually in power. 1t was a very easy
course for men whom the South repudIated
to manufacture stories of Outrages to further
their efforts to get back into power. The
system of the government under which the
South is ruled is the disgrace of our age.
This carpet-bag system Is perfectly lnta-
nous by which strangers, adventurous, and
men of no character were ruling over peO-
ple whose ancestors made these states what
they are The project of the radical party
are SO alarming that something must be done.
The people are clamoring for revenue reform
and reduction of taxes, by which millions
are wrung from them for the benefit OF the
plunderers They are searching very close
/
zeal party. The rank and file are falling
away from it, and something desperate must
be resorted to to save it. Abiding to the
reconstruction acts Senator Blair said that
whenever the supreme court had an OppOr-
tunity to pass upon any question connected
with them it had invaribly pronounced them
unconstitutional, and Congress knowing that
they were unconstitutional, passed an act to
prevent the supreme court from passing d.
10
said the democratic party, while it believed
the acts to be unconstitutional, did not in
tend, as had been charged, to overthrow
them by force. The only measures when
the democratic party would resort to were
constitutional measures.
Senator Scott here interrupted and quoted
from the " BrOadhead letter y OF Mr. Blair,
that the President elect should dispose OF the
carpet-bag governments by force
Senator Blair said there was democratic
party, and the democratic party was not
Senator Blair. and he repeated that the dem
ocratic party never threatened 10 use violent
means to overthrow the unconstitutional acts
of Congress. lie (Blair) had believed and
did believe that the President having taken
an oath to support the constitution, should
stand to that oath, whether against Congress
or against individuals for he believed that
Congress in violating the constitution, was
no more than a mob. lie had said that the
army should be made TO undo its work OF
usurpaton and said so now. Senator Blalr
then reviewed at length the situation OF al
fairs IN North Carolina under Gov. Holden
administration which he condemned IN un-
measured terms, and proceeded further to
comment severely upon the venalIty OF the
South Carolina legislature, quoting at length
from republican papers to support his state
ments,
Senator Sherman admitted that the ligis
Iature of South Carolina had behaved shame
fully. and he would ask the Senator what
remedy he proposed for it. If he had none
he had certainly no right to bring these mat
tiers in here.
senator Blair said he had a right T. DO 1t
he had a right to arraign this body for
striking down the very vital principle OF free
government, for destroying local selt-govern-
ment.
Senator Sawyer corroboratcd the state
ments Of Senator Sherman, Every one voted
in South Carolina. and Senator Sawyer said
there were not over 500 in the state de-
barred from holding Office by the Fourteenth
Amendment The position OF the democrat
ic party in South Carolina was such that no
considerable number would accept the pr1tteT
of Office. They were influenced by the attI-
tude Of the democratic party in the north,
sentiment.
Senator Blair For principle.
S nat Sawyer For sentiment.
Sen Blair Principle. Ii was principle
and he was glad the democratic party adhered
to principle in spite ofloaves and fishes. lie
was glad the democratic party refused to
share with carpet baggers. Senator Blair
continued in his review of the condition Of
the southern states. the debt Of which had
been 50 enormously increased under radical
rule. He said be knew GOV. Yarmouth Of
Louisiana we'll He went from Missouri
ragged and naked, and without money TO pay
for his breakfast Now he lived in palace
and was rolling in wealth, and he lBlair)
had been informed he never signed a blllwith-
out a price
Without concluding Senator Blair gave
wav and the Senate went into executive ses-
sion and then adjourned
IN the House the debate Mr. Shcllobar-
gers bill for the suppression Of outrages IN
the South was continued