Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-03-31
Goode on stowell.


The speech of Hon. John Goode OF Viz
ginia and his sparring with Hoar OF Mass.
is going the rounds The discussion was
on an amendment of Mr.. Goode proposed
to the law Furnishing bribery and corrup-
ton at elections. He said:
Sir, was struck with the,remark made
by the distinguished gentleman from Mas
sachusetts Mr.. Hoar] when he:sald-andl
honor him for the expression OF the Sentl-
ment-that the practice OF collecting mCn-
ey to be used for corrupt election purposes
was the most dangerous practice to our
liberties, and that wherever this practlce
prevails it poisons the waters OF civil hber-
tyat its very fountain. 1t was a sentiment
worthy to be commended, and hope gen
tlemen on that side OF the House Will unite
with us in suppreSsing this great wrong.
Mr.. Hoar. | did not say it was the
most dangerous practice to our liberties.
T said it was lone of the'' most dangerous.
Mr.. Goode. That is immaterial; l ADOPT
the sentiment in whatever phraseology. the
gentleman may have couched it.
Now, MI. Speaker, [ do not intend to fol-
low the gentleman from Maine Mr.. Blainel
in his stump speech. In certain contln-
gency [ may have an opportunity before
the ides of November to discuss these
questions. Unfortunately for the gentle
man. it seems to be his habit of mind to
stray in partisan politics whenever he rises
to address this House. We are here for
the business of legislation, and for one
mortal hour this morning we have been
entertained by the gentleman with ha-
rangue which would be appropriate On the
stump.
Now, in regard to my colleague, so
called, from Virginia, Mr.. Stowell.l
Mr.. Stowell. Is that because you are
not entitled to your seat ?
Mr.. Goode. The gentleman says that in
Virginia the law is as l stated, that one
judge should be selected from each polltl-
cal party. That is true; but if the gentle
man had read further he would have found
that the law furthermore provides
that all of the judges must be able to read
and write. [Iaughter.] Now the gentle
man has the honor to hail from what is
known as ''the black district'' in Virginia
and unfortunately, sir. there are not
enough white republicans said unfortu-
nately; l beg pardon, meant fortunately
there are not white republicans enough
to be found i'll the eleven counties which
constitute his district to furnish judges TO
meet the requirements of the law, who are
able to read and write, laughter and
therefore it is that in his eleven counties
only one republican judge OF election, he
saws, has been appointed. Were not those
democratic judges exceedingly fair Does
he not acknowledge their honesty and IN
tegriJy and fairness when, democratic as
they were, they had the honesty and the
nerve to return the gentleman from Yer
mont-I beg pardon, from Virginia !!
Laughter
Now, sir, he has eleven counties in MS
district. and there was not a solitary DEM
oI 10 bia district from
of these counties. but they sent an unbro-
ken republican delegation until recently
his friend and partisan, his colored trend,
Mr., Ruffin, was expelled from the House
of Representatives for petit larceny, and
the men of all parties, democrats and re-
publicans, blacks and whites, arose Ill Their
majesty and strength and elected q White
man and. democrat, because he was non
est.
Now, sir, such is the state OF things IN
''the black district" which the gentleman
has the honor to represent. II he Will read
the statute he will find that the most plau-
sible reason for not appointing republican
Judges of election in his district was that
they could not be found who were able to
read and write | know that in the pOr-
ton of the State from which l hail the
Judges land I undertake to say Jhey are as
pure and incorruptible as eyer adorned any
bench in this land) have complied with
the law and appointed in every case one
republican judge Of election.
Now | am indebted to the courtesy oil
the gentleman from Illinois. Mr.. Caul-
field | rose to meet these personal al
lusions to my district, and if The gentle
man from Maine Mr.. Blaine.] will read
the contested election case Of Brady VS..
| Gayle he will find that after a searching
and honest inquiry by q committee OF the
Senate OF Virginia, the seat was awarded
to Mr.. Gayle by a vote OF Is to IL, and
they did it expressly upon the ground that
the surplus ballots were drawn out by Il
blindfolded judge in the only way provided
by law.
MI. Hoar: desire to ask the gentleman
from Virginia a question about the BLACK
district. | would like him to state under
whose training and administration OF the
laws the people of so large district III
Virginia'are unable to read and write?
Mr.. Goode: The gentleman is bringing
up the ghost of slavery.
Mr.. Hoare: l asked but a simple ques-
ton.
Mr.. Goode: do not hesitate to say that,
owing to the condition of servltude, these
people have not had the opportunity to
learn to read and write.
MI. Hoar: My question is this: Whose
fault is it? Is it the fault of the blacks?
Mr.. Goode | do not intend to be draw,
aside to discuss these issues; they are dead,
and they belong to the dead past. The
gentleman cannot draw me into any such
snare.
Mr.. Hoar: The gentleman was haunting
the blacks of a district OF his own State.
MI. Goode: do not intend to be led
into that discussion. l see the object OF
the gentleman, and, sir, it is altogether
unnecessary for the fowler to spread his
net in view of the bird. [Laughter.l L
know what the gentleman IS after; | I'M
derstand his tactics; we have had them
from the beginning Of the session, and the
distinguished gentleman from Maine MI.
Blaine.l led off in that direction. fol- one
| do not intend to be led aside. L am here
to discuss this bill, to do the work OF legis-
lation, and to serve the people who sent
me here to the best of my humble ability.