The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-03-11
rIS>ESstPr1 AZ CcNGRESs.
Hon. Representative Lamar was not
Permitted TO Answer the Calumnies
upon his Constituents.

From the Congressional Record, Feb. Is
MR. LAMAR. Mr. Speak
er, represent in part the State in wbic
some 81 The occurrences took place tbs
have furnished the occasion tor this pro
posed legislation Au investig ttiny com
nittee has been sent 10 thar State an,
Its report has not been submitted to thi
House until to-day, and | fear that !,
the dosing scenes Of this session l shall
have no opportunity 10 discuss and refut
the statements OF that report. Sir. a
the only member from Mississippi chosel
by that portion OF the people to be affect
ed by this legislation, | respectfully asl
the attention OF this House 10 what
have 10 say in their vindication.
4 Mr.. Speaker, there does exist il
some OF the Southern States a disauietud,
in political affairs which has led TO out
breaks OF bloody character. which ar,
unusual in the Northern States and in al
the other Southern States, and ought I,
be unknown in the workings of American
institutions. l propose to show that these
occurrences do not, as has been charged
arise from any purpose TO obtain politica
supremacy in any State, to any antag
onism OF race, to any lurking discomfort
with the amendments to the Constitution
or to any hostility to the Union. | pro
pose to show the precise cause of these
disturbances and the remedy for them.
Nh. ORTH-Will the gentleman yield
to me for question at that point?
MR. LAMAR-1es, sir.
Mr.. ORTH-I understand, Mr.. Speak.
er, the gentleman from Mississippi states
that the position of his trienes in the
| South Is not one of antagOnism on ac-
count OF race or opposition to the legisla-
ton Of Congress or to the legislation of
Congress under the constitutional amend
ments.
MIR. LAMAR mean to say that the
position of the native white population
of Mississippi is not one of antagonism on
account of race nor OF opposition to the
new constitutional amendments, nor of
resistance to the legislation of Congress
under those amendments. and my pur-
pose is to show that whatever of distur-
bance has existed in that State is owing
to entirely different causes.
| Mr.. ORTH-I hold in my hand a copy
of what is known As the vagrant law Of
his own State of Mississippi, placed upon
the statute book by legislature which
was pre-eminently demOcratic-not elect
ed by a single colored voter, for then no
colored man had the right to vote Those
laws, III my Judgment, were calculated
| to produce IA condition of involuntary
servitude more severe than slavery itself
If the gentleman will permit will ask
the Clerk to read those Laws, and then [
would like in all kindness 10 have the
gentlemans opinion in regard to that
legislation. | hope, Mr.. Speaker, the
House will not regard this as coming out
Of his time.
Mr.. LAMAR-Yes, sir; but il will take
many minutes to read those laws, and
should have a corresponding time to an
swer the gentleman's inquiry. [ promise
to make a perfectly candid statement
with regard TO those statutes if time will
be given me to do so.
Mr.. ORTH-I am myself not able to
comply with the gentleman's request, but
| hope there will be no objection in this
House.
SEVERAL MEMBERs-(on the demo-
cratic side Do not allow it to be read :;
it will consume your time.
Mr.. Lamar-Y es /; let US have the
whole truth from beginning 10 end The
gentleman has interrupted me in the out
set of my remarks, to which do not OBJ
ject, as have the highest respect for the
gentleman from Indiana but | ought to
have time to respond.
Mr.. w. +. ROBERTs-I hope, Mr.
| Speaker, the House will grant the gen
| tleman from Mississippi fifteen minutes
Mr.. LAMAR cannot get through with
all my remarks in fifteen minutes.
| Mr.. w. Il. RoBERTs-Then hope he
may have thirty minutes or whatever
time he may desire.
The SPEAKER-Is there objection to
giving the gentleman thirty minutes.
Nix. BARRY do, unless the same
time be accorded to me to reply.
Mr.. ATKINs-The same time will be
allowed to the other side.
Mr. w. r. RoBERrs-It is only fair
the gentleman from Mississippi should be
heard on this question so vitality impor-
tant to the people of his State He can
| furnish information necessary for our ac-
ton on the pending measure, and we
ought to have it.
Mr.. PELHAM object to any arrange
ment unless the same time is given to a
Republican.
Mr.. w. r. RoBERTs-Certainly.
THE SPEAKER-The gentleman from
Indiana will have the same time.
Mr.. ORTIZ do not desire it. |
wish only TO have the opinion of the gen
tleman from Mississippi in regard to leg
islaton which | consider as creating a
J E 10 10, 10
itself.
Mr.. CoNGER-I insist on the rule be,
ing followed until all have been heard
Mr.. CANNoN-of Illinois, rose.
Mr. ORTH-I desire to say, with the
consent of my friend from Illinois Mr..
Cannon, that | was not aware that the
| time Of the gentleman from Mississippi
was 50 limited that my interruption
would destroy the whole OF it. [ regret
that his courtesy to me has taken him
from the floor, and | do hope there will
be no objection on this side OF the House
to giving the gentleman from Mississippi
at least fifteen minutes to answer the
question | have propounded, or half an
hour if he so desires. | have not partici-
pated in this debate and have no desire
to do So But [ desire to have the gen
tleman from the State of Mississippi give
an explanation of this most extraordinary
legislation.
Mr.. DAwEs-I think the gentleman
from Mississippi Mr.. Lamar of all 9TH
ers ought to be heard. If there be any
thing lacking in this debate it is the view;
of those who represent that part Of the
nation most to be affected by this legisla
ton and it appears to me that if any
body can aid US in this matter it is the
patriotic and intelligent and homes