The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1876-01-21
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4
In the House, yesterday, in Com
mittee Of the Whole on the State Of
the Union, Hopkins Of Pennsylvania,
Chairman Of tho Select Committee on
Centennial ColebrstiOn Aplropria-
ton, spoke in behalf Of the bill, He
said:
The National honor was involved
in tho success ef the exhibition, and
that there could bO no extremity ol
financial distress that ought TO cause
an American Congress to faltor in
voting an appropriation to preserve
tho good name OF the Government,
as National unity was valueless with
out National honor Referring to
the National advantages OF tho cele-
bration, he said that one Of these
would be to show that Southern
people were neither Dukes of Alya
nor Spanish inquisitors, but were
men and brethren. The spirit OF '76
would breathe its influence on the
people, and under that inASonce all
animosities and all angry memories
would fade away, The passage Of
the penainS bill, by the aid Of those
the sincerity of whose patriotism had
been unjustly questioned, would con-
(iuce to that consummation devoutly
to be wished,
Waddell OF North Carolina followed
in a speech, reported as follows:
II it was supposed that the irritat-
ing discussion of last week would
have driven Southern men away from
the support Of this measure, ho sin
cerely trusted that tho result of the
vote would only add another illustra-
ton to the many already given OF
how utterly impossible it is for some
people to understand and appreciate
the spirit that animatss other people.
He and his associates acquitted their
Northern brethren Of all responsi-
bihty for that discussion. They had
understood fully. for it was trans
parent, the motive which undsrlaid
the introduction OF that subject, aud,
attaching to that motive its exact
value, they simply looked down upon
and passed by The whole subject.
They wished the disturbers of the
public peace to understand that, not
withstanding the spirit exhibited,
they we're too good patriots and too
sincere men to allow that spirit
either to control them or to serve
as an example for them. They
wished TO maintain the honor and
character OF the American Union,
and they would do so if they were
allowed. One element in the House
had not been heard from in that dis
cussion, the clement Of Southern sol
diers in the late war, Of whom he was
one. They had sat in silence and
taken the fire which tho gentleman
from Maine Blainel had opened on
them, with no other feeling than that
of gratitude Of having escaped from
so terrible an enemy as he Blaine
must have been during the battles OF
the late war. If, now. when that
gentleman's hair was silvering, and
his natural force percOptibly abahng,
he could develop such intensity OF
spirit, how must his plume hayswaVed
in the forefront of that conflict which
had occurredatR q timewhen he Blaine
was young and strong and healthy.
That element had not yet spoken. 1t
could not be goaded into discussion
on the contrary, it had exhibited Il
spirit which he believed the American
people wouldnot soon forget 1t met
storm Of hate and persecution rs
the swan meets the billoUs with a
/ breast Of down. He knew some gen
[ tlenen who had been engaged in the
same cause with him, who had not
I Intended TO vote for this measure be-
/ fore that discussion, but now intended
to support it so az to set an example
Of patriotism, If there were any of
them who still opposed this, he aP-
pealed 10 them to unite with him in
doing an act which could only pro-
moto the honor and advance the in
forests Of the country, aAd the peace
and hnppinoI Of the people.
Sheakley Of Pennsylvania, offered
an amendment, that entrance TO the
Centennial grounds and buildings
shall be free on the Fourth Of July,
and on Thursday OF each week.
. Wills OF New York, opposed the
bill as unconstitutional, and denied
that the faith Of the Government was
pledged in the matter,