Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-19
Investigation Ordered

The investigation moved ny Senator
Blaine, into recent elections, has been
ordered by the Senate, not, however, with
out sharp struggle on the part of The
democrats to render investigation into
the Southern elections a nullity. Every
thing which they desired put into the res
oluiions in regard TO inquiring into North
erl elections, rs 10 intimidation, use OF
money, fraudulent voting. &c was freely
accepted by Mr.. Blaine, who was entirely
wiling that the resolves should cover the
whole country if necessary, including
Maine H. W, Ii as ,uth Carolina, Massa-
chusetts equally with Louisiana.
But when Butler ot South Carolina
proposed an amendment to compel the
C 'mmlttee to sit with open d 'or-, instead
OF leaving il discretionary W tn the COM
mittee t sit in open or secret session, as
has been the Uniform practice in such
cases from the earliest days of the gov
eminent. Mr.. Blaine promptly objected,
declaring that the intent of This amend
ment was to prevent negroes from testify
ing before the committee, since they
would not dare to appear and give evil
dence in public against the bulldozers,
fearing The subsequent anger and power
OF the latter. 1t is well known that men,
white an black, who have opposed the
white liners by appearing against them in
courts and Investigations, have done SO AT
the peril OF their lives, aud in many in
stances have suffered death Tor doing SO.
1t is part of the system OF terrorism OF
the South to hold over the blacks the
dread of murder and outrage if they dare
appear against the ''intelligence and
sagacity" of the bulldozing class. One
of the methods by which the white
democrats Of the South manifest
their Intelligence and sagacily" and
superior culture" is in frightening The
negroes from the courts as well AS from
the ballot boxes. Mr.. Hamburg Butler de-
sired to exercise this same power in the in
vestigstion He would like to mark every
poor colored man who testifes before the
committee against the ruling class in South
Carolina, and this he would be able to do
were they obliged to testify in public if
they testified all. Fortunately Mr.. Butler
did not succeed in his purpose. His
amendment was defeated, but every dem
ocrat in the Senate voted to change the
long established practice Of both Houses
in order to give the int, lligence and sa-
gacity" OF the South n better opportunity
to crowd down the ignorant and humble
colored people.
The most completely endorsed and de-
moralized knight which appear' d in the
encounter with Mr.. Blaine was Senator
Ransom of North Carolina. He it seems
had been enduring with Job-likc patience
for seven Years insults against his beloved
$ ,uth, but when MIR. Blaine asserted that
there never had been a tree FL. elton in The
sense in which the term is understood in
Vermont and Connecticut. Mr.. Ransom's
long tried patience could stand no more
and he allowed bis Indignation TO have
free course. He defended the South, de-
MED the crimes charged to that section in
connection with the elections, and asserted
that no spri OF uniairness exists in the
South against any race, and that all the
South wants IN such an investigation is
that it may take place in the full sunlight
OF Heaven, so that all the world may
know the peacefulness OF her disposition
and the purity OF her motives. When
Mr.. Ransom closed his remarks. Mr..
Blaine arose and begged leave to read an
extract from leading editorial printed
in democratic paper, published at Ra-
leigh, North Carolina, Mr.. Ransom's own
State, commenting upon the speech made
by Mr.. Blaine the week before, and this is
what the editorial said:
The South will resist 10 the bitter end This is
unquestionaby whits mans gorsrnment and
white men will unquesiionsbly rule it; but for all
that we do not intend that the negroes shall be
deprived of the right Of suffrage. 1t matters not
if he exercises right We care little Aow the
negro votes. or whether he ootes at aU The State
and the South wiH be democratic Nth or without
for that right entities North Ca DINA to three and
the South 10 thirty five representatives.. Our
Northern brethren took q stick t. beat US with
but it has passed into our hands, and we take
Infinite pleasure in breaking their heads with it,
That was the end of Mr.. Ransom in
that debate. whose friends now think he
had better remained silent seven
years longer than t. have had his speech
SO woiuliy coutradicted by the democratic
pres. OF the State he +, presents. Why,
the writer OF the above draws the color
line squareiy. say This is a white mans
government. that the whites are bound to
rule il, that the South will be democratic
and the negro vote OF no account, and
Jet while be asserts in substance that the
negro vote will be suppressed. he declares