The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-04-08
Senators Bayard and Boutwell,.

Senators Bayard and Boutwell,.
senator Bayard, Of Delaware, was ad-
dressinglhe Senate, last week, in opposition
to ME sIorton's Investigation resolution,
when he courteously yielded to Mr.. Bout
well. who wished to ask question, but,
as Mr.. Bayard alleged, took advantage Of
his courtesy to inteFject a political TRADE
ofa bitter kind, denouncing the slavery
regime as rebellious and Infamous, and
charging Mr. Bayard with being the asso-
eiate and apologist of disloyalists. He
did not learn manners, he said, from men
brought up under the code of slavery Mr..
Bayard replied to this indecent assault
with becoping spirit, saying that the man
who laid to his charge anything that was
not loyal and faithful to the Union, alied
/. in his throat, and this ended the cOlloquy,
Any allusion to ''manners, from that
quarter, was simply ludicrous If Mr..
Boutwell, ever learned manners from any
one, he has forgotten his first lessons and
has need Of fresh instruction. We have
marked, all through this session, the inso-
lent bearing Of the Republicans in both
branches Of Congress, and have wondered
that such conduct has not provoked retail
iation and punishment upon the spot.
That it has not, is due to the forbearance
Of the Democrats, for the conduct Of the
Republicans has been unsufferable. They
have walked up and down the aisles, in
debate, gestieulating with violence and
shaking their cleuched fists toward the
Democrats, denouncing them as Exon
federates, and INDUCING in insulting cpl
thets altogether out Of place in debate in
a deliberative body, and among gentlemen.
When the war ended the Southern States
were still component parts of the Union.
There was amnesty, 50 far as legal forms
could extend it, and the South was rein
stated, enfranchised, and clothed with all
the rights and immunities of any other
section. Representatives in Congress were
chosen, and all other functions of govern
ment exercised as in any other part of the
country, In the choice of Representa-
tives, they had to be taken either from
negroes and carpet baggers on the one
side, or ex-Confederates on the other, as
all the white men in the South served in
the army. But, they had laid down their
arms and returned to their allegiance, and
they are to-day in Congress in the dis
charge of patriotic duty to their country,
and are entitled to proper consideration in
the high and responsible positions which
they gil in that body. They are the Re
representatives. Of sovereign States of this
Union, and the peers of the proudest in
the halls Of our national assembly, and
only the baser clement among its members
will refuse to accord to them the consid-
Grafton which is due in virtue Of their DO
sition. Only such contemplate poltroons
as skulked at home and never had the
courage to face danger in the field, now
undertake to yapor and swagger and play
the bully. Blaine, Morton and Boutwell,,
have been among the foremost in making
this disgraceful exhibition of themselves
upon the floor Of Congress, but the latter
gentleman mistook his man when his folly
50 far triumphed over his better reason as
to cause him to make his indecent attack
upon Senator Bayard. His is proud and
chivalrous spirit which viii not brook the
taunts and slings of the cowardly crew
who are attempting the role of the mock
heroic upon the boards of the Congress
sional arena. 1t were better, perhaps, if
Mr.. Bayard should treat them as General
Gordon and Mr.. Lamar have, with silent
but supreme contempt. To notice them
al al, lends them an importance which
they coyet, and helps them to notoriety
for which they pant Even kick would
be compliment for which they would be
duly appreciatiye, and make capital enough
out Of il to secure return to Congress for
the balance of their lives. Pitch cannot
be touched without deiilement. Il were
better to let it alone.