New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-05
B Y TELEGR APH,
CAUCUS.
Tie Democratic Representatives ia eau.
cus-speecb of Chairman Lamar-Kerr
Nominated for Speaker on Third Bal


WASHINGTON. December 4-The caucus
was called to order by Fernando Wood, on
whose motion l.. @. C. Lamar, of Missis-
slppl, was chosen presiding ofiicer. On mo-
tion OF Holman, of Indiana, Banning, of
Ohio, was made secretary.
On taking the chair, Colonel Lamar ad-
dressed the caucus as follows
.Gentlemen-In calling me to this position
OF responsibility and distinction, you have
conferred an honor which 1 appreciate most
highly, and for which 1 thank you most
cordially.
We are here confronted with a crisis in
the history OF the Democratic party and of
the country, which brings to our party grand
opportunities, but is at the same time
freishted for us with solemn responsibilities,
and II we do not improve these opportuni-
ties and rise to the measure of these re-
sponsibities the fruits of the great political
revolution which has brought US here to-day
will be for US like the fruit which grows
upon the shores of the accursed sea. The
people OF this country by overwhelming
ms)orltles OF States and majorties in States
nave placed the Democratic party, after a
long period OF exclusion from power, in
possession of the most important depart
menr OF the federal government. When I
say important, do not mean that the indi-
viduai members are invested with imposing
=.
lhe departments of patronage, those which
hold and command the glittering prizes
OF governmental emouments, are the CO.
ordinate branches of the government which
are still under the control of our political
opponents. The members of the House of
Representatives have no patronage what
ever beyond that of the appointment of
military or naval cadet, and their compen-
sation ls barely adeGu uate to life of repub-
lean simplicity and prudential economy.
There are many offices in the gift of the
executive that are more profitable and the
public esteem far more distinguished than
that OF seat in the House of Representa-
tives. But this branch is nevertheless, under
our match!ess system of government, the
corner stone of our fabric of liberty. because
1t is the Only departme Mt of the federal gov
eminent directly responsible to the people
OF the country, and receiving it's pow
ers direct from their hands. ALI the
other branches of the government
are two or three degrees removed from the
people in the mode of their selection or in
the nature of their responsibilities. But
while the House of Representatives is thus
immediately responsible to the people, all
the other branches of the government are
responsible to this body. the people of the
country have charged US, have charged the
Democratic party in the House of Repre-
| sentatives, with the important duty eff
bringing these coordinate branches of the
| government to their just responsibilities,
and thus, by an unerring instinct, or by
keen intelligence, have blended together
our duty, our interests, and our in
clinations. There has been for some
time in the public mind a conviction pro-
found and all-pervading, that the civil ser
| vice OF this country has not been directed
| from considerations of public good, but
from those of party profit and for corrupt,
selfish and unpatriotic designs. The people
l a Shn av,i
| thorough reform which shall be conducted
in spirit that will secure the appointment
| to places OF trust and responsibility the
honest the experienced and the capable.
| There is also an imperative demand that
vigilant examination be made into the ad.
| the country. both in its collection and
its disbursement; that all the public
| accounts shall be scrutinized by us, as it ia
| the solemn privilege and duty of the House
to do, and that corruption be ferreted out
and wron gdoers-no mattel how high or
low-shall be tearlessly arraigned and fnllV
| exposed and punished. There is q growing
and irresistible sentiment in the courtlG
that under the specious theory of protest-
| ing and fostering particular industries an
| interests system Of miscalled revenae
laws has been in operation detrimental and
blasting to all the other great inteteaDs. of
the country, and maintained at ths
| 1APSASS VI thC SCuCAdl EcNcuuo,
to the injury OF the great msiocitH
OF the people, and of those classes,
| the farmers and laborers, who are least able
to bear the burden of oppressive laws. One
OF the highest and most pressing demands
upon ne will be not only to insist on bring
ing down the expenses of the government
| to the needs only of economical admins
tration, but to perfect and adopt such a
| system OF taxation as will bring in the re-
| quired revenue with the fewest restrictions
upon commerce, and with the least burden
to the people, and that burden equ1k
ably distributed and skillfully adjusted.
Owing TO the exigencies of these great
life of almost every country, and
also, to pernlci0us system of legislation
| our people, our business Investments our
commerce, and all the diversified interests
Of the country, are suffering trcm the evils
OF an irredeemable currency. In meeting
and graphing with the difficulties of this
| vital and perplexipg question, it will be our
duty to take care that nothing is done
which would impair the good faith of the
| country, or tarnish the public honor or
lower or disturb the credit of our gov
ernment. But we are to remove those
obstructions which bar the progress
and check the prosperity of the Amer
lean republic. 1t is our duty as Demo-
Gratis, it is the duty and it is to be
the glory of the Democratic party, while
it controls the House, to see that the
national debt is paid in full, and that the
currency of this Democratic republic is
made equal with that of any nation on the
earth. Upon the part Of those who have
been invested with the political power and
| destiny OF our country, during the last ten
| or fifteen years it has been a frequent re-
mark that the era of constitutional politics
had closed; that the questions of cOnstitu-
tional limitations and restrictions were no
longer to hinder or delay the legislation of
| the government in its dealings with
financial, economical or social subjects
which were, it was assumed, now the only
| matters worthy of pablo attention, and
yet amid their grand boasting the Forty
third Congress found themselves faced
with the grandest questions of constitu-
tional law, reaching down to the funda-
mental system, and involving not only the
| relations of the State to the federal gov
ernment, but that of the people and their
| own House government. The grsndest
| aspiration of the Democratic party and its
| crowning glory will restore the constitution
| to its pristine strength and authority, and
| to make it the protector of every section, and
of every human being of every race, color
| and condition in the land. The spprehen-
sion and distrust of one part of the nation
that that portion of the Southern people
| who were arrayed against the authority of
the federal government in the late war,
| would be an element of disturbance to the
American Union, has mainly disappeared,
as is evidenced by your election. In it's
stead has grown a more fraternal feeling,
| which regards us of the Southern States as
fellow citizens of the came great nation;
and on the other hand the people of whom
speak, of whom l am one, are here to-day
by their chosen representatives ready to