New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-17

bere of Congress are not bound ON this
question when new legislation shall arise.
Now time ran on. The men who Issued
the ereenback intended that at some day
not far distant, we should return to the Old
Bentonian and Jacksonian currency, hard
money. That is what those who put out
the greenback generally understand, though
some do not. Now here in this House the
other day l was nightly instructed to see
the vote on the NO lion of the gentleman
from Indiana (Mr. Holman). A few gen
tlemep from the Northern States voted with
him: but pretty much the entire Confed-
crate phalanx, the whole BODY OF cOnstitu-
tiOn-lovng strict cOnstructiOnists magched
up as one man to the inevitable "deadty
breach" and voted for greenbacks. Now,
say that, in view of these things, can not
understand what q man means Dy strlct
construction of the constitution. Good God!
who can understand it! Laughter
will tell you what from all this under
stand a strict construction OF the cOnstitu-
ton to be- l understand that, it strict
cOnstructiOnlst wants measure to succeed
it is constitutional; and, if he does not want
it, it is unconstitutional lGreat laughter
l understand, sir, that tho legal position was
perfectly expressed by an lrishman IN my
district. He bought horse, and when
man owns property he thinks 1t ls the pest
thing in the world. He led ont his horse
and showed it to his neighbors. One neigh
Dor wishing to worry him, asked him whether
his horse had the gianders. What is 1t you
call the glauders!' asked the lrishman. 1T
is not for me to tell you, but want to know
whether your horse has the glapdersF'
WELL said he, ''if lie is better Tor the
CHAMBERS he has the CHAMBERS enough, but if
he is the worse for the CHAMBERS, he has not
the CHAMBERS at all.'' Great laughter
Now, the gentleman from Virginia must
pardon me, but think this question has
not got the CHAMBERS at all Renewed
laughter
But, sir. stand here as representative
| of the people of this country. however w.
worthily, and am bound to take notice OF
| another thing which dropped from that
gentleman. That gentleman put forward
| the proposition. in substance, that this pee
| ple are not nation, that we were con-
federacy of States. True, his more ex-
uerienced Northern Democratic neighbOr
| from Indiana begged of him not to open
| that question. Still it was put forward
here. Now, sir, from 1890 and earlier, up to
| 1860. that question was debated in every
assembly, in every meeting Of Congress,
| upon the hustings and in State Legislatures.
| 1t was argued as man would argue with
| his brother, sometimes fercely, sometimes
| in good temper, sometimes calmly and
| sometimes in bad temper. In 1860 con-
| stitutional majority of the country.
| in the way the vote was cast BY
| the people, elected Abraham Lincoln
and q Congress that held with Lincoln that
| this was . nation, An appeal was then
| taken from this decision of the people to the
arbitrament of war, and from 1861 to 1863
| brave men on both sides, noble-spirited
men-Americans-met in the terrible ar
| bitrament Of steel to settle upon the battle
| field whether we were nation or not. This
| was the question brought up IN this court of
appeal 1 see the gentleman from Virginia
| is q lawyer; am lawyer; and we under
stand how questions Of appeal are disposed
| of. 1t was argued on one side with APP
parent success on the field, and with ap-
parent success upon the other side upon
| another field, from Gettysburg to New
! Orleans from the ocean TO the Sabine
| from Belmont to the Cuff, and final judg-
ment was rendered on the appeal IN The
gent!emau's own dis riot at Aprnmattox
| Courthouse. Final Judgment upon that ap-
| peal was rendered d recorded tseb, and
| wish the gentleman iron, Virginia had gone
| to Aprons ufoX Courthouse AID read up the
record before he came here wi h a view To
open that discussion again and throw this
| country into new turmoil.
Does anybody think We are not a nation
| Is this any less yonr nation, MY Virginia
friend, than mins9 Have any ,aore glory
in this nation than you haves II you are
to prosper, are you not TO prosper through
this nationl II you are t. go abroad DO
you not 90 with the passport of this naliOn.
If you are to blush in Europe for your couu-
try, is it not for this country! And if you
are to BE- proud in Europe, ana step two
inches higher than any other man, do you
not GO it by virtue Of the fact hat this is
your coultryf fLaughter Let aiono the
.SuD 10 hal Is al {
we are honest mer, kindly MI n, that is all
over.
l tell you, gentlemen. that this is your
nation and nv nation. We are all one.
do not know how j. will be up at Philadel
phia, but will talk about that by and by.
Here it is Our country and our capital. My
district is part of your country, and your
district, my friend, whether you feel coed
natured or ill natured, is part of my coun-
try 1t is go under the constitution.
Now, sir, l have said thus much, let me
say further. Shall We be honored; shall We
be respected Is England going to get any
advantage over us9 Are you going to have
John Bull shake his head at you and say
''ome?" What did we have THE fight on
our side fort am willing to refer it to the
other side. It was that we should be q
great country. big CROUCH to meet all the
world and to fig "a All the world if neces-
sary. We wanted you side by side with
us-just the men who are here, for We knew
you were brave before the war, but you did
not know We we're, and there was never q
more disappointed people in the world than
you were. ILaughter] will confess here
before you that the miserable creatures we
sent to Congress, who always yielded every
thing when you clamored, cheated you into
that struggle. [Great laughter. Hou found
that We are as brave as you are yourselves,
and we and you always respect q man whu
has the courage of his opinion, while We
despis'e a sueak
Now, having gone so far stand here to
make a confession. l am bound to do 1T
The oEoher day I heard that dreadful cry
come up from the gentleman from Georgia
(Mr. MED | heard this indictment read
agai e,st us. And l am sorry to say that al
thor .gh most of the speech Of the gentl5man
fror h North Carolina (Mr Waddell) was
hOr f,rable, high-toned and magnanimous
th' rfe we're few words that did not like
ar 4, Winch grated on my ears l am moi
ing to say much about amnesty. an
ding to make confession. The gentleman
+ som Georgia arraign.d us Republicans snd
: eld us, with Ills closed hand shaking at us
ui0 ated every oath and had committed
,wry crime. Now, am going Il
jccnfess that We have been guilty o
several things. And, first, confess that WI
4 Eat here when he was gone and tried to saw
Ii this country 80 that there should be cen
y tennial. We were "fanatical' about it, W.
we're mad" We We're ''crazy.' And or
fanatic.sm did not stop on this side OF tn
House. On the other side of the House, i
lam correctly informed, the chairman o
the Committee on Appropriations, the gen
tleman from Pennsylvania lMr. Randsil)
60 far partook of the fanaticism as to buckle
on his knapsack in this fanatical cauee; ant
many another brave man now voting OF tn
other side was led, beguiled, cheated, int
Joining us in our ''fanaticism." We tough
the fight out "wickedly," 'madly, mali
| .:>..1r op6 wa aav wa are pullhy OF II