Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-04-05
SENATOR KEY-HIs SPEECH AND VOTE
on THE MISSISSIPPI RESOLUTIONS.


lutions. We will not do him the injus'
tice to imply q lack Of sincerity and
patriotism, but must question his judg-
ment aud discretion. he stands alone
as the only Democrat, North or South,
who aided Morton in an Infamous parti-
san Measure intended to cast odium on
a weak. dOwn.trodden State. Morton is
notorfcasly q candidate for the Presi
deney and a manufacturer of ISLANDERS
against the South. He breathes forth
hatred and malice. Maledictions consti-
tute his stock in trade. Diseased in
body and mind, be carries a culver full
of hates and never omits an opportunity
to let fly a poisoned arrow at the pros.
trate people Of the Southern States. he
is as devoid Of generosity or sympathy as
the bloody wheels ofthe car Of Juggernaut
as it brushes its victims. All his appeals
are directed to the ferocious and unfor.
giving qualities of human nature. Fair
ness is nj part Of his composition; jus.
tiee is far from him. The resolution
which be introduced on the 9th of De-
cember, and modified on the 9th Of
March, is as follows:
Whereas, 1t is alleged the late cleo
ton in Mississippi lin 1879 for men,
bers Of Congress and State officers and
members of the Legislature was charac-
cerized by great frauds committed upon
and violence exercised toward the col
ored citizens of that State and the white
citizens disposed to support their rights
at the election, and especially that the
colored voters, on account of their color,
race or previous condition of s~ervitude,
were, by intimidation and force, deferred
from voting, or compelled to vote, con-
trary to their wishes, for candidates and
in support OF parties to whom they were
opposed, and their right to the free ex-
ercise Of the elective franchise, as Sc
cured by the fifteenth amendment to the
Constitution, thus practically denied
and violated, and that such intimidation
has been since continued for the purpose
of affecting future elections; and where, b
the people Of all the United States have
an interest in and a right to insist upon
the enforcement Of this constitutional
amendment, and Congress, having the
power to enforce it by appropriate legis-
l%atioR, cannot properly neglect the duty
of providing the necessary legislation
for this purpose; therefore
Resolved, That a committee Of FIVE
Senators be appointed by the Chair to
investigate the truth Of these allegations,
and to inquire how far these constitu-
tionsl rights have in the said election
been violated by force, fraud or intimi-
dalton, and to inquire and report to the
Senate, before the end Of the present
session, whether any, and, if 30, what,
further legislation is necessary Il secure
to said colored citizens the free enjoy.
ment OF their constitutional rights; and
that said committee be empowered to
visit the States, to send for persons and
papers, to take testimony on oath and to
use all necessary process for these pur-
poses.
1t will be observed that the resolution
not only confines this committee to FIVE
Senators, but it proposes that the sens.
tors shall examine into the election oil
members Of Congress in the State Of
Mississippi, the members Of one House
assuming to examine into the election oil
members Of the other House, which hap
pens to contain a majority Of a different
political complexion. This duty ant
power is conided by the constitution t.
the House alone, each House being th,
sole Judge OF the election, qualification
and return Of its own members. Com
mon courtesy and decency, if not law
would have at least suggested the sp
pointment Of a joint committee. Her,
we see one House u%surping the sole right
and %prerogatives Of the other in a man
ner at ones revolutionary and withou.
precedent, unless under a violent parti
san regime. But this is not all; it pro
poses to examine into the facts attend
ing the election Of State officers an
members Of the Legislature" an unhear
of proposition in the Senate. A Legis
%lature, it seems, exists by the suFeI
ance or upon certificate Of a partisa
Senate, although the constitution Of H.
States make the two bodies of the Legi
lsture the sole judges of the %electioi
qualification and returns Of the men
bers Of that body. These are col.
blooded, deliberate invasions Of the col
stitutional rights of the States. If th
resolution is intended to exclude NJ
Lamar from his seat it is premature b
nearly a year. In any aspect IT is with
out constitutional warrant, or even II
justification Of a partisan, is subversiy
of the rights Of the people, ~daugerou
to public peace, and destructive OF tn
federal system Of government. do
MI. Key could make up bis mind TO wi
for such a piece of iniamV is a liu.
more than we can understand. Passir
over everything that Morton said, lot 1
see what our Senator had to swallow
Take the speech of Mr.. Boutwell,
Maine, delivered on the Both ult. Hel
is an extract.
For seventy years the spirit Of hypo,
Facy and misrepresentation dominate
over the slave.holding section Of thi
c~onfederacy. They continually presen
cd themselves to the country and to th
world as the friends OF the Union, and
was a lie from the first TO the last. .
They were its enemies all the while
Slavery and the spirit Of slavery is an