Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-04-07
NORTH CAROLINA.
ENFORCEMENT Of TRE FOUR
TENTH AMENDMENT.
ALLEGED SOUTHERN OUTRAGEs
sueech of lion A M "addeIl. Delivered
In the House OF Representa-
tfves, April list, 1871.

Mr.. Speaker, l. rise TO the
Of sacred flial duty to my mother State.
And it is fortunate for me that am called
upon to do SO too day, because very re-
Gently in another place, another Of her
children intrusted with her honor and her
dearest interests, sentinel upon her
highest watch tower, has betrayed his
trust Sir, in the criminal code of the
Romans there was no provision made for
the punishment Of parricide, because it
was considered an impossible crime The
unnatural being who could slay father or
mother was considered as outside of the
range CT possibilities in creation. What
shall be said of the American citizen who.
when bis mother State lies PROSTATE and
helpless under accumulated calamltles, un-
paralleled in the history of this country,
when she stretches her bleeding arms and
utters her pleading voice to him to All
and defend her. not only turns deaf ear
to her cry, but can become the willing tool
of her defamers and despoilers; cannot
only stand by cOnsenting unto her death,
but can himself give the last, final stab to
her honor and her life Sir, such charac'
ter as that was fifty described In the burn
ing language of the pOet-patrlot of Ireland
,Unprized are her sons till they've learned TO
undistingQished they live. il they shame not
And the torch that would light them thro' dig
nity's way
must be caught Fl om tho pile whore their country
expires"
Mr.. Speaker, it ought not to operate to
the prejudice of the State most deeply in
terested in the legislation contemplated
here that her Representatives have de-
ferred to others and have yielded to them
all the earlier hours of this debate. Such
a course was consonant with our feelngs,
and think somewhat characteristic. 1t
is impossible, even in the hour allowed by
the rule, for any opponent of this bill to
DO Justice either to tho subject or to him
self. | shall not discuss 1t IN Its constltu.
tional aspects, but [ ask the indulgence OF
the House for a few moments while L COM
ment upon the alleged causes which are
supposed to justify it, particularly as
touching my own State. In Its ettects the
bill is ostensibly to be of universal apP!l-
cation, but the debate has developed the
fact. if it was not already known, that IL 10
merely party scheme, the operation OF
which is intended to be confined to that
portion of the country which gentlemen
take particular pleasure In designating as
sthe insurrectionary States" It is an in
dictment against them, founded upon
voluminous heresay testimony, ana the
prosecutors have, unfortunately, think.
Tor the peace of the country, presented
their arguments to the House, not in the
calm spirit which should characterize the
discussion of subject so vast and tar
reaching, but rather in the temper OF the
heated partisan.
Now. sir. shall not follow this exam
pie [ am not of that political tempera-
ment and never was, and it is gratifying
to mo to feel that there are gentlemen Oh
the other side who know the fact. M
friend, the honorable gentleman from
PENNSYLVANIA. (Mr. Kelley,) to whose man
~ and generous conduct l am chiefly IN
debted for my prompt admission 10 tn
seat I occupy, friendly service for whlcl
wish to make this public acknowledg
ment, knows that ever since the termlna
ton of the late war my efforts have Deel
directed to the promotion OF peace, JUS
tice, and good order in my native state
he knows that as early as the summer o
1865, before the Government had take
anv step toward the enfranchisement G
that race of which he is the eloquent cham
pion, and when the majority OF those WI
are now his political associates were atrai
to advocate that measure I, alone and
the face of a public opinion, OF who
even he had scarce Just aPprcclal01l
made a public speech In its favor. re
this reason [ have hoped that what ma
say in regard to the condition of affairs !
North Carolina would be accepted by hill
and others as at least free from mIsrepre
scntation and undue pref udice.
Mr.. Kelley Will the gentleman allo
me q moment
Mr.. Waddell Certainly.
MI. Kelley I wish to testify to tt
truth OF what the gentleman has stated.
Mr.. Waddell-I hope this will not L
taken out of my time.
Mr. Kelley l do it out of the grat1tuC
have borne him from those early da.
for an argument in behalf of that oppre
eed race, that would have done credit
any, the most enthusiastic, northern ma
Mr. Waddell It is grateful to my Zee
inps to hear those things, but have n
time to yield further.
have voted. Mr.. Speaker, on every o.
casion for Investigation into the aIleg'
outrages in my State. not because o
lieved in the necessity or in the power
Congress to send ont such an itinera
grand Jury, but because I was unwilling
give the slightest ground for the susplci
that either or my constituents were aver
to the most rigid Investigation which cor
be Instituted into the terrible crimes viii
are laid at our doors; and after I was q
pointed on the committee Of thirteen
tried, on three different occasions, to 6
the floor in order that might ask to
excused from serving, because desired
see that committee composed exclusively
gentlemen from the Northern States.
was willing for an Investigation, because
am satisfied that when the wnole tfutn
known, the people of the North WILL bet
TO understand some of the grlevous D.
dens which the people of North Caroll
have been compelled to bear, ana wn
they have borne in manner that iustil
me in saying that if inexhaustible pate!
be an attribute of God, they have exhl
ted at least one Divine quality.
do not deny that crimes have be
committed in North Carolina. do !
deny that in small portion OF the ST
bands of disguised men have violated
criminal laws of the State. Although VII
cut personal knowledge on the subject,
published testimony satifes me that 81
has been the case, just as am satisf
that similar outrages have occurred, q
are daily occurring. in the States OF