New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-09
Kerr and the Confederate Members.

Much credit is claimed by the Democrats
in that the Confederate element, which
forms 80 large portion of their congres
sonal strength, did not seek TO control th G
lats caucus in its choice of a Speaker. We
dispute the assumption. Mr.. Kerr is man
after their own hearts-as is easily to be
made evident.
The selection of Southern Speaker was
not to be thought Of for two reasons: First,
there was no candidate of sufficient promi-
nence to offer the least pretext for such a
choice. Second, the Democratic situation
is such as to make it absolutely imperative
for them to gain strength in the North.
"Our victories in the South are poor conso-
lation," said the Missouri Republican; SIT is
in the North that we need increased
strength, for it is the North that controls
the country, and must for many years to
come"
But, strongly impressed as they were
with this necessity, they pursued it in that
section Of the North most in sympathy with
them during the rebellion, and they chose a
candidate whose whole political course has
been in accord with them. 1t is another
move in the policy which made Senators of
Eaton, of Connecticut; Wallace, of Pennsyl-
vania, and such rebel as Cockrell, of
Missouri This is the only class of men that
they will tolerate at the fore; and they
found such one in Mr.. Kerr. His congress
sional record has NO break in this parti-
cular. He was bitter opponent of the
fourteenth and fifteenth am. ndments. His
vote was recorded against every measure
to free the negroes, and to secure
protection to them when freed. Even the
effort to throw round them the ordinary
safeguards of the law in the District of
Columbia met with his hostility. He anita
gonized all measures connected with the
Freedmen's Bureau. He was q staunch
supporter of Mr.. Johnson's efforts to thwart
the progress of reconstruction. When he
(Andy JOhnson) advised, in presidential
message, the most shameful national repu-
diation (the stopping of all further interest
on the government bonds, and it's applica-
tiOn to . reduction of the principally, and
the House introduced resolution declar-
ing that this was not the sentiment of the
nation, Kerr lodged the vote. When the
Ku-Klux were numbering innocent me-
groes, and such white men in the South
as dared to .sympathize with them, by
the thousands when General Giant
for some legislation the better to protect
their lives and liberties, and when Mr.. Shell
labarger introduced the committee's bill for
this purpose, Mr.. Kerr was chosen, of all
tho Democrats, as the Ku Klux champion
against the bill. He fought for them
bravely. He flooded the House with all the
smattering of law that he had gathered as
Supreme Court reporter. He analyzed the
on the old basis of State rights,
and upheld that doctrine in all its olden
He denounced the attempt to
restrain the Ku-Klux murderers as bloody
and tyrannOus nsurpation. He eulogised
portions of the infamous bred Scott decis-
on. He appeared to have learned nothing
BY the war, and he has learned nothing yet.
In this respect he Is . genuine Bourbon.
The Confederate element in Congress
,0uld have chosen no man who will better
lphold their views. Mr.. Kerr is with them
body and soul. He is with them in the
southern policy of evading the constitu-
,i0nsl amendments by new constitutions of
heir own. Nor is any one to be deceived
~ the shrewd attempt of the Southern
members to cover their tracks. His position
8 known, and the Democratic party must
bear the burden of it, They cling to their
I'D lights 20 earnestly that they will be left
Without any light at ALL Cincinnati Times.