The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1878-07-06
Texas Pacific Railroad. |.

Speech of Hon. J. R. Chalmers, in the House
OF REPRESENTATIVES, in reply to Mr.. Her
bert, Of Alabama.
Mr.. SPEAKER :-On yester-
day, while | was absent at
tending to duties in one of tho
Departments the gentleman from
Alabama (Mr. HERBERT) saw fit
to administer something of q re-
buke to me for my speech on the
Texas Pacific Railway. He init.
mated that l did not represent
the sentiment of the South, and
that he was their true representa-
tive, Sir, 1 believe 1 am some-
what older than that gentleman,
and have therefore had more
time to study the character and
sentiment of our people. And if
we are to judge from the posi-
tions Of honor and trust, civil and
| military, that we have filed in
/ the past, l claim to possess at
least as much Of the confidence
and trust of the Southern people
as the gentleman from Alabama,
and to have rs much right to
speak their sentiments as he. I
hope may be permitted without
egotism to say that the portion of
my speech which he assails has
been republished and Endorsed by
the press of the South, from Vir-
siuia to Texas. I will say, further,
that I have received private let
ters OF Endorsement from all parts
OF the South. And some of the
warmest have been from the gen.
tleman's own district In Ala
bama. If he seeks national fame
at the expense of our section, let
him answer that to his own con-
stituents. Time will tell which of
us has represented best the inter.
ests and the sentiments of our peo
pie.
| | have loved the Democratic
party from my youth mp, and
what ! said to Northern Demo-
Gratis was more in sorrow than in
anger ; but, sir, I believed what
| said, and l usually say what ]
believe.
When a Southern man remem.
bers the gross inequality of Gov
ernment in the past and when he
sees that inequality about to he
re-enacted ; when he sees a reduc
ton Of the tariff struck down in q
Democratic house when he sees
a Democratic Senator from New
York opposing subsidy to a Bra
lillian steamship line for New Or.
leans after millions have been ex
pended for New York /; when he
sees the Northern Pacific bill.
granting a subsidy in lands of fif
ty millions in money, passed by
Northern Democratic Senators
without a dissenting voice, while
they refuse even to fix a time to
consider the Texas Pacific /; aud
, when lie sees Democrats in this
/. Honse opposing the Texas Paci.
fiir and yet ready to vote a subsi
. dy to the Northern Pacific, he be
r gius to ask himself why he has
: suffered so long and endured SO
a much for the Democratic Party Z
1t is true that Northern Demo.
! Gratis have suffered many things
b for us, and l honor them for it
!; but, sir, we have endured tenfo!d
!. more for them.
9 There never was a day nor an
: hour when all Of our prosecutions
9 would not have instantly ceased
r if we had joined the Republican
!, party. But we loved tue name,
& we loved the hallowed associa
r tions, we loved the ancient glory
d OF the Democratic Party, and We
have endured for it pains, penal
ties, and privations as great a,
those which st. Paul suffered fol
I, q the Christian Religion.
We have resisted every tempts
m tion and clung to the Northern
Democracy. They have indeet
@ helped us, but we have helpe,
W them as much. We lifted them III
from being a despised minorit,
: into a majority in this House ant
- in the Union. And I warned then
in my Texas Pacific speech an,
e. e. now warn them again not
drive US from them by refusing t
'st do justice to our section. We Low
er the party, but we cannot afford I
be starved to death by it. w
1ss hs love the Constitution, but we ca
Ier not afford to see it made a golde
ID % girdle to support the North and
hangman's rope to choke II
tn South. a.