The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-26

to inquire into the propriety Of
giving the seeding States representation in
Congress, and for the immediate admission
OF the rebel representatives without condi-
ton. December 16, 1885, he voted in favor
OF giving excluded representatives from the
South the privileges Of the floor. December
-, 1865, he voted against the admission OF
the loyal representatives from East Tennes-
see. December 10, 1865, he voted against
the expulsion Of B. G. Harris, Of Maryland,
who had been convicted by court-martiai OF
disloyalty during the war. JanuaryS, 1866, he
voted in favor Of withdrawing all the mill
tary from the States recently in rebellion.
January 10, 1865, he voted against resolu-
ton declaring Jefferson Davis guilty Of
treason. january H., 1866, he introduced q
resolution looking to the payment OF dam
ages to persons whose property had been
contscated by the army. January II, 1865,
he introduced bill repeating the test-oath.
His first speech in Congress was in opposi-
ton to the fourteenth amendment, in which
he declared that Congress had no power to
give suffrage to negroes. During the con-
test over the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments he was one Of the ablest and
most active leaders OF the opposition,
and showed great parliamentary skill
in the manipulation Of dilatory mea-
Surcs and other expedients to pre-
vent Il vote on the important ques-
tions. He was one OF the ablest advocates
of the States rights dogma that has been in
Congress since John G. Calhoun. On the
21st Of January, 1866, he made speech on
reconstruction in which he declared that the
rebel States had forfeited no rights un der
the Constitution; that the coercion OF the
" - fh rty
the Union was revolutionary, and that it
was San insult to the will OF a free people"
This is an epitome OF his record during the
first two months he was in Congress. 1t
illustrates his convictions, and believe he
was sincere. His motives in any act were
never impeached. His bitterest political
enemies respected his adherance to these
principles, although the principles were
severely denounced. ......
THE sPEAKER'S MORAL COURAGE.
Mr.. Kerr's chief characteristic was his
moral courage. It amounted to doggedncss.
No force OF opposition could bulge him the
thickness Of Il shadow. 1t shone out in his
last DAYS. He met death rs he would meet
an opponent; death would have conquered
him long before had he not fought death
with stubborn courage. The last six mouths
OF his life were 4 prolonged struggle be.
tween his force Of will and the genius OF
dissolution. Death never oyercame Drawer
man. A friend Of his once told me an anec-
dote that illustrates this moral courage. Some
wears before the war he was travelling in
the lower part OF Indiana attending to some
law business, and stopped at a country Inn
TO spend the night. After he had retired a
mob from kentucky surrounded the house
with the intention of lynching the proprie-
tor, who was suspected of assisting fugitive
slaves to escape. Kerr was awakened by
the demonstrations, dressed himself hastily,
and went down to discover the cause OF the
disturbance. The proprietor and one Of
his servants were busy barricading the
windows, loading their shot-guns, and
preparing to make q defence. Kerr was
informed OF the difficulty. "Hold on"
he said; "let me 60 out and talk
to those men," AS he left the door one
of the mob fired at him, and bullet
lodged in his clothing. lie called out that
he wanted to talk with them, but they seized
him and tied his arms and legs. He told
them who he was and how he came there,
and they finally released him. He argued
the situation over with them, told them Of
the statutes in regard to assisting fugitive
slaves, and advised that they wait unit
morning and call on the law to deal witt
the suspected man. He agreed to become
surety for the mans appearance in the
morning, and the mob went off.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF MR.. KERR.
Kerr was not in any way social man
he was domestic in his tastes, and loved hi!
family, but to outsiders he was as frigid n:
| an iceberg, and it took long and intimate
70 int
OF social warmth. He never sought CON-
panions; he often avoided them. He wa:
very positive man; Il slow thinker, bu
logical in his reasoning.
As Speaker Of the House he had LITTLE
opportunity to display his parliamentar.
ability, which was superior, perhaps, to tha
Of any man on the Democratic side. Th'
first few days he presided he made man.
blundcrs, but they were accounted for b.
his excessive nervousness and the deblll
tated condition of his system. He was tn
fairest, frankest, ablest Speaker that coult
have been chosen from the Democratic side
and there would have been fewer biunder
made by his party had he not been com
PEELED to leave the gavel with Cox aud Say
ler. a.
Mr.. Kerr was rather proud than otherwis
Of his low origin. He frequently spoke o
il. When his picture appeared in IN
Graphic in December last he remarked, 6"
have been wondering what my simple oil
mother would say if she could see the pic
ture OF her son in q daily newspaper
Lord Chesterfield, whose family name wa!
Stanhope, was the author OF bitter setir'
on the pedigree aristocracy, which Mr. Kerr
who was considerable Of a satirist, would
have appreciated. Chesterfield placed twt
old heads among the portraits Of, bis ances
tors, inscribing one "4Alam de ,Stanhope,' ,
the ether ssEFe de Stanhope." :s.,.ytr! =
A family by the name Of Levi, in Lon
don, is said to have picture in, their .ances
trail portrait gallery in which Noah appear
ed walking into the ark carrying satche
on which was displayed the inscription
"Papiers de la maison de Lewis"
When the uncle Of Horace Walpole, the
Earl of Oxford, was ambassador at the
French court the Queen asked his lady Of
what family she sprung.
"D' aucune, madame" was the reply.
She was corset-maker's daughter
Speaker Kerr and most OF our best men are
from this ducune family. CURTIS.
DEATH OF COLIN Bass, FORMERLY SUPER.
T..S., TA1s,