The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-04-29
Speech Of Hon. &C. Will Jams,
of Wisconsin, in the HI ,ase
Of Representatives.
Feb'y 27, 1875.

TheEouse having under conslderat i@n the
bill(Hs r. No. E45) to provide agai nst the
Invasion Of States, to prevent the sub version
of their authority, and to maintain tn secu-
ritg ofse-ecCons--
Mr. Williams. of Wisconsin, said Ms.
Speaker, in the limited titne allot ted TO
members in this debate I hardly knew
how tosapproacb subject whit ia all
will,recognize as one OF the most mpeT-
taat that has come batete tas Cen gcsss.
There is no Disgusting the fact, tb at in
it's consideration we hsgeall expert eneed
feelings Of anxiety, hesitation, sad
doubt. But we caanot escape action
upon tiff we would ct stands before
US and we must dispose of it. We are
at the. parting Of the way.;~w,e must pro
cesd alang the one road or the other
The oae@ve take here to-day may LEAF
up TO prosperity &nG peace, or it may
lessd down to disaster and ruin. Fol
one sir, whatever may 3ae,thG result, OF
whatever the Consequence to myself
personally Or political1y,iL shall give the
benefit ofsthe doubt to the side of hui
mam;ty, 10 the cause OF the owntrodder
and oppressed, to the staying of red
/ han&ed outFag e, to the vindication of
| law, 80 the presergatija of PSece, to the
building up Of sele-reliant manhood, and
to the full protection OF 'tBe humblest
American citizen th lWGa ,het have his
home Ia the Eemotest corner Of the Re-
public. Dir, the government ~1Gaat does
this, whatever may be it's form or its
name, ettaiE5 the highest object for
which governments are iaetituted among
men and the: government whioh. fails,
Or negleoss tosdo this. Gaze not what
I its prete&ses nay be, falls short of the
very oIjees and end for which al human
governments, exist.
Mr. Speaker, we have never yet had,
/ u
! governments which even begia8 to realze
\ the object E0r which ours was ordane1
F2amely, "to establish justice, insure do
FIaestic tranquility, provide for the cem-
mon defense, promote the general well
fare, and secuCe the blessings OF liberty
to ourselves aasd oar postsrity," until
/ the citizens of each<gtate an / of all the
States can pass freely to and fro, select
their 6omiciles where they wild and
aVow their sentiments as they please,
unaWed by the aSsassia's knife and un-.
terrified by the rife or revolver whlch'
sends the deadly bullet. crashing through
their houses in the nighttime, and Ellis
the air with shrieks Of horror aud dis
tress. But what Justice" is that where
law is defsd, where courts are overthr0Wn,
where judges are sent fleeing for their
lives under the cover Of night? And
what domestic tranquility" is Ensured ;
/ where unarmed and defengeleas men can
I, be shot down on their OWE door stills,
and the missiles of death sent whistling
through the beds of sleeping children !?
And what "blessings of liberty" ere
secured where men are hunted like wild
beasts to the canebrake their houses
robbed their wives and children terri
fed their fields laid waste; their cattle,
horses, and mules driven off, and no of
fender brought 30 justice, and no attempt
, made to restore to them the property of
which they have been SO cruelty des-
poiled? Sir, q government which per-
! mits these things to be done, and to
: continue, without furnishing a remedy
! for their correction. not only tails in the
highest functions Of government, but to
these poor victims it becomes mockery
: and curse.
I, If you inquire, What amount of power
shall be exerted to guarantee to all the
blessings of republican government /
answer, Let the power be measured by
+ the full protection of the citizen, and
let him not suffer by the fact that he
e stands under the flag on his native soil
. . rather than in a foreign land. Sir, the
y legal aspects of this bill have been so
: clearly and cogently presented by the
g gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. But
L lerl and by others that have no desire
y TO pursue that line Of discussion even If
/ possessed the ability and had the time
Ito do SO. ! simply desire to call atten-