The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-05-03
Memphis Appeal 24th inst.l
D. N. KEY.


Senator Kew cannot be made a MARTYR
by such mock heroics. The files of the Al
peal show that we have treated the Senator
with respect and courtesy. Things have
come to a pretty pass when the constituency,
and a free and unshackled press, cannot
comment on the public acts of a United
States Senator without provoking such stuff
the above. Senator Key is not the mas
ter of the people of Tennessee but
their servant, and they intend to criti-
else his acts only, however, with such bit
terness as the facts and truth afford. We
have said nothing worse of Senator Key than
he has said against himself for in the very
speech which has offended the southern peo-
pie he said:
"For myself, and for myself alone | speak
when | say thatI feel it my duty, most
disagreeable duty, too to vote for this reso-
luton, for in doing so | may be the only
member ofmy party who shall do so. l do
not so vote because | believe the investiga-
ton is deserved by the people of that State.
/ am free to say that if | represented State
which had not been in the rebellion, per-
haps if had taken no part in that rebellion
myself, l should vote against it. Before
heaven | assert that in my judgment there
is no necessity or Just occasion for this in
vestigation. On the contrary, | believe it
will be productive of no good. These nves-
LEGATIONS of elections are confined to one sec
ton of the country, and that the feeblest
one"
The Democratic papers that disagree
with Senator Key have not been as severe
npon him rs he is upon himself He says
there IS mo necessity or justification for this
Investigation, On the contrary, l believe
1T will be productive of no good" After ut
tering these sentiments he votes for an in
vestigation for which ''there is no necessity
or just occasion; ;" an investigation that he
believes will 'be productive of no good. !"
Was there ever such qualification as this
No necessity" no Occasion for the inves-
tlgation says Senator Key, and vet he is to
be made prosecuted saint, because the De
m0cracy of Tennessee assert the same thing
But we pass on to the letter of Senator Key.
published in another column. He SAYS his
speech created sensation" throughout the
country that it "dd what few speeches
from Southern men have done-it reached
the ears and hearts of the North" On their
own merits modest men are dumb" The
speech did create sensation but it was
one of indignation on the part of Democrats
and qualification on the part of the Radicals.
Senator Key says: ''The Democratic party
must become a party of principle" 1t is al
ready party ofliying, vital principles, as
Senator Key has endeavored to show in our
State conventions and upon the stump.
With the elegance of q school-boy statesman
Senator Key asks, ''What good does it do
for me, like cat, to turn all my ham the
wrong way, and spit at Morton, Boutwell,,
or any other Senator? Is it better for me
TO say that you are scoundrel and liar,
than that you are wrong and honestly mis-
taken 7" Nobody has asked you, Judge
Key, to rumple your hair and to spit and
caterwaul at Morton and Boutwell,. No
body has asked you to pronounce them
E'scoundrels" and Glars" but the Democracy
has implored and beseeched you not to Law
ish sickening praise upon these enemies of
our peeple-not to vote with them and
against your party, for an investigation
which You say there is mo necessity or just
occasion, and which you further say "will
be productive of no good" Senator Kew
says the war is over and so does the De
mocraey of the South, He says he wants
peace" That is what we all want. He "con-
cedes that the negroes are free and entitled
to citizenship-that they shall not again be
enslayed.' Who denies their freedom or
would again enslaye them? He SAYS a State
cannot secede. Who proposes secession
These comments of Senator Key are arrant
humbuggery, the clap-trap of a demagogue.
He makes them for q dishonest purpose
that of insinuating that those who condemn
his course would have him call Morton and
Boutwell, ''scoundrels and liars that they
do not recognize the fact that the war is
over, or that they are whipped that they
deny the freedom ofthe negro, and would
again enslave him. and that they have not
given up secession. Senator Key cannot
escape the odium of his vote by such paltry
subterfuge We do not believe there are
halfa dozen Democrats in Memphis who ar-
prove either his speech or his vote, for, ac-
cording to his doctrine, the people of
southern State cannot change their political
opinions if that change be against the Re
publican party. Arkansas was reported by
Radical officials as having gone largely Re
publican in 1872, yet in 1874 she repudiated
Republicanism by fifty thousand majority
One of the cardinal tenets of the Democratic
party is hostility to such investigation as
Morton proposes in Mississippi, and for
which Senator Key voted. The Senate of
the United States has no power to interfeer
with elections or the result of elections, in
a State, for such an interference DESTROYS
local selEgovernment, and arrogates to CON
gress a power which does not Belong to it. |
Such is the voice of the Democracy of Ten
nessee in State convention, to which Sena-
tor Key was delegate.