Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1876-01-06
SENATOR MOTIONS PROPOSED MISSISSIPPI
INQUIRY.

A reader Of Every Eoening, perusing it's ed
itoriAl Of yesterday. on Senator Morton's pro-
posed inquiry into the Mississippi election,
would certainly conclude that the Democratic
editor WAS ut home. Partisan in tone, extreme
in assertion, characterized by apparently nea-
surod intsmpersnce Of language, it bears
everything that antagonizes the present hopes
and purposes OF the Democratic party, and il it
we're printed in newspaper avowedly devoted
TO that party's interests, it would fairly DO re-
gsrt,ed as sample Of extreme partisanship.
Its general tenor is denuncistion OF the pro-
position to investigate whether there WAS in
timidAton, fraud, or violence at the recent Mis-
sssippi election, and il the cut-throat organizA-
tion which has now seized upon that State ia
afraid of tho disclosures which a.senate inquiry
may draw out, it could hardly desire more
ardent ples than this article, which declares Of
Senator Mortons resolutions that:
"Their adoption would introduce 40 radical
change in our system Of government as to
amount to destruction OF the Federal Union"
An assertion which makes the intelligent read
or open his eyes very widely. How an investi-
cation by the Senate, into the election OF
Legislature which is to choose member OF the
Senate. amounts to destruction Of the Union
the Federal Union, AZ the Calhounists want
it called--may not readily be perceived. nor is 1t
explained in the Every Epening article. Bnt the
latter proceeds to say that =
"The serious introduction OF snch rosolll.
ton by Senator sworn to support the C0nstitr-
ton OF the United States is in reality all act Of
treason ~ destructive NJ the raising OF hostile
ar mat I'm NAL anil
This paragraph and the one above are in
stances OF what wc have described ~ measured
intemperance OF language. They can hardly be
considered seriously, though they are doubtless
seriously put forth. The natural comment on
them is that they indicate gross confusion of
mind on the subject of treason-just such AZ
was shown 20 often during the Rebellion by
those who regarded {" the raising OF hostile
arm against the national authority" as only
vonlal offence, il not an entirely prsisewortly
act. From the confusion OF mind which caused
doubts, at that timo whether the defenders of
the national unity were not the !" traitors" to
tho assertion to-day, that not merely levying
war against the United States, adhering to their
enemies, giving them aid and comfort, but also
the offering OF proposition to investigate the
alleged barbarisms in Mississippi, is an act of
81 treason" there is Il direct line of connection.
The same strabismus of morals and principle is
shown in both cases.
Looking carefully over this partisan article
which sounds precisely like the echo of speech
by one OF the prominent Democratic aspirants
for the Presidency, or even like the voice itself
no demonstration appears OF the vehement
ATr
There is abundant general denunciation
OF the brave and earnest Indiana Senator, and
there are passing illusions to President Grant
and his cabinet officers, to the work of recon-
struetion, &C., which show extreme bitterness
Of feeling, and gross disregard for the truth Of
history.
We are not complaining that EceYy Ereaing
should express itsof in These terms. 1t has as
great right so to do, a. the Herdd or tho Ga
tsit", or other Democratic papers. But partisan.
thip is ono thinGand "independenceI II anoth.
"r. and that neN,psper which clairAs not to be
Democratic any more than Republican, should
undertake the representation OF the Democratic
case, bitterly, yehemently, and extensively, ia
not even honest, much loss consistent.
Whether Senator Morton's proposition to in
ves,gate the alleged violence at the Mississippi
election shonld be adopted is question to be
decided entirely in the light of circumstan.
COS. 1t ia not, as Ecay Ereaing as
sorts, proposition like that OF inyestiga.
ting mayors, or Il coroners election. The
election Of member of the Senate will be made
By the Legislature which has just been chosen,
and ths Legislature is known to be the product
al violence. Should the Senate inquire into and
officially ascertain this fact, 1t would be pro-
ceeding relating directly to it's own membership,
and so essentially different from the investiga-
ton of Governors. or Mayors, or coroner's
election, that only the same confusion OF mind
which desires to make Senator Morton's resolu-
tions ''troason" would be likely to confound the
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