New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-10
BY TELEG RAP
CONGRESS.

great attention.
In the course of the debate on Mr.. Cor
dOns resolution Mr.. Morton read from the
speech of Mr. Gordon, delivered in Atlanta,
and said the Senator had paid no attention
to the utterances by To0mbe, delivered
effect that the Georgia election had been
carried by bribery and intimidation. If
that charge was true, it was damning one
against the people Of Georgia, and if not
true, it was q foul calumny, and it was the
place of the Senator to repel it, and he had
passed it by in silence.
Mr.. Gordon said the Legislature took
formal action in regard to those charges,
and he would have the resolutions adopted
by that body read.
Mr.. Morton said the Legislature may
have thought it worth while to take ssme
notice of them, but the report in the news.
paper showed that the utterances OF
Toomts were cheered TO the echo. That
was case iof corruption far more reach.
ing than the whisky frauds. The Senator
(Gordon) had charged the Republican
party with being tyrannicxl. He (Morton)
daQied it. The party had been magnani-
d As, and his friend (Gordon) was living
monument of its magnanimity. The party
had dealt magnanimous,y with those who
fought against the government.
Mr.. Sherman, of Ohio, said this was the
first time since the internal revenue law
had been passed that Q party spec ch for
Dslty purposes had been made against
1t. His friend (Mr. Gordop) might disclaim
any intention OF making party speech, but
all who heard it would regard it as SUCH
The revenue laws had been framed by men
of both parties honestly and faithfully.
The resolutions presented by the senator
from Georgia had no business before the
Senate. IL was unconstitutional for the
Senate to frame matters pertaining to the
revenue.
Mr.. Gordon said when he introduced his
resolution he had no conception OF the
scope which was to be taken in the debate.
He had no partisan motives in Introducing
them, and he was astOnished that Senators
should think because he stated facts which
were shown by the record Of the depart
ment that he was not justified in doing 60.
Had it come to this that when q Southern
man spoke of the wrongs perpetrated upon
the government he should be insulted by
the statement that he occupied his seat in
the Senate by the magnanimity Of the Re
publican party. and was therefore not to
mention the deiinquencies Of that party.
The Senator from Ohio (Sherman)
made an insinua;i0n unworthy of him
when he said that he (Gordon) had taken
advantage of this occasion to bring for
ward his resolutions. They had been pre-
pared for month, and he had been ready
to speak, but other business required the
attention Of the Senate. ALI this bombast
about the resolutions being anti -Republi-
can was only intended to turn the eyes of
the people from the frauds which have
been perpetrated. He referred to his
speech at Atlanta, and said he was unable
to see what his remarks there had to do
with this subject. He next spoke Of
~ n% N
because men of the South differed
from those OF the North they were not to
be condemned. Their political teachings,
from youth up, had been different from
those Of the people Of the North and they
were honestly entertained. Did such differ
ence preclude him from criticizing anything
which the administration did? He (Gordon)
did not propose to be drawn into passion
ate discussion by the Senator from Indiana
for purposes which he (Morton) might have
in his heart. The war was fought ON &C.
count of difference ia opinion. When the
South seeded from the Union che placed
the issue upon the arbitrament of battle,
and when that issue was decided by
the fate of battle the South let her
construction of the constitution be decided
also. To-day no one kR0ws better than the
Senator from Indiana that hencefOrth and
forever the question of secession was set.
H.
every man in the South. He (Gordon)
thought it unworthy Of the Senator from
Indiana (MortoD) to be continually tlinging
In the faces of Southern Senators the state
ment that they had been engaged in q
great crime. It msttered not what q
Southern man brought up in tho Senate,
however honest he might be, no argu-
ment was so patent with the Senator from
Indiana as . reference to the action
of that man in the war. The Senator
(Morton) had read from his (Gord0u's)
speech at Atlanta, but he had stopped be.
fore he re ached the point where he (G0rd0n)
referring to the speech of T0ombs, asked
those whom he was addressing if the ut
terances of Toombs reflected the sentiment
of single one in that body, and there wae
unanimous cry of no, no! Yet the Sen.
ator (Morton) would hold the utterances Of
TOombs up rs the sentiments of the people
of Georgia and of the South, when he (Gor
don) had characterized them a. wild and
indOrse them, was it just that the Senate,
(MOrton) should thus seek to prejudice the
people of one section against anOtherl In
conclusion, he sent to the Clerks desk and
had read the resolutions of the Georgia
Legislature acknowledging the equal rightl
of all citizens, the constitutional amend
ments, etc.
Mr.. Morton said the point made in hi
speech was that Toombs claimed that the
Georgia elections had been carried by
bribery and intimidation, and nothing had
been said in response to that.
Mr.. Gordon said he denied that the elec
ton in Georgia had been carried by bribery
and intimidation. He knew large bodies
of cOlOred men who marched to the polls
and voted the Democratic ticket, and col
ored Democratic clubs were organized al
over the State. If there had been bribery
and intimidation in Georgia, why did NOT
the Senator (Morton) show it9 -.
Mr.. Morton said be had shown it by the
statements of TOombs, and he knew he was
one of the most popular Democrats in
Georgia. He (Morton) did not intend to in
suit the Senator (Gordon) when he spoke
of the magnanimity of the Republican
party. He spoke simply Of the truth oi
| history. He then read from the speech o1
the Senator (Gordon) at Atlanta, where hi
referred to him (Mortonl in connection
with the Pinchback case, Southern investi
| cations, ETC., and said the people Of the
South had to meet the world. the flesh and
the Senator from Indiana. [Laughter. The
| Senator (Gordon) carefully excluded the
| devil because the people down there had No
| quarrel with the devil. [Renewed laughter
! The devil had done more to establish the
| party there than any body else, and it wonld
z! never 60 down until he deserted 1t, which
| would not be very soon.
Mr.. Withers, Of Virginia, said he stood
here the peer Of any Senator, and to defenc
much q part of this Union now, and en-
titled to Just as much protection as il she
had never seeded. 1t was net the Demo
cratic party, as party. which precipitatet
| the war on the country. That war was tn
result of teachings which were sectional