Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-11-12
Speech of Hon. John d,OOIe.

10 the House of Representatives, Oh Satur-
day, iu Committee of the Whole Cd the Army
Appropriation bill, Mr.. Hooker, of Mississippi,
having offered an amendment to prohibit the
use Of troops 10 any State unless called for by
the Legislature or Executive Of such State,
Mr.. Gooic, of Virginia, said:
l regret exceedingly, Mr.. Chairman, 10 differ
on this subject with my distinguished friend
from Mississippi, [Fr Hooler.l I am opposed
cd by The gentleman from Ohio, [Mr. Garfield. ]
In my judgment it would be cx coedingly un-
wise and impolitic for this House of Roprcsen-
tatives to incorporate such provision upon this
appropriation bill. In my judgment it would
be regs1d9d by the country as an imputstion
upon the present Executive. I know that my
friend does not so intend it, but l believe that
1t would be so accepted.
Il will be remembered that in the closing
hours of the Forty Fourth Congress this House
undertook to ingralt such provision as this
upon the Army appropriation bill, and that APP
preparation bill failed to become law because
tho two Houses could not agree upon that ques :.
ton. | voted then with the majority Of this
House. l do not regret, mover expect to regret
That vote Under similar circumstances l
would give the same vote again.
We cannot however, close our eyes to the fact
that the circumstances which surround us to-day
are altogether different from the circumstances
by which we were surrounded then. We felt
than that the public liberties were imperiled by
the unauthorized use of the Army. We saw the
State houses in South Carolina and Louisiana
surrounded By an armed so!diery who under
took to examine the credentials Ct members Of
tho State Legislature and to ovccawe and init
mdate them in the discharge Of their duties. We
!cL az the natives Of the people, that va
would DO dore!ict in duty, that we would disap-
point tho just expectations of the county, if we
failed to interpose the legislative arm CT this
GUyoi nlnent fer the protection of an unarmed
ard helpless AID q defenseless people We
therefore refused to vote dollar then. and we
would have persisted IN refusing to vote it, be.
GAUGE we believed such action was necessary to
prevent ali Illegal and unauthorized use Of the
Army.
friend from Mississippi Mr. Hooker] blind to
the changed condition OF affairs? I know he is
no:. But wish to call to the minds Of mem
bars of this House the fact that Immediately af-
ter the accession Of President Hayes to the
Presidency he issued an order directing the
withdrawal OF troops from the State-houses in
South Carolina and Louisiana.
What did that mean? It meant to indicate
ths. the President Of tha United States
was Wiling to trust the people of the South.
II meant to Indicate that he regarded them
rs brave and honorable people, WHO
to renew their allegiance to this Government
1t meant to indicate that in his judgment the
use of the bsyonet was not necessary to enforce
law and order and peace at the South. That is
the Wy we understood it. We accepted it as an
overture OF peace. And if know the people Of
ito South, there is nothing to-day which they go
earnestly and anxiously desire as lasting and
enduring pesce. We accep ed it as an overture
OF peace, aud the people whom I have the honor
TO represent are not willing to refuse to take the
right hand of fellowship when it is held out to
them by the President OF tho United States
Here the hammer fell
The members Of the Virginia delegation
voted for The amendment with the exception
OF mcssrs. Goode and Harris.