New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-23


the lives and property of the citizens are
alleged to be invaded, where it is alleged
that property is taken and life taken by
riotous men, in regions of country where
troops are a. necessary to protect them az
they are necessary to protect our citlze us
on the borders of Texas. Notwithstanding
this resolution which We propose to pass,
troops shall not be taken from those regions
where their presence is equally necessary
for the protection of the lite of the citizen
and the protection of his property.
venture to say there is no man on this
floor that dare rise in the presence Of the
American people to oppose this amendment,
and challenge any man to it, not alone on
account of the statements in that commu-
nicat;op, OF thu truth or falsi:y of which
| do not now speak but from the common
knowledge which every one has OF the
| events in the State of South Carolina From
facts universally acknowledged venture
to say that the same spirit which will induce
every member Of this committee and every
| member of this Congress to raise his voice
| and his hand in defense and protection OF
the citizens of the country would palsy the
hand that would be raised to oppose the ex.
tension of that protection to Que portion OF
the United States where the same necessity
for protection exists.
Sir, believe that the cutting down OF the
army was the result of determination on
the part of some men somewhere to prevent
| troops being sent into States where law less
men take the lives Of peaceable citizens. l
| Just charge that as the attempt inaugurated
| in this House and carried out, l regret to
say, with the assent of men VINO never
| ought to have given 1t their assent
Mr.. Miiliken-I would ask the gentleman
| if be has any member in h.s eye or in his
mind whom he pictures as that MANI
Mr.. COnger-l charge that the natural
| and inevitable result Of that reduction must
! De to leave the army 80 small that the In
| dian war upon our hands and the necessity
of protecting the Texas border there would
| be no forces to be sent into other portions
! of our country where the presence OF an
| army is eminently desirable and necessary.
Here the hammer tell
Mr.. Cox-Mr. Chairman, I understand
| that this town of Hamburg il Immediately
| opposite Augusta, in the State of Georgia,
across the river. The town of Hamburg is
mostly made up of a colored population.
| Il has q colorei magistrate or intendant. 1t
| has, moreover, colored militia company.
This trouble occurred in the hrst place. as
/ understand automatically, by the killing
| Of q white man. That was the beginning
| of it. Afterward the negroes intrenched
| themselves in house and they were driven
! out from it. The gentleman from Georgia
| [Mr Hartridgel has letter. which he will
! read here and which will explain the whole
| matter. It is from gentleman who has
| been incuipated or the other side. do not
| take tne statement which has been read as
| absolute verify. It mas no name attached
| to it. I. is Endorsed. indeed by the men,
! Der from South Carolina opposite as being
! authentic. but who indOrses the gentleman
| (Cries Of 20. all" from the Republican side
Of the House,
Mr. Rsinsy-A large constituency do
Mr.. Smails-A majority Of 1900.
Mr.. Cox-Thirteen thousand people may
| with all the prejudice belonging TO his race,
| and he will admit that much himself.
Mr.. Smai.s-No. sir; will not admit it.
Mr.. Cox-Now wait until | get through.
| These gentlemen from South Carolina have
| had read statement which is anonymous,
| and they ask legislation based upon 1t. And
| then the gentleman from Michigan rises
here and challenges every member n this
| House to vote against that proposition if he
| dare, because OF the condition of tie army.
| Sir, it becomes us not only to inquire into
the basis of the letter which has been read
here. but into ihe basis of the statement of
| the gentleman who indorsed il. Now do not
impuyn the gentleman's veracty at all
when say that he may speak from hear
say, and that. no. having been on the
ground himself be may have had partial
stand met And if 80, why this unneces-
ssry clap-trap on the other side of the
House'
Now the gentleman from Mich.oan has
another motive. This latter was intended
to be shaken into the face of the House or
political and bad party purposes. for the
gentleman knows that IN the distribution of
the army there is strength enough in the
South to protect every one to whom prOtec.
ton in the South is due.
M. HII-The Hamburg riot was got up
for that express purpose.
Mr.. Cox-I have no doubt of it. The
State of Georgia is not touched by this mat
ter. but is entirely innooeo, in regard rv it.
Mr.. Rainey rose.
Mr.. Cox-The gentleman must wait until
I get through. The State OF South Carolina
governed State il the Union; it is bad all
around bad at its borders; bad in it's heart;
bad on the seacoast; bad in Edgeneld
county; everywhere rotten TO the core. as
your own party papers have said. Give
South Carolina Democratic government
and fair play as has been the case in Ten
nessee, Virginia, and other States which
have been rescued from maladministration,
and you will see that every man. black and
white, will be cared for under the law.
Mr.. Garfield lin his seat)-As they were
at Hamburg
MI. Cox-Wl.l the gentleman rise and re.
peat his remark I could not hear it.
Mr. Garfield will do 80 presently.
Mr.. Cox-Ir does not belong to the United
States to look after every petty disturb
ancs in State and to put the military
touch with Federal ba7onet every sore
place in the country. How is tae army dis.
tributed' The 26,979 men are distributed
as follows: 42l6 at West Point and in the
ordnance corp and nOn-commissioned staff;
1880 in the Territories; 3775 In Texas; 1884 n
other Southern States;29l3 operating against
the Sioux under Generals Terry and Crook,
and about $500 in the Northern cities and
forts.
This Texas border bill does not detract
from the force of the army South, North,
East or West to any considerable extent
This matter is brough: up to divert Us from
the question of protecting the Texas from
tier, as we should do by pertinent iegisla-
ton; to get up cry throughout the land
for this falls election and tor sinister pur-
poses; to stimulate malignancy and shake
This is the only object. The people will
understand it. Anonymous letters read
here, apparently from the South, will not
affect them. The device is thin. The gen.
tleman from Georgia (Mr. Hsrtridge) has
an authentic letter which explains this
matter. He will give it to the House, an /
now yield to him for the purpose Of hav-
ing it read.
Mr.. Conger-I withdraw my formal
amendment.
Mr.. Hartridge-I renew it. The object
of the introduction Of this amendment is
self-evident: The partisan purpose which
it is intended to subserve is easily re.
cognized by every intelligent mind.
should not rise to oppose it were it not for
the fact that it does gross injustice to an
honorable and gallant gentleman, and en-