The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-12-19
THURMAN TALKS.

Blaine delivered his great speech in
support of the resolution offered by
him at the opening of the session to
Investigate the alleged election frauds
in the South. 1t was designed as the
key mote for bloody shirt campaign
in 1880. Senator Thurman offered an
amendment. to the resolution of the
Maine Senator providing that the
Committee belinstructed to enquire
whether there was any intimidation
at the North, any undue influencing of
votes, any corrupt use of money, any
assessment of Office holders in contra.
vention of law and the Constitution,
and the Democrats proposed that, if
the Republicans would accept the
amendment the entire resolution
would receive their support and pass
without debate. But this did not suit
the purpose of the Radicals, as it
would not enable them to keep alive
the sectional hate and strife which
constitute their stock in trade. But
Senator Thurman did a good work in
promptly replying to the Maine Sena-
tor, completely answering and demol-
ishing his assumptions. We give be.
low the
REMARKS OF SENATOR THURMAN:
Mr.. President: 1 attempted to offer
that amendment before the Senator
from Maine proceeded with his re-
marks, but failed to have any oppor.
.tunity to do so. 1 intended then to
say that whatever opinion might be
entertained on this side of the Cham
Der as to the competency of Congress
TO make all the Investigations that
these resolutions contemplated, yet we
were disposed to waive all scruples of
that character, and suffer these resolu-
tions to pass without opposition if the
amendment now proposed should be
added to them. The Senator from
Maine, however, having speech care
fully studied and prepared, exercised
his right to deliver that speech before
any amendment should be offered. I
DO not complain of that at all, nor do I
now rise TO make any extended reply to
the speech that l have heard just now.
Should this debate be protracted,
may exercise my privilege of saying
something in reply TO the Senator
from Maine; but to-day 1 shall con-
fine myself to a very few general OBJ
seryations. III. ....... .-..
The Senator is frank in one thing
his resolution Is broad. 1t includes
all the States. 1t provides for an in,
vestigation whether the rights of
American citizens in connection with
the elective franchise have been vio-
lated Or interfcred with in any of the
States but he frankly admits, in the
very outset of his remarks, that that
was not his purpose-that his pur-
pose was to assaIl the Democracy of
the South. He had two purposes in
preparing his carefully elaborated
speech-not to vindicate the right OF
suffrage throughout the whole Union,
but to inquire whether the Democracy
of the Southern States had violated
the rights of American citizens, and
then to find out what should be done
with them. Now, Mr.. President, that
is very frank, and L have no doubt q
very true, statement of the animus OF
this resolution.
Mr.. President, said there might
be some doubts as to the propriety OF
this investigation. Irepeat it. There
may be such doubts, especially to. o.day.
Here is the short session of Congress
We have, even including the recess
that we always take, less, perhaps
than two months within which to dis.
pose of the Appropriation Bills and
other measures of legislation that nee.
essarialy require the attention of Con.
gress if the business of the session il
to be called. And now, sir, the Sen.
ator proposes an Investigation that ]
defy any Committee that can be found
to make with any thing like thorough.
ness may, in any satisfactory manner
with any thing like justice, either to
those who are implicated or those who
may be implicated-within the time
that remains of the session of the Sen.
ate. 1t is an impossibility. 1 have
therefore, wondered why this resolu-
tion was introduced, unless it was to
be made string upon which to hang
speeches to arouse sectional hatred in
one portion Of this Union against ar
almost defepseless people in another
portion of the Union.
Now, Mr.. President, this assault Of
the Senator from Maine is not an as.
sault simply, however, upon the peo-
pie of the South. I said five months
ago, in a. speech, which beg pardon
for repeating here, that it did seem to
me as clear as any thing in American
politics could be that there was de.
liberately formed purpose, under the
pretext that there was = Solid South
to create Solid North to rule not
only the Solid South, but to rule one.
halt, nearly, if not more, of the people
of the North. thought that then
think so now. l thought then, and
L think now, that n purpose more un-
patriotic, more unjust, more frsught
with ruin to this country, never enter
ed the brain OF man, That is my be-
lief. Why, Mr.. President, of what is
1t that the Senator from Maine com.
plains? That there were not enough
Republican votes at the South! That
is the amount of it. And how does
he make that out? He assumes, with.
ont one shadow of. truth produced
here, that the negroes of the South
were prevented from voting or fore.
ed to vote the Democratic ticket. lie
assumes, therefore, that owing to these
causes the negroes of the South are no.
kn1 IF h.