Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-08-12
MIR. LAMAR,S SPEECH.

mn. hAmAh - De hbSh.
The following is a synopsis of a speech
recently delivered in the House of Rep
resentatives, by L. Q. C. Lamar of Missis
sippi. If the average Southern Demo-
crat was of the same stripe as Mr.. Lamar,
there would DO loss occasion for appre-
hension at the thought of that party
gaining the ascendancy in the nation,
but such is far from being the case:
He commenced by saying that it could
not truthfully be asserted that the prac-
tical and peculiar system of measures
adopted by the present Administration
commended the approval af majority of
the people; that on the contrary, the
sentiment with which the American peo-
pie regarded the conduct of national
affairs was one of very decided dissatisfac-
ton and dependency, accompanied with
a strong and intense desire for change.
There was a dcer and anxious protest
against the methods of the Administra-
ton, the tone and character of the pub
| lie service, and the principles of legisla-
ton that had marked the action of the
| Government for many years past, and yet
it was remarked that this popular, feel
ing produced no change in the Admins
tratiOn. But it was said that the advent
of the Democratic party to power would
endanger the pcrmanency of the new
institutions established by the war, and
there was apprehension that what was
called the Southern sectional combination
would be brought back, and therefore the
people were not prepared, for the mere
sake Of correcting the abuses of the
Administration, to put these new institu-
tions into the hands of those who were
originally opposed to their establishment.
He appreciated the value of these grave
apprehensions. He would speak how.
ever, In behalf of a people who had &C.
copied with sincerity the results of the
war, who felt that they had on them the
burden of recovering the confidence OF
the nation, and who also felt assured that
with better knowledge of their pur.
poses and motives they would receive
that faith and confidence which is neces
sary to bind together the various sections
of the public in the bonds Of peace,
peace, which, in these days of party, ht
feared, was almost past understanding
He did not believe that the apprehension
growing out of the united support by the
Southern people of the Democratic party
was well founded, or that it should stanC
IN the way Of the aspirations of a grea
people for progress and reform.
The idea that the South, under anyo ombina
ton of parties or circumstances would eve
again obtain the control of this great republic
and WELD its destinies against the will and in
stinct of this mighty people was, of all ideas, tn
most visionary and basclcss. The people of tn
South were PROSTATE. They had been defeate'
in war, and made to feel that the sacrifice AM
humiliation and helplessness OF defeat had bee
allotted to them as their share, while the peop
Of the North had reaped the rich results of vic
torious war, and had embodied and guaranteed
them in the very life and constitution of the ma
ton. The institutions of the South had beeI
shattered and destroyed, her industries had beer
disorganized; every foot of her fertile soil ster
ilized by an al,devouring taxation ;her education
al interests waning and languishing, and her pop
ulation was so feeble in comparison with that o.
the great Union that with the South united (blac
and white) it would be impotentt to secure singl
southern man, or to defend single interest, |
was therefore absurd for great people to ar
prehend that the people of the South arrogated t
themselves the ruling of the interests of thi
great nation. There was no aspiration which
they had that was not bounded by the horizon o
the Union. If they were united with the Demo
cratic party it was not for the purpose of section
al ACKNOWLEDGMENT, it was not for the purpose o
reversing the policy of the Government, but il
was because they had observed an instructive
and imperitive law of sclf.preservation but they
could not impose on themselves stolid inactivi
ty. All that they wanted in unitin with the De
tn OF 70 ,.,,la
control the interests of the country, but they
wanted representative share of the responsi
bilities and benefits of Il common government &C
cording to the measures of their population anC
race. They were now cooperating with thu
Democratic party under a dire and nexorab
necessity, and only in the hope of getting an ad
minstration that would not be unfriendly t.
them; thatwould not feel itself commissioned tt
execute resentment and oppression upon them
They wanted to get an administration which, i
place of the forces of conquest, subjugation and
domination, would give amnesty and restoration t
all the privileges of American citizcnship al
administration which would allow their State
the same equal rights as other States, whic
would allow them equality of consideration
equality of authority, jurisdiction over their ow
affairs exemption from the domination of cleo
ton by bayonets, that would give them local sell
government, and then the country would at las
&, see the dawn of prosperity in all the indus tria
enterprise of the North. 1t would see a tru
Southern renaissance, a real grand reconstruc
ton of the South 1t wound see her rising from
her confusion and distress, rejoicing in her new
ly acquired liberty, free. great and prosperous
her sons and daughters of every race happy il
her smile, and greeting this benignant republi
| in the words of the inspired poet, "rhy gentle
| made nnnlngn