Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-05-15
The South Carolina Purqation.


legislature, when the members which re-
coSnized the now dead Chamberlain leg
islature appeared at the bar of the House
and by AFFECT apologies purged themselves
of contempt" are sickening to read
A full report was printed in the Charles
ton News and Courier for the delight and
edi6cation Of the bulldozers. The New
York Tribune for wonder cannot con-
ceal its disgust and expresses it as fol-
lows;
In every case the last degree of humili-
alton was insisted upon, the most complete
apology exacted. The simple acceptance
of the situation and recognition of the
present House as the legally constituted
one, which of course contained by imph-
cation the confession that the organization
they had abandoned was not legal, was
not deemed sufficient. Each one Of the
recusants was held to the strictest con
struetion of the resolution describing him
as in contempt and requiring an apology.
No one was allowed to offer explanation,
justification. or defence OF his previous
action: the attempt to disclaim any In
tentiOn Of wrong-dOing was noisily put
down; nothing would do but that each
individual should come forward to the
bar and confess that he had done wrong
knowingly and willfully, and crave the
pardon Of the House for his unlawful
conduct.
The first person brought to the bar
said, addressing the Speaker, "What l
have done | believe to be right, but | am
perfectly willing to recognize you as the
legal Speaker and this as the legal House
Of Representatives This the Speaker
would not-accept, because it contained no
expression of regret or penitence for his
palpable violation of law" The confess
sion of deliberate guilt and humble petit
ton for pardon were insisted upon, aud
after time extorted. He then asked
permission to speak for his colleagues,
and in their behalf make the same admis-
sion and apology. But that was not to
be thought Of. The reputable gentlemen
who have Just come into possession of pow
er did not propose to lose any Of the rare
sport which this scene of humiliation Of
fered them. Each offender must appear
at the bar in person and publicly abase
himself in purgation Of the contempt.
Nothing short Of the pound Of flesh would
answer. One member said, "If | am in
contempt, | hope "will, be pardoned ;"
but they tolerated no ifs, and he had to
change 1t to "as | am in contempt, ask
pardon" Another named Forrest was
described as being sulky, and the scene
with him is thus related
He said, Il am sorry for my violation
Of the Constitution Of the State" The
Speaker-"Do you ask forgiveness =
Forrest always axes forgivness when
| does wrong" The Speaker-"Do you
admit that you have done wrong ," For
rest-"Of course, if is violate the Con-
stitution, has done wrong" Voices
from the democratic side-"Ee don't pro-
pose TO have this man shuttle round in
this way he must purge his contempt or
leave" Forrest much moyed)-"I say
| axes humble pardon, Sir"
The correspondent describing the per-
Torrance INDUCES in expressions OF salts
faction and delight at the spectacle of
humiliation, and adds, 'the show for the
day" having closed, while the erring
members were humiliating themselves, the
rest OF the Mackey members, whose
names are not yet reached, sat gloomily
and silently in their seats and as bad as
1t appeared to be to those who recanted,
it was Indefinitely worse TO those who
didn't get = chance 10 eat dirt"
Now this is the sort Of thing that
scarcely needs comment. The picture
paints itself and carries its lesson along.
One does not ike to think of these re-
spectacle and intelligent men, the best
men in the State, it Is said-meu who
boast Of gentle blood and culture and
high sense Of personal honor, and all the
chivalric yirtues-sitting in state TO hear
apologies from parcel Of poor ignorant
black men who are Just waking from their
brief dream Of power. Is it possible
that there can be any healing for insulted
dignity or any reparation for wounded
pride in the broken confessions and STAN
mering apologies of these poor creatures,
who after all were never half so bad as
might have been expected from their con-
dition and circumstances ? Would it not
have been better-more dignifed and
decorous, to say nothing Of the magma
nimity Of ito have quietly Ignored all
the past, and set their faces resolutely
toward the future? But they said,
Now we have come to our own, our first
business must be to make the niggers own
up and ask pardon" And they have
attended to that as being of the first con-
sequence.
There are sixty-four Maine officers