Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-03-02
Speech Of Hon. John GOOde.

During the debate in the u. s. House Of
Representatives last Wednesday, MIR. Goodc,
Of Virginia, said -
No gentleman upon this floor supported the
bill creating the Electoral Commission more
cordially and earnestly than | did. No gentle.
man here is more willing tc accept his tull
share of the responsibility attaching to the
creation of that Com mission. No gentleman
mere or elsewhere WAS more grievouSly dsap-
pointed when it became apparent that ma
iorty of that Commission were unwilling 10
hear and determine the matters submitted to
them according to the truth aud the very right
of the case. supported the bill in the inter-
est Of peace. of law, and of order. believed,
whatever might be said of Senators and Rep
rsseutatives, that FIVE Judges of the Supreme
Court might be found who would be willing
and able to rise superior to considerations OF
party and OF section aud to decide the question
in the tear Of God and 10 the spirit of the oath
which they we're required to take.
But, sir the question now arises, what shall
be done by the representatives OF the people 10
this great public emergency | answer un
hes,atingly that we must do unto others as we
would have them do unto Us under like cir.
cumstances; that We must accord TO the repub-
lican party what as a party We would unaul-
mousy have demanded if the decision had been
favorable to us and adverse to them. If the
pound of flesh must be paid, and Shyock will
have it, let him have it, because it is so noml-
mated in the bood but let him see TO 1t that 10
taking the 70 rfeit he shall not spill one drop of
Christian blood. This bill was passed by demo.
cratic votes 1t was hailed by the country as
not only peace measure, but democratic
measure. And, sir, my deliberate judgment
is that it would be not only uowlse, but un-
manly, to attempt to reverse the decision by
any indirect method or by any camorous com.
plants. lu my judgment, 1t ~ the dictate OF
wisdom, of policy, Of manhood, and OF honor
to stand by the compact into which We have
deliberately entered, and to execute in good
faith the law which We have made. So much
on that point
Now, sir, as to the matter under conSldera
ton. The time was, in the golden age of the
Republic, when the voice of South Carolina
was potential 10 these Legislative halls. The
names of her L)wudcs. her Pinckney, her Rut.
ledge her Hayne, her Mac Dutiie, her Calhoun,
her Legare, and other ilustrious sons will be
cherished as household words in the land 80
long as liberty has VOtary or the pobler attrl-
butcs of humanity find location IN the breasts
of our people. To-day South Carolina is voice
less here, 80 far as the lntciect, the Intelligence,
the real worth OF that ouce proud State are
concerned.
The harp that once through TsrA's halls
The soul of mulc shed,
Now hangs as mute on lArAs Walls
As if that soul were dead.
Louisiana and Florida, through their noble
Representatives on this floor, have been heard
in eloquent and indignant protest against the
grievuus wrong which has been Inflicted upon
them, and
gsinst the deep damnation Of their taking off.
SO far as those young Commonweaths are
concerned, the deed has been done, the books
have been closed, the fat of the Electoral Com
mission has gone forth, and now the lifting OF
the curtain 10 the closing act OF the drama dis
closes to the gaze of forty millions OF freemen
South Carolina, one Of the original thirteen
States, sitting, like Niobe, all tears, mute and
voicecss 10 her woe, with manacles 90 her
limbs and the hand of the despot on her throat.
Sir, announce it as fundamental PROPOSE
tioD. upon which wish to invoke the delibe
rate judgment of the American people, that on
this roll cali of States in the selection of Chief
Magistrate the Vote Of no State should be count
ed which has been carried at the point OF the
bayunet, and if the enunclatlon OF that propo'
stiou does not touch responsive chord 10 the
UTeaStS vi tue AutfiCau pcopIc, Iheu l" 'he'
glory departed and the blood of the Saxon no
longer courses 10 their veins
II military interference 90 the part OF the Tx
ccutive with the freedom OF elections 10 the
States Of this Uoion shall be permitted to 60
uuchalleoged by the representatives of the peo-
pie and TO pass into history as precedent, then
it is useless to deny the fact that the public
liberties are seriously imperled. Edmund
Burke said -
1T is by lying dormant long time or being
at first very rarely exercised that arbitrary
power steals upon people.
No greater danger could possibly threaten
us than the nterposition Of the military arm OF
the Government in the conduct of elections.
The voices OF the past, the traditions OF the
m other country, and the warnings of the faith