New-York tribune., 1876-07-19
In - rsv TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.l


LAMAR
rsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE]
yv,s,uSGToS July 1S.-The House continued to-
-. ,bo discussion of the Hamburg riot, which was
- on Saturday last. Although under the rules
.saoobes only five minutes long could be made, the
Sso,sson was during part Of the time very excit
;nr and always exceedingly interesting. The carly
,oyt Of the afternoon spent in dsgraceiui pc
,;t;co, vrancle between Mr.. Cox and Martin lown-
- Of XeW-York Neither of these men seemed to
- the least conception of the Importance OF the
.;ect under consideration or Of the proper manner
- ,.bich 10 treat it. They were equally DlI'er
8; their extremely partisan speeches. ana hel'heI
.ooc,o1 TO know what fair and honest treatment oI
opoltical opponent is. Mr.. Cox opened thc clSeuS-
~, asserting that such affairs the late riot at
uormrc were the sole result of dishonest carpet
ha,, governments. Thus far, he was substantial ~
IL since the imbecihty and weakness OF
- Governments have been the fruitful
- ~ Of much of the trouble in the
Sa,,tb. but when MIR. Cox produced copy OF
ap;cs pr,stra.e State" book written several years
oo o,1 describing faithfully the condition Of affairs
- Sontb Carolina at that time and read extracts
e. Il &c fairly illustrating the character OF Gov
1qoborloin's administration, he treated the subject
,.ot as a statesman but as demaSogue. Inc con-
a.;on Of affairs in South Caroiua is bad enough, as
~yocv one who will take the pains 10 investigate
may learn; but il is also true that since ooV' Ol"
hcrlain,s election many great reforms nave DeeN
effected and under his administration II the state
bos not bsen regenCrated, its condition has Ill many
respects been greatly improved.
The rim which Mr.. Townsend, on the other
hand raked I'D the old history of Tammany frauds
in New-York, and accused Mr.. Cox OF being r,spon-
sble for them, was equally unfair, as was a!so MS
comrarison of the debt of New-YOrk with that oi
tbe State of South Carolina. His speech through
ont was undignifed, and wholly out of place III q
discussion like that which was in progress
Mr.. Garfield was the first OF those who spoke to-
day who seemed to comprehend the gravity cl tAe
occasion, and he struck the Keynote of the whole
case when he asked Southern representatives, 10
inform the House whether the rot al Hamburg
and similar occurrences in other parts Of the South,
were sporadic OF symptomatic; that IS whether they
arise from causes similar to those which produce
riots in the North OF whether they the result of
settled determination the part of some OF the
white people of the South o prive the ueGtocS OF
their rights and to bring them into subsection by
fair means or by foul.
Mr.. Garields question gave Mr. Lamar an oppor-
tupity to make one Of the most eloquent AID well
timed speeches which he has ever delivered III the
House His condemnation of the outrage at iia,n-
burg and his demand for the swift and sure puhis-
ment of those who were concerned IN 1t, were not
only eloquent, but eames.neSs and sllc INV
fairly eclipscd any denunciation of it which had
been heard from the Republican side OF the House.
He did not attempt to excuse or palilatc the crime
as some other Democratic speakers did, but seen Il
unable to find words strong enough 10 express hs
own abLo.. Ice of it, which he SAID was shared toy
all respectable ctizeus in the South. MT. Lamar re
piled to Mr. Garfield that such occurrences as ihc
Hamburg riot were not symptOmafic. They are the
result Of weak, cOwarlly, or oOa3Pt government,
which not only failed TO execute cr'ninal laws, but
which even encouraged scenes OF violence for the
purposes Of political gain. Mr. LGmar's speech was the
great event OF the day. 1t was listened TO with un-
divided attention by tle entire House, and when he
closed he was applauded alike BY Democrats and
Republicans. b. it he has 10 dOuO, added greatly
to lis repp alton and influence as 4 atcsman OF the
broadeSt g1l NOS conservative views, whose lead
his party viii lie 5ic if follows. Subsequently to
Mr.. Lamal's S! eecl the discussion was more in &C
cordance with t-o gravity OF the subject although
before the adour melt it driftcd back somewhat
into its old ruts and degeneratCd into political
sguabble