The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1876-08-18

| Lamar, VINO proceeded 10 make q speech OF
political subjects. He commenced by say
ing that it could not be truthfully asserted
that the practice and peculiar system o.
measures adopted by the present admins
tration commanded the appreciation of 6
majority of the people, but that on the con
trary the sentiment in which the American
| people regarded the conduct of national
affairs was one of very decided dissatisfac.
ton and dependency, accompanied with a
strong and intense desire of change. There
was a deep and anxious protest against the
methods of administration, the tone and
| character of the public service and princi-
| pies of legislation, that had marked the ac.
| ton of the government msny years past,
and yet it was remarkable that the popular
| feeling produced no change in the admins
tration. Such development of public SEN
timent in England would have produced a
change in the administrative agencies of the
government within twenty-four hours. He
did not believe that an apprehension grow
ing out of the united support by the south
ern people of the democratic party was well
| founded, or that it should stand in the way
of the aspirations of a great people for pro-
| gress and reform. The idea that the south
| under any combination of IRss'tses or circum-
stances would ever obtain cofSeII of this
| giant republic and WELD its destine< Easaiast
| the will and interests of this mighty people
was, or all ideas, the most visionary and
| false. The people OF the south were pros
| made to feel that sacrifice, and humiliation
| and helplessness of defeat had been allotted
to them as their share, while the people of
| the north had renped the rich results of
| victorious war and had embodied and guar
| anteed them in the very life and constitution
of the nation. The institutions of the south
| had been scattered and destroyed, her in
| dustries had been disOrganized, every foot
| of her fertile soil sterilized, by an all-de-
vOuring taxation, her educational interests
waning and languishing, and her population
was so feeble in comparison with that of the
great union, that, with the south united,
black and white, it would be impotsnt to Sc
cure single southern man or to defend a
single southern interest 1t was therefore
absurd for great people to apprehend that
the people of the south arrogated to them
selves the ruling of the interests of the great
nation, there was no aspiration which they
had that was not bounded by the horizon of
the union. If they were united with the
democl attic party it was not for the purpose
of sectional aggrandizement; it was not for
the purpose of reversing the policy of the
government; but it was because they OBJ
served an instructive and imperative law of
self-preservatiOn. He quOnted from the re-
ports of the Louisiana investigating COM
mittees and from the presidents annual
message, in which he acknowledged that the
people of south had had vile and oppressive
government to live under. He asked how
could be expected to find orderly, lawabid-
ing communities whose governors were law
less felons, whose ministers were thieves and
whose magistrates were scOundrels. This
race problem was not incapable of solution,
Two statesmen such as lord Derby and
earl Russell would settle it in three days.
The people of the south would be content
to withdraw from participation in the presi- |
dental election if they could do so, and let |
the people of the north elect a president
but they could not impose on themselves a |
-&,L. A - IL
uniting with the democratic party was, not |
to rule cabinets, not to dictate a policy, not |
to control the interest of the country, but |
they wanted a representative share of the |
responsibilities and benefits of a common |
government, according to measure of their !
population and race. They were now CO. |
operating with the democratic party, under |
dire and memorable necessity, and only in |
the hope of getting an administration that |
would not be unfriendly to them; that would |
not feel it commissioned to execute resent
ment and oppression upon. They wanted to !
get administration which, in place of |
force, of conquest, subjugation and domina-
tiOn, would give amnesty and restoration to |
the privileges of American citizenship; an |
administration which would allow their |
states the same rights as other stateej which |
would allow then equality of consideration, |
equality of authority and jurisdiction over |
their own affairs; exemption from domina-
tion of election by bayonets that would give |
them local selfgovernment, and their coun-
try would at last see the dawn of prosperi- |
". In all industrial enterprises of the north,
it would see true southern reinsurance of
real grand reconstruction of the south; it
would see her rising from her confusion and
distress, rejoicing in her newly acquired
liberty, free, great and prosperous; her sons
and her daughters of every race happy in
her smile, and greeting this benignant re-
public In the words of the inspired poet
"Thy gentleness has made thee great"
Loud applauss.J Mr.. Lamar spoke about
two hours, his time having been extended on
motion of Mr. Garfield, and commanded
throughout his whole speech the close and
attention of the house. He is to
be replied to by Nh. Garfield, who obtained
the floor for that purpose
The committee then rose, when Mr.. GoOde
called attention to the fact that he had been
reported as having applied for and obtained
leave of absence.
On motion of Mr.. Gordon the senate
to the bill providing for the
sale of Usage ceded lands in Kansas to ac-
tual settlers were non-concuTred in and a
committee of cOnfederence ordered.
In the house, on the third, a report
Mr.. Knott from all culpability in
the matter of the Caldwell dispatch, was
and made the text of speech by
Mr.. Knott, in which he rehearsed the whole
history of the Blaine investigation. Mr..
FRYE replied to Mr.. Knotts speech. Mr..
Hurd-fn making the motion to recommit
do it with the object that the minority of the
committee may have an opportunity OF pre-
senting to the house minority report. The
report was accordingly recommitted. Mr..
Morrison, chairman of the committee on
ways and means, reported a resolution pro-
viding for the adjournment of congress on
Monday next, at twelve o'clock. Mr.. Waddel
called for the yeas and nays, which were re-
fused, and the resolution adopted. Mr.. Ran
dali moved that the house go INTO committee
of the whole in order to allow Mr.. Carried
t, speak in reply to Mr.: Lamar, pending
winch the house adjourned.
In the house, on the 5th, Mr.. Bland's
silver bill was taken up on the regular or
der The morning hour having expired, the
bill went over without action. Mr.. Cox,
chairman of the committee on banking and
currency, reported bill to repeal section
of the resumption act of January IA, 1873,
which directs the secretary of the treasury
to redeem in coin the legal tender note
then outstanding, and proposed to allow an
bOuT and q half for its discussion and like
time for the discussion OF a further bill
which he was directed to report, providing
for a commission on the subject. He would
decline, however, to allow amendments TO
be offered. He opened the argument by
declaring his belief that the fixing of day
for resumption was a hopeless menace to
prosperity; that it effected no good. and that
it was utterly useless for all practical pur
poses. The best business men of the cOun-
try had said so, and said so to his committee.
The bill which it was proposed to repeal in
part had passed congress as party neces-
sity; under the whip and spur of the previ-
GUS question. Mr.. Goode, of the banking
committee, advocated to repeal. Mr.. Hew-
tit asked Mr.. Cox to let him offer as substi-
tute bill providing for a committee on the
subject After some time wasted in call OF
house, Cox allowed Hewitt's proposition to
be offered as substitute, and the previous
question was seconded without objection.
The vote was then taken on Hewitts sub
stitute, which provides for commission oil
three senators, three members OF the house,
and three experts to be selected by and as
soeiated with senators and members to con-
slider what measures are necessary and prac-
ticable in order to bring about resumption
of specie payment, at the earliest Posslole
time consistent with due regard to tEe inter
ests of the country, and to report bill en-
bodviug results of its investigation on or ,
before the 18th of December, 1876. Finally
the vote was announced, as yeas, 92 nays,
IO4: so the substitute was rejected. The
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