Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-03-24
Again, the Constitutions provides that

disqualification to hold aud enjoy any Office ot
honor, trust, or prof. under the United States.
1t has been held that 40 Senator or Ropr",-
sentative can be impeachcd. Now, sir, l ask
the gentlcm:n fr m Name, if he disqualfies
member from holding Fl &c for the com m'ssi"n
ofthis offense, does it not virtually amount to IN
im peaehuent of that member?
MIR. Blaine. Will the gentleman consent t'r
himself al his side of tie House 10 support
the amendment, If that feature of it shall be
changed?
Mr.. Goode. No, sir !; because l prefer tie
substitute.
NJ. Blaine. shall modify my amendment
SO that The gentleman shall not escape under
that technicality.
ICrics of Order and raps from the Speak.
er's gavel
MI. Hamilton, of New Jersey. l call the gen.
tlenan from Maine To order.
NJ. Goodc. | prefer, MIR. Speaker, TO pro.
pose my own amendment But l will ask the
gentleman from Ai~ioe if be is about to aban
don his amendment because he tDds II obnox-
nu- to conSituirna criticism?
Mr.. Blaine. No, sir [ am going to change
it because | do not want any tcchucailty to be
left as a pretexl to excuse the. gentleman from
Virginia.
Mr. Go1de. 1t is very Singular that we have
had no proclamation OF thegentleman Oi his M
tention to abaudon his amendment until this
criticism was made upon it, although The gen
tIeman occupied the floor Tor an hour 10 adVo-
cacy O that amendment.
Now, sir, Insist hat this is equivalent to Il
c. nseauences of crEVction on Impeachment
10 case wherr 40 Impeachment has been al
lowed by the Consti utiou. lo other words
tn same results fellow from the adoption OF
the amendment Of the gentleman from Maine
" iich would follow uuder the Constitution from
conviction upon Impeachment. l trust that
the distinguish gentleman trou Maine will not
be allowed 10 encumDer this bill with grave con-
uutionll difficulties. 1t Is an important bill.
| 1t is intended to correct growing evil 1t IS
| attended to apply remedy 10 most fragrant
| and outrageous wrong.
The gentleman from Maine has thought
proper to 10 into the district which | have the
honor TO represent. | will say for the utorula:
ton of that gentleman that at the hayward
al Gosport. 10 Virginia, ~ man can get any
| employment thDut recommendation from
the republican executive committee, and that,
whatever his mechanical skill or his qualifca
tious may be, he is ustraclSed unless b. can
c,mc with the Endorsement of the gentleman s
partisan friends. | know, sir, Of my own per
soDal knowledge, and [ can give chapter and
verse TO show it, that mauy poor mechanics,
dependent upon their daily labor for their daily
bread, are required by the republican execu.
tive Committee in that locality to submit to pc
cuuary assessments.
lam glad the gentleman from Maine has
turned his attention TO Virginia. hope he
will prosecute his Investigations. | hope he
will 20 with me to the powers that be and 10
woke the powers Of this q vernment for the
suppression of this wrong and outrage 10 the
locality to which he has referred 10 connection
wi h the comes led-cIec lon cases. | repeat that
there are authenticated cases in which
poor mechanics, dependent upon their daily
labor for their daily bread, are compelled to
submit to these pccuniary hardships, aud to
surrender PORTION Of their hard earnings 10
order to save the places upoa which they are
dependent for their bread, and not only for
their own bread, but for the bread OF their
wives aud little. ones. That Is an everyday
practice, sir, 10 the Norfolk navy yari. and
since the gentleman from Maine has thought
proper to 20 into that locality hope be will
prosecute his Investigation.
Sir, was struck with the remark made by
tn; dis Daulshed gentleman from Massachu'
sets Mr.. Hoar when he said-and | honor
him for the expression of the sentimeo,-that
the practice Of collecting money to be used Tor
corrupt election purposes was the most dan
gerou5 practice to our liberties, and that wher-
ever this practice prevail, it posons the waters
of civil liberty at its very fountain. 1t was a
sentiment worthy to be commended, and |
| hope gentlemen 90 that side of The House will
uUlte With US in suppressing this great wrong.
Mr.. FL ,ar. did not say i, was TIL most
dangerous practice to our liberties. said it
was "onc of the" most dangerous.
Mr.. Goode. That is immaterial; | adopt
the sentiment 10 whatever phraseoIosy the
gentleman may have couched it
Now, Mr.. Speaker. d not intend to follow
the gentleman from NJ ne Mr.. Biaiu 10 his
stump speech. In a certain contingency |
may havs an opportunity before The ides Of
| November TO discuss these questions. Uu-
fortunately for the gentleman,i it seems to be his
habit OF mud to stray into partisan politics
whenever he rises to address this House. We
are here for the business Of legislation, and Tor
one mortal hour this morning We have been
entertained by the gentleman with haraugus
which would be appropriate on the stump.
Now, in rcgarp 10 my colleague, so called,
from Virginia. Mr.. StoweIl.
MIR. Stowcll Is that because you are not
| entitled to your seat?
Mr.. Goode. The gentleman says that 10 Vlr-
| gina the law is as | stated, that one Judge
should be selected from each political party
| That is true; but if the gentleman had read
further he would have found that the law
fur hermore provides that all Of the iges must
| DC able t. read and write Laughter. Now
The gentleman has the honor TO hail from what
is kcown as the black district" in Virginia,
aud unfirtuoat y, sir there are not enough
white r publicans-I said unfortunately; Big
pardon mcaut fortunately there are not
white Republicans enough to be found in the
eleven counties which constitute his district to
| furnish judges to meet the requirements of the
law, who are able to read and write, laughter,
aud therefore it is that 10 his eIeveo counties
only one Republican judge of election, hr says.
has been appointed. Were net those Demo
cratic judges exceedingly fair? Does he not
acknowledge their honesty aud integrity and
fairness when, Democratic as they were. they
had the honesty and the nerve 10 return tie
gantIeman from Vermont beg pardon, from
Virginia? Laughter.
Now, SIT, he has eleven counties 10 his dis.
p,,I 3 h,~