The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1878-01-31
TaEE ANFE EsEAlUN SOUTH IN
I'HE u. a. SENATE.
Eseroration Of Soon. T.. Q. G. VA
mars Speech i'm tEae United
States Senate OLA flRe Silver Cues
tom.

tom.
| can never forget the closing hours of
that power, for | was here aud saw it pass
from the hands of Southern Democratic
statesmen into those who now WELD the
deStinies of this country. / remem Der here
on this floor the then distinguished Senator
from New York (Mr. SeWard), who has
since become more conspicuous in the event
full times that have occurred, declare that
power had departed from the South; that
the Sceptre was now taken from her hand,
aud that thencefOrth the great North, by
reason Of its superiority in mum erical power
and roll of sovereign States, would grasp
this power as her own prerogative and be-
come responsible for the administration OF
the whole Government. | am aware that
listined TO him with Impotence and per-
haps with prejudice, and though his spirit
was too much that of cXultatiOn, not real
iZing the magnitude of the great undertake
ing which was about to devOve upon him
and his associates, it struck me that he did
not have the sadness and sOlemnity which
touch the heart of every great man when
confronted with the great events and great
responsibilities involving the interests OF
untold millions. | shall never forget
the answer that was made to him
by a Southern Senator who sat near
where my friend from Indiana (Mr.
McDonald) now sits. He was surrounded
by circle of Southern Democratic states
men, which in ability and purity, will never
be surpassed in the history of this country,
whatever may belts 2lory-which glory,
trust, will lie always great among the ma
tons of che earth. There was James NJ.
Mason, whose square and massive simplic-
" of character and pnrity stand mOnumen-
tai in our annals. There was his accom-
plished colleague, Robert NJ. L. Hunter.
whose clear and broad craftsmanship found
fit expression in a scholarly elOquence that
n
friends and opponents in the same admring
friendship. And then there was Mr.. Slidell,
shrewd and wise and prudent, and by his
side sat j. Z. Benjamin, whose aStuteness
and skill, eloquence and learning have since
won him fame and fortune upon that hi 9Th
Olympic field of mental conflict. the great
courts of Westminster. There was Robert
Toombs, who never spoke without striking
at the heart of big thought and kindlIng
the ideas of all who listened to him. There
was Albert @. Brown, from my own State,
who never had a sympathy outside of the
wants and feelings of his own people; who
yet was never Overawed by their predj-
udices or swerved from his course
by their passion. There was another,
Mr.. President-Shall | not be permitted to
mention his name in this free American
Senate. which has been so free to discuss
and condemn his errors ?-one who has
been the vicariOus sufferer for his people !;
who has been in prison cell, the solitude OF
whose punishment should lift him above
the jibe and jeer of popular passion, whose
words will ever remain as the sad and the
grand memoranda, not of triumph, not of
defiance, but of earnest purpose, the sincere
motive of the great struggles which those
who inaugurated it believed was struggle
for representative liberty aud constitutional
government. Among these, and surround
ed by them this Senator spoke to his asso-
ciates in terLls which l have never read
from that day to this, but which are
stereotyped upon my memory, and which
if the Senate will permit me I will here
repeat: "Sir," said he, addressing his
Northern associates, ''what the Senator saws
is true. The power has passed from our
hands into your hands, but do not forget
it cannot be forgotten; it is written upon
the brightest page of history-that we, the
Shareholders of the South, took your country
in ner infancy, and, after ruling her
for sixty OF the SEVENTH years of her eX-
istence, we returned her to you without
spot upon her honor; matches in her
splendor; Incompatible In her power; the
pride and admiration of the world. Time
will show what you will do with her; but
no time can dim our glory or diminish your
esponsibility." Sir, it is not my purpose
to say what has been done with it; the ar
raingment of the Senator from Indiana
(Mr. Voorhees, is still before the country.
There is testimony, however, by witness
who may be regarded as more impartial
than he: judge sterner than he. / will
read what he says. lMr. Lamar here quo