The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-02-12
A Page from Congressional Proceedings

rage irOW UOngrcsSlOhal fFoceculngb'
The Civil Rights bill being under consid-
Grafton, Messrs. +. II. Hoar of Mass, Hale
of N. Y, and Cain offs. c., favored the bill,
and Messrs. +. II. Roberts of n. Y, STAN
posed it. Mr.. Chittenden said he hoped to
live and die with the Republican party, but
he could not vote for this bill lie believed
the bill would sink the party, and he did not
believe there was a community in New York
or New England that would vote for such u
measure if the proportion of white and col
ored people were the same as in South Car
olina. He believed the bill to be impolitc .
and an offence to the dominant race. lie |
regarded it as a cruel oppression to the weak
cr race at this stage of-its struggle for a
higher civilization. 1t would inevitably breed |
for the black man persecution and rcudicc,
and raise new barriers to his progress.
Mcssrs. Caldwell, Of Alabama, Eidrdge,
of Wisconsin, and Brown, of Kentucky, OPP
posed the bill Mr. Brown said Of the mca-
sure: at had been born in malgnity, would
be passed in defiance and violation of the
Constitution, and would be executed in vio-
lence and bloodshed, as he feared"
Mr. Hale, of New York, objected to the
last sentence AS unparliamcntary, but it
having been reduced to writing and read
from the Clerks desk, the Speaker ruled
that it did not transcend the limits of par
liamentary debate.
Mr.. Speer, Of Pennsylvania is an
honest decision.
Mr.. Brown continued his remarks: He
said he regarded the bill as part of the ma
chinery to be set in motion for the campaign
of 1876. lie believed that Il deliberate con-
spiracy had been formed for the overthrow
of constitutional liberty. "You men," said
he, "who propose to pass this bill have been
weighed in the balance and been found
wanting"
The Speaker informed MIR. Brown that nc
must address the chair.
Mr.. Brown.-Mr. Speaker, your conduct
in this and other matters daughter at the eff
feet of Browns obedience to the Speaker
instructions) reminds me of passage in Ju-
MUS, where he describes bad tenant hav-
| ing received notice to quit, breaking the fur
niturc, putting the house in disorder and
doing all that he could to vex the landlord.
Mr.. Speaker, the South is broken. 1t lies in
helplessness and despair, with homes dla-
pidated, villages wasted, its people bank
rupted. l. there nothing in that situation to
tuch you with pity? If your magnanimity
can not be reached will you not be moved by
some sense of justice? In 1872 by CON
spiracy between the Attorney General, kel-
logg and q drunken Federal Judge, the
sovereignty of a State was overthrown.
That usurpation has been perpetuated
since by bayonets but recently one Of your
/ Generals entered the legislative halls as
Cromwell entered the English Parliament
with Colonel Pride, and ruthlessly expelled
, the occupants. Onward and onward you &c
in defiance of the sentiment Of the country
without pity and without justice, remorse'
lessly determined, it seems, to drive this Son
thern people to destruction to give then
roofs to the flames and thoi' flesh to the
eagles. A Federal Geroral steps on the scene
and sends n despatch to the world that the
, neonle of snat State are banditti. We have
= h,..id it echoed elsewhere that they were
thieves, murderers, night-riders. The Clergy
of the State, jew and Gentle, have denied
it; the business men and the Northern resi-
dents have denied it; a committee Of your
own House-a majority being Republicans
has given its solemn and emphatic contra
diction and nailed the slander to the coun-
ter.
Now what should be said if that accusa-
ton should come from one--I speak not OF
men, but a language, within the rules ofthe
House-if that accusation, against that pco-
pie should come from one who is outaWed
in his own home from respectable society (;
whose name is Synonymous with falsehood !;
who is the champion, and has been on all
occasions, of fraud; who is the apologst OF
thieves; who is such a prodigy of vice and
meanneSs, that to describe him, imag
would scken, and inyective would exhaust
itself? In Scotland, years ago, there was Il
man, whose trade was murder, and he earned
his livelihood by selling the bodies Of his
victims for gold. He linked his name to his
crime and to-day throughout the world it is
known as Burkng
The Speaker--Does the chair understand
the gentleman to be referring in this Ian
guage to member of the House?
Mr.. Brown-Ns sir I am describing 4
character who is in my minds eye.
The Speaker-Thc chair understood the
gentleman to refer to member of the
House.
Mr.. Brown-No, Sir; call no names !;
this mans name was linked to his crime and
to-day throughout the world it is known a.
Burking, If | was to desire to express all
that was pusillanimous in war, in human in
peace, forbidding in morals and infamous in
politics, | should call it Batlerizing. SEN
satOn.
The Speaker (interrupting Mr. BROWN
The gentleman did net deal in good faith
with the chair
Mr. Hale, of New York, insisted that Mr.
Browns language be reduced to writing and
read from the Clerks desk
The report of Mr.. Browns Objectionable
remarks having been read from the Clerk
desk.
Mr.. Hale, of New York, offered resolu-
ton that in that language, as well as with
preyarication by which the gentleman was
enabled TO continue the utterance of the
language, the gentleman of Kentucky was
guilty of violation Of the privileges OF the
House, and merted the seyerest censure Of
the House, and that he be now brought to
/ Al, 81 4 s 81
Sergeant-at-arms, and there be publicly CEN
sured by the Speaker in the name of the
House.