The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-01-23
CONGRESSIONAL.
Yesterdays Proceedings.
THURSDAY. January %

t1CftNocs MI pICSChtCo u NCIy
lengthy memorial from Miss Susan b. An
with her casting vote at Rochester. N. Y,
asking that the fine imposed upon her be
RENTED. The memorial was referred.
Mr.. Scott presented petition of Phila-
delphia merchants asking the issue of q 1855
convertible bond. Referred to the commit
tee on finance.
Resolutions of the Florida Legislature
relative to Cuba were presented.
Mr.. Anthony, from the committee on
printing, reported bill prohibiting hereaf-
ter the publication of any speech in the
Congressional Record not actually deliv-
cred in either house of Congress. Passed.
The unfinished business, being the
RESOLUTION ON THE SUBJECT OF
FINANCES,
was taken up.
Mr.. Boutwell, said he had not intended
to participate in this debate but for the
arraignment of his course by the Senator
from Missouri (Schurz).
Mr.. Merrimon continued his remarks on
the finance resolution, saying the South
produced three hundred and fifty millions
of cotton. This goes to New York, and
the money for it ought to 60 to the South.
The South had rich soil, climate UNI
surpassed anywhere, unlimited water
power and river transportation. If she
had the capital she would build up towns
and cities, build railroads and establish
manufactures, and Wall street would not
be in New York, but in Charleston, Sa-
yannah, or New Orleans.
Mr.. Edmunds asked how he proposed to
get capital there.
Mr.. Merrimon-We want your people
to come there.
Mr.. Edmunds-I say amen But how
are they to go there? Will they go to the
same state Of society, the same and equal
rights to all, the dignity Of labor respect
ed? Will they find the same equal Justice
in the courts and elsewhere that they do
in the East? When the South shows to
the capital Of the East that there is equal
rights to all before the law then it will 60
there. But until that time it will not. 1t
might be prejudice, but the belief existed
at the East that equal rights were not con-
coded. He hoped it might be prejudice,
but let every step be taken to do away with
the impression and leave no ground for it.
Mr.. Merrimon said he deplored the con-
flicts of the war, but ne hoped they were
in the past. He would say that any per-
son from any section would be as safe in
North Carolina as in any Eastern state, or
any state in the Union. The ratio of
crime and the ratio of votes were two to
one in favor of his state. sa
Mr.. Edmunds said he was told on good
authority that in North Carolina a New
England man of good character, who had
committed no crime, who was educated,
accomplished, and polite, opened an estab-
lishment. Everybody was glad to have
him come; everybody traded with him;
but no oae invited him to their houses, and
the sole reason was because he was YAM
kee and labored with his own hands. So
long as this prejudice against labor existed
capital would stay away from the South.
He did not say this in spirit of reproach
TO North Carolina or to the distinguished
Senator; nor did he specially allude to the
civil rights which had been talked of else
where, but the social equality. Until it
became respectable to engage in mercantile
pursuits, until this was recognized, the
South would wilt and wither and cry for
money she could not get.
Mr.. Merrimon said, in the case referred
to, there was some other cause that de.
prived the person Of the society he sought
to enter. Northern people were respected.
He knew from his own personal obserya-
ton that the things whispered in his
friends ears were not true. If man was
entitled to respect he would receive it if
he was not entitled to respect he ought not
to go there.
Mr.. Edmunds asked if it was not true,
at least until recently, that the families CT
officers of the army were not received into
society in North Carolina, except that class
that was, in that locality, termed scala
wags? He had been in North Carolina,
and had been assured by army officers that
such was the case.
Mr.. Merrmon denied it, and said he did
so from his own knowledge of the society
there.
Mr.. Edmunds said he was glad to hear
there had been change since 1867. He
went there in that year, and was told by
the officers there that such was then the
case. He had'a high respect for the off,
GERS; they were educated to tell the truth,
and ne did not think they told him falsly.
lie was glad 70 find that the state Of socie-
ty was improving, and SO fast as it inn
proves so fast the South would improve
At 3: 10 p. M. the Senate, on motion OF
Mr.. Edmunds, went into executive session.
and then adjourned.