Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-23


hands of the American Congress, he did
not know what would do so.
Mr.. Farnsworth asked Mr.. Vorhees what
Congress was TO do when it was found out
the facts to be as stated.
Mr.. Voorhees,, eXcitedly: Oh, don't ask
me what Congress will do.
Mr.. Farnsworth What ought it TO do?
MIR. Voorhees,: In my judgment it ought
to do great many things connected with
Southern affairs which the gentleman from
Illinois, with even bis strong sense of Justice
which recognize would not agree with
me in. have beenin the South this summer
and my judgment is the Southern govern
ments are the worst in the world, without
any exception. There is nothing comparable
to them anywhere else. They are unparal-
leled for their iniquity, their infamy and
their ignorance. The lawmakers are in
competent TO make law. When you show
ne Legislature, four-fifths of whose mem
bers can neither read nor write, who do not
pay even a poll tax, and set them to the
duty OF levying taxes of untold millions on
the property and intelligence of a commun-
ity, will show you, as l have said, a gov
ernment that is the worst beneath the sun.
Mir. voorhees, went to GepitCt the terri
bic condition Of things, not only in Louisi-
ana, but in all the Southern States, attribu-
ting that condition to the reconstruction
laws of Congress. 1t mattered little what
became of the factions now warning in
Louisiana, but it did matter much to the
character of the American Government,
whether State should literally disorganize
itself, and dissolve into the elements of an
archy. As well as once might they allow
BasiAOria pirates to raise their flag once
more in the Gulf Of Mexico, as to allow
those people to Igo on as they
were gaining. In lis deliberate judgment
the government in the South had been
built on the wrong end. The pyramid stood
not upon its base but upon its apex. They
had built those governments on vice, on
ignorance, on responsibility; not on sta
billty, not on intelligence, not OH the classes
who are responsible for the peace and order
and welfare of the community. At the
end Of six and half years of Republican
rule and government at the South this was
the result. Were the Republican members
of the House content with it? Would they
go before the country and say as honest
men that their plant had borne the fruits
hlr. Shellabarger replied to VoOrheers but
first defended the President from the insi-
nuation published against him to the effect
that he was opposed to the committee going
to New Orleans. He happened to know
accidentally how exactly opposite to the
truth that cruel statement was. Hc wish
ed the gentleman from Indiana (Voorhee)
had been more explicit on that cardinal ele-
M onto T,pnTNOSitSpV, Of hic
eTn Governments had been set upon the
wrong end. Did he mean that when
Congress placed the government of those
States on the votes of all the people, that
was setting the pyramid on the apex instead
of on the base?-did he mean by that to
say that Congress should turn round now
and set back the hands upon the dial of
time, and take away votes from any pOr-
ton Of the people who now had the right |
to vote? If he meant that he should have
said so. lie wanted to know right here, |
once for all, if the Democrats proposed to |
take the right of suffrage from the black |
men of the republic?
Mr.. Eldridge: No; but we propose to in
vest the intelligent people of the South |
with it.
Mr.. Shellabarger, not noticing the inter |
-uptiOn, went on to speak of the problems |
presenting themselves in the work of recon- |
StruCtion.
Beck.
Mr.. Beck said the gentleman from Indi-
ina (NoOrhees) not being able through
to reply TO Mr.. Shellabarger'S
enquiry, he (Beck) would tell the gentle
nan wherein the governments of the South
,rn States had been placed on their apex.
That gentlemen said Congress had enfran-
,hiscd all men in the South. That was not
rue. 1t had disfranchised the intelligent
nen in those States and placed the ignorant
,yer them. Not only that, but Congress
lad sent down bad set of men to inflame
md delude the negroes, and rob and plum
Ter the people.
In this connection Mr.. Beck spoke Of the
arge increase Of debt in all the Southern
states, and spoke Of the various Governors,
Bullock Of Georgia, Clayton of Arkansas,
3rownlOw of Tennessee, etc, who had
ried 10 avoid being sent to the Penitentiary
y takingrefuge in the Senate Of the United
states.
The Speaker called Mr.. Beck to order
md reminded him that he was rejecting
N coordinate branch of Congress.
MI DUN COullllUGO ItI SbillC liIlt III Jlt
anne strain, in arraigning the officials of
he South.
Mr.. Kerr sent b clerks desk and had
cad a dispatch just received by him from
Y. I. Blackmore, a Senator of the Legisla-
ure, stating the condition Of affairs was
eaTful and there was no longer any Repub-
lean government or liberty in law; that
he State House and approaches were filed
With armed men to intimidate the Lesisla-
ure, and asking that a select committee
hould 20 to New Orleans at once.
Mr.. Stevenson replied at length TO Messrs.
ToorheeS and Beck, contending that their
tatements as to the Southern State debts
we're gross exaggerations, and that property
n the South now is much more valuable
han before the war.
The debate throughout was very exciting
nd attracted much interest. Finally it was
rought to close, and the resolution was
dOpted without division.
House adjourned.