The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-01-07

were charged day after day, with being
disloyal toward the government, because
there were riots at elections, or riots at
cross roads. A band of misguided ne
groes who marched at night, with arms
to murder and hearts to plunder, could
not be attacked by white men in self de-
fence Ifthey were attacked and con-
fict ensued in which few were
killed, the South was then charged
with disloyalty and an antagonism to
the federal government. Colored militia
then might insult women, rob, pillage
and drag innocent men from their beds,
and when white men resisted, then
Southern people were held up as mur-
derers and assassins, and then men were
sent down among them with no com
mon interest with them. These men
made laws, collected taxes and governed
the southern people and then malgned
the same people. The South asked
how New England would like that, now
the West would like that, and atrOve by
every lawful means to overthrow these
men. Her people were charged with being
murderers and assassins. The Senator
denied that there had been intimidation
of voters and said the Senator from In
diana, (Mr. Norton, yesterday, had
spoken OF lies sent out BY the Southern
Associated Press age.ts. He, Gordon,
thought it WAS u
Libel OH the Associated Press
of the South, and he thought he knew as
much about it as the Senator from In
diana. He, (Gordonl, as Senator and
man recognizing his responsibility to his
country aud to his God, would say these
things. Renewed applause in the gal
leries Continuing his argument he
said: Liars are they? What does the Sena-
tor do with the reporters sent out by
leading papers of the country? Are they
also liars? If so, why did not the Sena-
tor charge it? They testified to the very
same class Of facts. Why, Mr.. Prcsi-
dent does it find place in the Senator
head to charge falsehood upon the South
crn reports? when, if falschood existed,
1t also existed elsewhere. No, sir the
Senator covered before the leading
/ Northern journals, and dared not say It,
Resumed applause in the galleries. The
Chair Mr.. Sargeant) gave notice that II
! there was there was any reoccurrencc OF
applause the galleries would be cleared.
! Mr. Gordon resuming, said he was forced
| to the conclusion that those on the other
side who claim to be friends of law and
| order, desire murder in the Southern
| States. They knew when peace came,
when the people of this country under
| stood each other. as they are beginning,
| thank God, to understand each other
now, good government would ensue, life
/ liberty and property would be safe, and
/ there would be no place for these dis
turbing spirits. He was responsible only
for his belief, but lie thought it true, and
in time history would write i. down 50.
Not one man in Il thousand in the South
was armed. There were not half so
many armed rs before the war. There
were not so many military companies in
the South as before the war. Even
the old-fashioned double-barreled shot
gun had almost disappeared
Was it all right for the government
to arm black militia and diSarm
white men? Before men vino
had no interest with the Southern
people, except to arraign blacks and
against them, came there, good feeling
existed between the whites and blacks.
There were churches and school houses
for the blacks, and in every Southern
State. money had been contributed by
whites for school houses and churches for
blacks. The Southern white people had
contributed more than any one else.
Only the other day Il resident of Georgia
in his last will and testament bequcathed
one hundred thousand dollars to educate
the colored people. Did the Senator
from Vermont (Edmunds) think these
acts of service barbarism, which he at
tributed to Southern people in hi- speech
Yesterday?
Mr.. Edmunds said the Senator did
not quote him correctly.
Mr.. Gordon-Docs the Senptor say that
he did not say that before the war, the
South was in severe state of barbarism!
Mr. Edmunds-I do.
Mr.. Edmunds then resquested the
Senator to read from the record what he
did say.
Mr.. Gordon-Never mind what way
they are in the record. The words are
in nv memory and will not out,
Mr.. Edmunds-Will the Senator eX-
anime his record and if he can fish
out OF it anything of that
character, then his ingenuity Is equal to
his audacity Sensation.
Mr.. Gordon-I took down the Senators
words as he said them, and am respons-
ible for them.
Mr.. Edmunds-Responsibility is avery
good thing.
Mr.. Gordon-The want of it some
times is very good thing too. Laugh
ter.
Mr. Gordon then read from the record
of Yesterday, Mr. Edmund's remarks,
when he said: When | see, Mr.. Prcsi- |
dent. "a | have not yet seen, that people,
as thev call themselves the white
Leacucrs or white Democrats or white
Conservatives. or what every they may
be. of any State in this Union when they
find that any of their associates have
committed an assassination or murder or
wrong upon their fellow citizers, for no
cause but opinions sake, turn upon him
A. IN Ohio they would turn upon him, III
Vermont without respect to party, and
bring him under the heavy had OF justice;
when | shall begin to have some faith
that our Southern brothers, who 1t seems,
have not yet forgotten the old manners
and ways of semi .barbarous times, have |
thought better Of il, Sc.
Resuming his argument, Mr.. Gordon
said: Where is the audacity now IN .
bringinga a Senator before the chamber
as | have done?
He then referred to the history Of the .
Southern people in the Revolutionary f.
War, and spoke Of the many statesmen .
and soldiers from that section, and saId .
that if such men and deeds be evidence .
of semi-barbarism, he was willing to ac- /
cept. before his country and before, .
heaven. all crime attached to it. But
enough OF this. He came here with a .
heart full Of good will towards every
one. and trusted that nothing he .
had said would be attributed to any feel
inrs of animosity. His faith was firm,
~, r;rht iustice and truth would trl-