Wilmington journal., 1874-01-09

man.
! a co!occt, member, Lynas, of Ms
arose III response to the challenge. lint
/ NJ. Harris amid great LAUGHTER a.
cilae.i 20 listen to him saving .I,f. tf
; was addressing himself 70 White ,;e.
! and dl;i not propose 20 }layaa negro in
/ terfcrc
, 1fr. Stephens. Of Georgia, u.st :, r,,4..
! to address the House, but said thai he
could Eot say al he lad IL -..v ii iwe.-
y minutes, aud he asked Z, ,av:, a.,
! h2nr allowed him.
J.. Il. Hoar objected, ba. sri,@c-
I quontly offered to Withdraw tic o..
! lection II case the same privilege v.ar.,
! granted tt Elliott, colorod, OF S. G.
/ Then Walks, Of Florida. also col
! cred, renewed TIC objection. but h.
| too withdrew il.
Mr.. Stephens took lis position ia
/ th, back part OF the hall, Oh the Demo
+ TaTlcaldt and prccecd2dtc rad "a speccl
Ill opposlsIont to the bill, marking that
L! rev u the great Importance Of the
subject he had reduced lis view; to
writing lie Was not opposed to the
/ p1li because Of any opposition ho had
! to doing full and ample Justice every
! iinman being within the legitimate in
! rl3olctlon Of the Federal legislative
! power. The end of all Government
whether State Or Federal, should be
| tLc protection of right. His opposi-
ton to the bill sprung from 10 preiu-
. dice against any man, woman or child
within the limits OF the United States.
on account OF race, color or previous
| condition Of servitude. He entertained
10 feeling OF that kind, and was not
| governed III his action by any influence
of that sort. His opinion of Justice
and its proper administration was no:
| founded on that dogma SO generally
announced aud SO perniciou, Ill prin-
! ciple, that it should he for the greatest
good of the greatest number, but on
! the higher rule that it should hc for
the greatest good of all, without letri-
ment or injury to any. While lie did
not hold the doctrine Of the equality Of
races, he did maintain the great truth,
however parad oXical it might appear.
that all men were created equal. That
great truth had been announced frs!
by council OF state on the 9Th day OF
July, l716, bat it was never meant 10
convey the idea that all men We're ere
ated equal in all respects, physically,
mentally and morally. 1t was, how,
ever, meant I . assert tho great law OF
|
to justice and to stand perfectly equal
lingness TO have all natural
rights secured to colored men
he sent to the clerks desk
and had read extracts from addresses
made ly him to the people of Georgia.
but he was opposed to this measure or
to any one kindred to ii. because Of the
want OF the necessary power on the
part OF Congress under tbs Cons!it,l-
tior.
He assumed that every member
would admit that the powers of Con
asress were specific and limited. ard
that MI The Legislative powers wllicl,
Congress- could rightfullv exercise wer.,
ila!d br delegation from the reop!e OF
the several States, and lie contcrGe.;
that No EeW powers had been conferred
on Congress hE either the Fourteenti,
or Fifteenth Amendments to the Con
sttutl0n. The proper remedy was III
tie judgments OF the courts, to be rem
dered IN such way as Congress should
provide, declaring any State act in vio-
1ation Of the rights of citizens to be
null and void, and of 40 effect. He
opposed the bill further because of its
lneXpedlcncy, even if the power were
unGuestioned IN Congress to pass this
law. He thought it would be ininii-
cious and ruwise to exercise il. It
would be better to leave all sl!ci, mat
ters t. tie States. Fe did not believe,
III point OF fact, that the colored people
Of Georgia desired it, Their religious
aad church organizations. except in iii.
case q Catholics, were distinct from
those OF the whites and they had their
own schools, even college for colored
youths. They did not desire to have
mixed schools.
Mr.. Stephens occupied the door for
an hour and quarter, having had his
time extended twice. As usual, how
ever, in the casa Of written speeches,
its delivery did not command OF
receive the attention OF the House.
The peroration WAS IN these words
eli you who call yoursolvs Republi-
cans, shall il obedience to what you
consider party behes::, pass this
bill in the vain expectation that the
Republican principles of the old and
true Jeiiersouian School are dead, be
delusion. The old Jcffersoulan Dem
ocratic Republican principles arc not
dead, and Will never die SO long as
true levotee OF liberty lives. They
may be buried for Il period as the
Magma Charter was trOdden under
/ foot in England for moro than half u
! century, but these principles will come
! up with renewed energy, as did those
| of the Magma Charter, and that too at
no distant day. Old JetfersoniaD
Democratic Republican principles dead
/ indeed. When the tides of ocean
+ cease to ebb and flow, when tho winds
of heaven are 1ushed into perpetual
silence, when the clouds no longer
thunder. when eartl's electric bolts
are 10 longer felt or heard, when tbs
! internal fires go out, then, and 10.
before, will these principles cease to
live. Then and not before will these
principles cease to animate and move
the liberty loving masses Of this
country
Ransier, Of South Carolina, color
ed member, followed IN II written
speech, in the support Of the bill,
contending tnat there was no practical
freedom i'll the Southern States for
the colored people, and would not be
SO loug as the matter was left to the
discretion of the several States.
Miller, of Texas, opposed the bill as
an unauthorized and unconstitutional
assumption of power.
Elliott, of South Carolina, obtained
the floor but recedea to motion to
adjourn.
The Speaker laid before the House
message from the President in
reference to the steamer Nirginins.
Tho message was read, and referred
! to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
! The House then, Mt $40 O'Clock, ed
jouned.
Bishop Wilmer visited the President
to-day and represented that there
were starving people IN Louisiana.
The Bishop, accompanied by the Prcsi-
/ dent, proceeded to the Capitol, wher'-
! they had conference with the Lousl-
ana delegation. General Sypher will
| tomorrow introduce g resolution
| authorizing the Wax Department t"
issue rations to these people.
Only the Republican members oi