New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-09
The Debxte on NIsrton's Nliss1ssSpP'
Resolution.

The Debxte on Msrten's nlississsp
Resolution.
The Associated Press dispatches furn'sne
very meagre repor: Of the deDste IN u
Senate ON the resolution Of Mr. Morton'
Indiana. providing for the appointment
committee of five Senators TO insose'gs'
the truth of the allegations that the ia'
election in Mississippi was characterized
great frauds committed upon and v1olent
axerc,sed toward the colored citizens
that State and the white citizens dispose
"a airport their rights at the election, an
especially that the colored voters, on AZ
count of their color, race or previous coma
ton of servitude, were, by intimidation an
force, deferred from voting or compeiie
to vote, contrary 10 their wishes, 1or cand'
dates and in support Of parties to WHOM
they were opposed, and their right to tn
free exercise of the elective franchise. a
secured by the fifteenth amendment to tn
constitution, thus practically denied an
violated, and that such intimidation ha
been since continued for the purpose o
affecting future elections.
The debate lasted for several days, AM
was participated in by the ablest men OF
both sides of the Senate.
On Friday, the thirt,eth. Mr.. Bayard, o
Delaware, made the opening speech against
the passage Of the resolution. In the course
of his remarks, he said:
Mr.. President, regret exceedingly the
introduction of this measure. not only in it,
original form, but quite as much SO IN ita
present modification, and l regret that il
cal q mind as that Of the Senator from
Michigan [Mr. Christiancy]. 1t has been
to me . matter of surprise that he should
have found THAT which have NO doubt he
belives he has found) constitutional war
rant for the measure which he proposes.
Whether he would have drawn this resolu-
ton if the late decisions of the Supreme
Court had been known to him, l doubt,
because L believe that q careful analy.
sis Of the results Of those decisions
would have assured him of the more than
doubtful validity of any such attempts "a
are now proposed in the way of legislation
to enforce the provisions Of the cOnstitu-
G0nal amendments in question.
Mr.. President, this resolution is q claim
for the exercise of congressional power to
interfere with the elections or the result of
elections in State. It is fraught with dam
ger to the public peace and destructive of
our federal system Of government. By this
1t is, proposed to continue and expand .
Coercive system of centralized power in
substitution fox our American system of
voluntary local self-government. Since the
legislation has been unhsppily adopted, and
lite operations have done more, in my 0pin-
ion, to keep alive the ill-teeling and excite
msnt generated by war between the people
OF the sections ana the misunderstanding
of their mutual feelings and interests and
duties, than all other causes combined. The
powers thus given to the officers OF the
United Seates have been grossly abused,
and in most cases for the worst personal and |
party ends.
Why, sir, when one considers the mere
money cost of these enforcement acts since |
their passage he will be shocked and sur
prised, and the country must be relieved /
BY decision which. ii it did nothing else,
saves the enormous outlays of money which |
we're made under color of enforcing this
law. Mr.. President, remembering as do
the appropriations Of money TO support the
so-called department of Justice" and to
carry these enforcement laws into rigorous
effect al over the country, I am shocked to
think Of the burdens SO unnecessarily laid
upon the people. Without having, the
figures before me, and desiring to keep
entirely within moderate estimate, L
think l may truly say that millions upon
millions, tens of millions of the money
wrung by taxation from the people OF this
country have been expended to carry into
effect these enforcement laws Of Congress.
Under the administration of the late At
torney General Williams forget the vast
sums which were expended in North Caro-.
lima, in Arkansas and other portions of the
country, utterly disproportionase to the ex-
penses in the State Of New York, or Penn
sylvanis or Ohio. The public Documents
however, of that day disclose the truth;
but what I have said with regard to the
frightful aggregate of expenditure is
literally and simply true.
Mr.. Boutwell-Will the Senator yield for
m inquiry! understood him to say that
tens Of millions had been wrung by taxa
ton from the people, and expended for the
execution of the so-cslled enforcement
acts.
Mr.. Bayard-Yes; think go.
Mr.. Boutwell-Does the Senator know of |
any appropriations, single or many, amount
ing to tens of millions Of dollars, or even
to q single ten million dollarse
Mr.. Bayard-I will give the Senator the |
s cures after get through my speech.
DO say to him
Mr.. Boutwell, only desire to call the
of the Senator to his statement
now, because think if it can be sustained
We shall ask for the figures.
Mr.. Bayard-My statement will be very |
moderate, and propose to sustain it. I
have not the figures before me, bat think |
he Senator will be fully gratiied by the re-
.ults that I shall show him. There has
been most monstrOus Outpouring of the
public funds, spent by deputy marshals
numbered by tens of thousands through :
he Southern country, by marshals who
raversed the State Of North Carolina with
)laDk Writs in their Dockets to arrest and | I
lrag from their homes men for the purpose
# making fees. All these are facts.
Mr.. BOutwell-lt will also be shown, | =
pheneyer there is full inquiry made into I
his business, that whatever money was ex. I
,ended in those Sta.es for the execution of
he so-called enforcement laws was money y
expended under the law for the protection 7
# people who were trampled under foot =
~ the political associates Of the Senator
rom Delaware, and that it was only an q
fort in behalf of human rights and equal. =
ty OF political rights.
Mr.. Bsyard-Mr. President, l congratu. Y
ate the Senator that he has succeeded in u
meeting into my speech, under the pre-. p
ense OF asking me question, simple lit p
lie bit OF his same political TRADE which l 3
ave listened to often before. If he is sat- | y
SIZED with that honor he is welcome to it. o.
know that of which speak. l was q a
member of the committee who did 90 to | CT
he Southern States, and who knew some D.
hing OF the system OF this enforcement of o.
be laws, and say it was not only q cruel | n
but it was most shockinply p
expensive to the government and people Of y
he United States; that under the pretext ii
f enforcing this law and protecting per- "
Onal liberty the most outrageous crimes | h
,ere committed. Spies were employed by | CT
thousands. Look at the history to-day Of T.