The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-12

81 my friend from Milne. FOR love an eloquent
times cheered 1t when did not agree with it all.
Now. Mr. President, this assault Of tho Semi
tor from Mime Is not an assault Simply. how
ever, upon the people Of the South. | said five
months ago, in speech which bog pardon for
repeating here. that itdid seem To- me-. ~ clear
US anything in American politics could hc. that
there was u deliberately formed purpose. under
prnteN that lhcrc, was sol South, to croute
q solid North ~ rule not only the solid South.
but to rule one-hnlf nearly il not more. of tug
people Of the North" thought so then and I
think now that purpose more unpatriotir,
moro unjust, more frnught with ruin to this
country never entered the brain OF man. That
Why Mr. President. NJ what Is it that the
Senator from Mqinr eomriniusY Thai there
were not enough Republican votes in the South
make that out2 lie. assumes. without one
shadow OF proof produced here, that the negroes
of the South were prevented from voting or
forced to vote the Democratic ticket. Ileassumcs.
therefore. that owing to those cuusrs the no.
groes Of tho South are not represented by the
members OF the House OF Representatives who
came from that section OF the Union. or 10y the
Senators on this floor who represent the South
.Tn states. What right has the senator from
Maine to say that the negroes Of the South are
not represented by the chosen Representatives
uf the South and the chosen Senators Of
the South? What right has. ho 10 vote these
negroes on one Sidc himself. ana say tho men
who bear the credentials Of election do not rep
rcseut their constituents Why. Mr.. President.
1t is u bare assumption on his part that he has
no right whatever 10 make But ngain. the Sem
utor ought to have thought Of this when lic was
framing his Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend-
ments. or when he WIS assisting in framing
them. There were mon thrn-men Of his own
party. toQ-who told him. with long foresight.
that In the end property and INTELLIGENCE will
rule the land, and ignorance cannot. There
were men OF his party who iuresaw that those
people who have the intelligence tho e9u.
cation. AMI the properly. Will not be ruled
by those who have neither. and IN that Il Is not
necessary 10 separate the community into white
people and into colorrd people: not nj all IL 1t
% La Ntt. a. ~
suit ot these constitutional appointments was
easy enough 10 Ice ior"seen. nan not here TO-
man. however humble he may BE-. whatever
may hr the poverty ~ his siiurtion. avn here
for no such purpose rs that. II ! know my own
heart am her" rs much ~ luVur oi respecting
the rights ol every man under tile Constitution
as the senator from Maine. or any other sem
HtOr on this floor. but do know
that property. Intelligence. und education will
assert their supremacy everywhere on the face
Of this globe. Now. Mr.. President. Jet mo say
one word more ON this subject Who waS It
that drew the color line between the whites aud
the negroes IN the Southf Jet me io!l You. sir
people OF the United States ..wcrc expended by
your agents. the lroedman's Bureau agents. in
getting every colorcd mum IN the South into
Loyal Leagues. and swearing Nm never 10 vote
for Democrat. That Is where the color line
began 10 be drawn. That institution. which
took charge Of the negro at the ballot hoN
took charge Of him in the cotton field.
took charge OF him everywhere. super
vised every contract That he made; allowed no
81 the agents of tho Frocdman's Bureau. and
spent the money and property, called cap
turcd and abandoned property that was sur
rendered 10 A. ana many miillnn- 81 money 1T
recty appropriated out ot the Treasury OF the
United States-ii was that Bureau aud its agents
that first drew the color line. Aud set. when
the white people Of the South when Tie men
owning the property. AMI luViug the ihtclli-
lsrncc and the education az The south. SAW their
very social systom menucrd with destruction.
saw their very households thronteucG with ruin
under an nundation of harbarsm. objected 10y
tho most INSCRIPTIONS OF men. and when they
naturally came together. when they naturally
united IA people menaced with danger ever
viii unite; then cry is raised against tho
An. Mr. President, It will not Do. This sys,om
ot legislation toward the South that began ten
years ugo IL reapiug its fruit and IL Is not by
condition Of this country. What does the soma
tor want more penal laws fory Let him look
into tho stntute book on this very subject: let
/ him read the statutes in regard 20 the enforce
ment OF tho rights oi citizens 10 vote. and defy
him 70 find in the statute books Of nny civilized
country ON TINS globe BODY OF laws
SO minute. 50 searching. md SO hrist-
ling all over with penalties Ard fines
not all. In addition 70 that you have "A vast
machinery OF superintendents Il elections.
/ Federal supervisors. marshas, deputy mar
shas. paid electioneers out % the Treasury
Of the United States. under the guise Of hcinl:
mon to preserve the freedom Of suffrage and
Them provided Tor hy Your stniuies. What
moro does the. SENATOR. wauH | think | Sc
] Hls l
/ j. sounded 10 the people OF tho North that
{ they must rctrace their steps. and this
| very party which required amendments
| interest Il was said. Of the coored pop
ulauon OF the South. Is now preparing %
/ did only tew years Hgo; either directly
/ or by indirrction. that il to be done.
| Indeed. Thought Will the senator from Maine
! country. and especially the southern unrt of tie
country. had 10 congratulate iisell that the nest
! House Of Representatives will not have MAJ
/ lorlty 81 gentlemen thinklng IKE the senator
/ from Maine; for II he Is right In what he
/ said, It his thrcats are not mere idle
/ wind-nnd | certainly de- not attribute any
such thing TO him-lf they ara the deep
| seated and permanent thoughts OF those
/ with whom he acts. then should be prepared
/ To- see House Of Representatives IN which
/ there was Republican majority eNcluk y South
/ trn members 10y the score; then | should be
/ prepared TO see them decide themselves that
| the right 81 suffrage was prohibited down there
! to the negro; anu then 20 SEQ them. in their SUI
! pr"me authority, us they would 'oustrle 10,
! Not" ont the chosen representatives. Of the
/ South. not by ones. not by iwos but by the
! score. II Is a fortunate thing for this country.
! IL IL fortunate thing for our free institutions
| that there IS not IN the presen, House Of Rep
resentatves. and will not be- In the next. n
| majority thinking rs the senator from Maine
! thinks. and willing to act ~ he Is willing 10 net
! One word on the amendment ! have offered,
My own belief IA that there is a tar greater dan
ger that menaces our institutions nnd menRces
| the RIGHT or suffrage ~ tuis country, than that
| To- which the senator from Maine has alluded.
/ Sir. the most disheartening thing 10 an Ameri-
can who loves free institutions 10 20 see that
| year by year the corrupt use Oi money in tho
elections II making It's way, until the time may
] come. and that within the observation OF even
| the oldest man here. when elections in tho
! United States will be us dcbauched is ever they
/ were iu tho worst days OF the borough parliH-
mentary elections in the moiherand. There i4
! the greatest danger; the danger Is whether
| this country shall DO governed with n view Ia
! the rights 81 every man. the poor man Hs we'll
! us the rich man, or whether the largest purse
! shall carry the elections. and thus De a mere
| pluiocracy nstend of a democratic republic
/ That Is the danger and that danger. let me tell
| my friend. exists fnr more in the North than in
/ tho South. Sir If he wants tl preserve tue
! purity Of elections. If he wants Ia have this
! Government pcrprtuHted a. sYst'm that eau
/ be honestly administered from the primary
election 20 the signature OF a Dill hy the Prcsi
! dent OF the United States, let him set his face
and exercise his great ability In stopping the
| iluOdgates OF corruption, that threutpns 10 deuEo
| the whole land and bring republican instltu-
! tons INTO utter ruin aud disgrace,
! Mr.. Elmunds-Mr. Pres dent. am impressed
! with what the senator from OIiu has snld. par
! tcullrly in respect to the corrupt use of money
aud the attempt 90 USE IL To milurnrc election
| Disclosures thnt are said 10 have been opened
! and have been printed In the newspapers in thu
! last campaign undoubtedly should lead TO an
! inquiry into that very dangerous practice. and
! hope that his amendment will b" SO ENLARGED
! rs Ia cover all subjects OF TINT character lut
| what rise to do now IL To ask that his amend
! ment may he printed. and then - call for the
! regular order,