The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-08-19
SPEECH OF HON. H. G. DAVIS
In Mineral County COnven-
ton, Aug. Is, 1874. 40

FcLlsuc- Citizens aud Friends:-Iou
have lust been addressed by the Hon. &
J. Faulkner, one of the most distinguish
ed men of this State or country. Ht
has made speech worthy of himself and
the Democratic party. His remarks on
| civil rights deserve special notice.
have heard nearly all the speeches in the
Senate on this subject-none cXcels the
one lust made. This is one of the largest
county Conventions ! have ever attend
ed. 1t is pleasant for me to meet and
talk to so many of those who first hon
ored me with thar confidence by elect
ing me n member Of the lower branch OF
the Legislature of this State in 1860, and
that at a time when the party was in Il
political minority. From that time you
have constantly favored me, by electing
me to the Senate of the State, until the
wear when the Legislature of the State
elected me one Of your Representatives
in the National Councils. And l desire
now to express my gratitude for the con-
fidence you have so frequently and gen
erouSly repOsed in me. 10u know that
it is not my habit to make lengthy
speeches. But feel constrained at this
time, in response to numerous calls that
have been made upon me, to depart from
nv usual custom. If you will, therefore,
bear with me, | will endeavor to give
Won some account of the way national
affairs are conducted under Republican
rule, and some thoughts in reference to
policy and future prospects OF the Dem
ocrstic party of this State.
You and will have work to do be-
tween now and the October election. \
thorough organization should be had, and
a thorough canvass made if you wish tC
accomplish an overwhelming victory
1t is not enough in time ofwar to organ
ize an army and appoint competent gen
erals to command it, and then content
yourselves with dress-parades. 1t will
not do to content yourselves with the
| thought, that because of Il superiority OF
numbers, all YOU have to do Is to exhibit
YOUR numbers and await the surrender OF
| the enemy. You must not expect our
opponents to march into your camp and
deliver up their arms without Il
struggle. If you expect ivictory, you
must be aggressive. You must expose
their trickerv and deceit. You must
show our superiority rs party IN point
of morals. and an economical admins,
tration of affairs. To do this successfully
! Won must be armed with official facts and
! ficurcs. l have taken some pains to col
| lect together some facts and figures con-
nected with the administration of public
affairs by the Republicans, both National
and State, and if you will bear with mC
while trespass on your patience, l will
endeavor to present them to you.
CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.
! And | will first call your attention to
! what is known as Summers civil RlSht'
Bill, because this is the most iniquitous OF
all the iniquitics that the Republicans are
endeavoring to foist upon the people, anC
if continued in power they Will perPe'
| trate this disgrace us certainly as nIgh'
succeeds day. The bill is sweeping
in its provisions and the pen
| oltics attached for any violation
| OF the law. are ofthc scvcrest character
! The first section of this infamous bill, IA
! il passed the Senate, reads as follows;
That all citizens and other persons
within the jurisdiction of the UnitcC
States shall be entitled to full and equa
endowment of the accommodations, ad
vantages, facilities and privileges of pub
/ Iicconvevanccs on land or water, thea
tres or other public places of amuSe'
mcnt, and also of the common schools
and nublic institution of learning or be
ncvolcnce, supported in whole or III par
by general taxation, and OF cemetenr'
So supported, and also institutions know
rs agricultural colleges endowed by thu
United States, subject only to the condi
t;ons and limitations established by the
law and applicable alike to citizens o
every race and color regardless OF an!
preyIous condition of Servitude.
The second section provides penalty
of $500 and costs to be paid the az
gricved party, and further makes any
violation of the provisions OF the mrs
section, misdcmeanOr, punishable witt
n fine of not more than 81 ,0OO-or I'M
prisonment not more than one year.
The third section gives the district ant
circuit courts of the United States cXcll
siye copnizance of all violations OF TIT
provisions of this act Thus dcprivlns
the State Courts Of all power IN tn
premises. .... .-....-..,-
that no person shall be disquaI
flied on account of color
previous condition, &c, from serving n
grand or petit juror in any court OF tn
limited States. and make the failure q
any officer whoexcludes such person from
sucb service, a misdemeanor, punishable
with $1,000 fine -..
This bill passed the Senate by a vot
of 20 to l62-almost two to one. An'
vet when it was introduced in the Senate
it met with hardly any countenance o
favor. But finding their power eontin
ued, the leader of the Republican part
concluded to father this intamy, and 5
pulled the party lines, and the obedlen
rank and file obeying the command, tn
bill was rushed through. The Demoero
CIV made a vigorous effort to prevent tn
massage of this fraud upon the people, bu
being in a hopeless minority, they coul'
do nothing but stave it off us long as pos
sible. They showed unconstitutlon
ahty of the act; they argued against it
impracticsbility; they implored tn
Radicals to refrain from tn
crowning indignity upon tn
Southern and border states, but all
vain. Then they tried to delay, by re
sorting to every parliamentary tactic po'
sible, but the Republicans were too str9n
for them, and after an all day and night
session they succeeded in putting on IN
gag law and forcing its passage. I'm