Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-12-20
DkDhI Il N HE oENA Z.
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supported his resolution of inquiry into tn
Southern election frauds. lie stated tn
object Of his resolution to be, first, to ob.ai
a definite record of the frauds and outrage
practiced at the recent elections in the South
ern States; second, to ascertain if there b
any means Of preventing repetition of thes
crimes against free ballot. His argumcn
was in the main dispassionate rehearsal 4
facts. which may thus be summarized U
the one hundred and six Representatives re
Gently chosen by the States formerly in re
bellion, the Democratic party secured on
hundred and two thirty-6ve Of those Repre-
sentatives are assigned to the South as du'
to its colored citizens; practically, there
fore, the Democracy has annexed to itsel
and bodily appropriated nearly the whole
vote of the freedmen. After analyzing the
figures in the various States, Mr.. Blaine
clinchcd the case ir the following statement
as incontrovertible as it is startling:
The eleven States that formed the Confed-
crate Government had by the last census a
population of nine and a half millions, OF
which, in round numbers, five and half
millions were white and four millions
colored. On this aggregate population
seyenty-three Representatives in Congress
were apportioned to those States-forty-two
or three of which were BY reason of the
white population, and thirty or thirty-one by
reason of the colored population. At the
recent election the white Democracy of the
South seized seventy of the seventy three
districts, and thus secured Democratic
majority in the next House Of Representatives.
Thus it appears that throughout States that
formed the late Confederate Government
seventy-fye thousand whites-the very peo-
pie that rebelled against the Union-are
enabled to elect Representative in Con-
gress, while in the loyal States it requires
one hundred and thirty-two thousand OF the
white people that fought for the Union to
elect Representative.
Mr.. Blaine expressly disclaimed all inter-
ton or desire to revive sectional bitterness,
and the calm tone Of his speech sustained
the disclaimer The facts would have war
ranted much greater warmth of language.
Mr.. Thurman replied to Mr.. Blaine. lie
offered an amendment to the resolution ex-
tending the inquiry to intimidation in any of
the States, and also as to whether money
had been used for election purposes by assess
ments on Federal Office holders. In some
extended remarks he secuted the charge that
the Republicans Of the South were denied
or cheated out of their rights under the Con-
stitutiJn and laws, and rung the changes on
sectionalsm after the most approved dough-
face fashion. lie closed as follows:
have offered nv own belief that there is
a far greater danger that menaces our insti-
TUTORS and menaces the right OF suffrage in
this country than that to which the Senator
from Maine has alluded. Sir, the most dis
heartening thing to an American who loves
free institutions is to see that year by year
the corrupt use of money Is making its way,
until the time may come, and that within the
observation Of even the Oldest man here,
when elections in the United States will be
as debauched as ever they were in the worst
days of borough Parliamentary elections in
greatest danger. | certainly do not charge
the Senator from Maine with having got this
up for the purpose Of putting aside and
throwing out of view that which should form
the subject of our thoughts and of our legisla-
tion but fear that such NAV be IN some
mems minds one of the things to be desired
by such resolution.
Senator Edmunds, following Mr.. Thurman.
said:
Mr.. PIesijent-I am good deal impress
ed with what the Senator from Ohio has
said, particularly in respect to the corrupt
use of money and the attempt to use it to in-
huence elections. The disclosures that are
said to have been opened and been stated in
the newspapers during the last campaign
will undoubtedly lead to an inquiry into
that dangerous practice, and l hope his
amendment will be so enlarged as to cover
all subjects Of that character.
Other portions of the debate are as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Blaine-The honorable Senator from
Ohio has informed the country that property
in the South will rule.
Mr.. Thurman-I said no such thing. |
said, no more South than have said every
where. that property, intelligence and educa-
tion will rule.
Mr.. Blaine-Regardless of numbers?
Mr. Thurman-Oh, we'll, now, the Sem
ator can have it regardless Of numbers if he
wants.
Mr.. Blaine-How will they rule regard
less of numbers-by unlawful means.
L.
flucnce a good many people IN Maine to
vote as he thinks
Mr.. Blaine-l would like to influence
some in Ohio. Laughter.
Mr.. ThuIman-The Senator does it every
year, year in and year out, because he has
intellence, and education. and skill and
property, and SO let me [tell him that il he
lived down South he would persuade, he
would have tail of nggers more lengthy
than any Highland chief ever had in the
Highlands. Laughter. All by reason Of
his character, edu cation and morals.
Mr.. Blaine-l am equally sure that if the
Senator from Ohio lived in the South he
would not have tail of negroes following
him at all. Laughter. We should be just
in contrast, but wanted to bring him to the
point. The Senator announces here to us
that property and education will rule, and
when We assert that they Ihave ruled BY vio-
lencc, he tells US that Congress has no time
to waste upon that. The initial step in the
organization Of every legislative body is to
see that it is honestly filled by men honestly
elected and if | were permitted, by the
parliamentary law of Congress, would de-
clare here, to-day, that the Democratic
party does not hold rightful sway in the
House of Representatives, new. and holds it
in the next House by fraud and outrage.
which no mere declaration against sectional
agitation can overcome, and We are asked.
under the plea of abandoning sectional agi
tation, to submit all grave and great
questions that affect property and human
right to Congress that Is based upon the
destruction OF human rights, and that lacks
the warrant laid down by jefferson of the
right to govern. 1t has not the consent of
the governed. Applause in the galleries.
Senator Lamar, OF Mississippi. followed
Thurman and went the length of denying
that the rights of citizenship were in any
way abridged at the South, in the face of
evidence so conclusive that it cannot be gain
eaycu with tNCu u suhuUN VI
lie said
There was not a single right of freedom or
of citizenship belonging to the black race of
the South that was not as secure and a.
well enjoyed ~ that Of the proudest and
ireest white man in the land. You have
no right to draw the line between the
black and the white and assume that the
black man, because he did not vote the Re-
publican ticket, is therefore suppressed
voter But | shall call attention to this fact.
that, if wo are to embark upon system of
legislation and political movements in order
to adjust the representation and political
power in this Government according to con-
stituencies, tho principle NAV operate
further than the gentleman thinks. What
is tho population of the State of Maine?
believe 625 900. IL has been diminishing
within the last twenty years; | cannot
recollect. but perhaps 1t is 623 900 Take
that or Termnnt hath snlid M represented