The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-12

in this Indictment of the sou'h s;,'a,S
menace in her present attitude to any ~ the grc>s ~
torests of this country. not an imputatiop Oh tnA
south may be. she stands in line with nearly nsa,
jority of the American people upon every questi1s
which Il now discussed IN this country or arsuea
the direct point The Senator asserts that in conse-
offence Of the suppression Of the negro vote at the
South by means that are Legitimate and irregular
the south has disproportonate power III this gov,
ernnent Sir before this discussion is over will she~
that no negro vote has been suppressed i'll the South
/ will demonstrate that this political phenomenon
which is the subject OF SO much discussion and mis-
na , hsen wSnla Sf,Sr N
by tho agencies which intelligence and virtue and
sagacity and other agencies OF civilization always
bring upon the classes that arc ignorant and debased
But sir assuming all that the gentleman says to be
true that there in the House OF Representatives
IO6 representatives of party complexion. and
elected by means that are not considered Legitimate let
where stand in this position Now, sir what
interest of the North what interest OF TINS country
is endangered by il? Sir, with united vote OF the
South she stands powcress section OF tins govern
ment She is an impotent minority, unable TO pro-
tect single Southern right or to defend single
Southern interest. But. says the gentleman nnuer
the operations OF these amendments, the South
has representation not in proportion 70 tne con.
South Carolina Mississippi and Alabama have twice
much power or more than that and twice the
numbers as some OF the Northwestern States which
he mentioned. Mr. President, every member OF tna'
population entitled to vote ought to be counted You
have no right draw the line between the black and
the white and assume that the black man. because he
did not vote the republican ticket therefore sup
pressed voter
ADJUSTMENT OF REPRESENTATION.
But call attention to this fact that. II we are TO
embark upon system of legislation ana poiticai
movements in order to adjust representation ana
political power this government according to con.
stituencirs the principle may operate further tnan
s sne f Mane believe oo It has been
diminishing within the last twenty years. cannot
recollect; but perhaps 1t is G23,Ooo Take that OF
Vermont. Both solid represented here, and yet
the State of Maine has as much power Ill this govern
ment with her 100000 people, as the State OF New
York with her 5000 0UO mean in this government;
not in this Chamber Gentlemen. correct me by
saying In this Chamber. No sir! they nave sot
the Affirmative power Of legislation this day. SIX
hundred and twenty-five thousand men, women ana
children in Maine equal to five millions in the
State of New York. That is not all. The whole OF
New England has not three and half millions OF
population; yet under the operation of the constitu
ton and laws OF the land, of which make no COM
millions Of population have six times as much power
sovereign commemorative that have five 1niliions
They have as much power as twenty millions IN the
large Northwestern States that the gentleman called
attention to. Sir, why Is one man in these Eastern
States equal to twenty in the Northwest, except by
virtue of the constitution-the constitution WHICH
are intending to abide by and maintain?
ADVICE TO NEW ENGLAND.
But. as the gentleman has youchsafed advice to
Southern this floor and outside, in all spirit
of fairness and equity will speak to the people OF
New England and tell them that, in my opinion. tho
direst foe they have got earth is tho Representa-
tive or Senator whether from their own section or
any other that will kinde this fire. whose subterra
these proud and free Commonweaths are now rearing
their aspiring heads. Sir. the Senator is fishing in
troubled waters upon this subject, and when you
to compare questions OF this kind you Will ma
that changes of more radical and fundamental ma
ture will be necessary in order to adjust representa-
ton to numbers in this country. will not pro-
coed, sir, any further in my course OF remarks At
another time when these questions come up, II they
to be discussed shall participate in the discus
sion.
Mr.. EDMuNDs, of yermont-Mr. President, the point
Of the Senator from Mississippi appears to be that
if Senator from New England proposes to inquire
whether the constitution mas been violated in depriv-
ing OF the people of the States OF their right
to vote for members OF Congress. &C. he thereby in
the danger Of overseeing the constitution itself,
which says that the States OF this body shall be ual
and therefore understand him to put it out az
warning that the people Of New England.
through their Senator's and Representatives.
have right to stand up for the
ton by the people of the States in the other house.
unless they run the risk of being exposed to the
danger of having their Senatorial representation
vitcd to consider and the peril that We expose our
selves to If undertake to inquire whether the con-
other words the Representatives Of the democratic
party OF the South say to inquiry into violation
Of the constitution, IF you dare to make such an
scntation of the States and reducing ourselves to
state of servitude.' That is the propositions?
Mr. LAMAR, of Mississippi-I hope the Senator will
Mr. EpMuHps of vermont-Certainly.
Mr. LAMAR, of Mississppi-Or rather to protest
against the Interpretation which he has put upon
my remarks. l made no such suggestion 1t was
simply in reply to the theory the Senator from Maine
had preached that this investigation was Justified in
that the evil which he had disclosed of 100000
white men III the South having political power and
vote in this government equal to 800 600 somewhere
else that said that the tendency of such inquiry
and any theory justified by such a resolution would
lead to u further investigation and would condemn
the policy and the system and the genius OF the
government upon which our American fabric rests.
Mr. EDMusps-I am very glad to know Mr.. Presi-
dent that the Senator did not mean what his re-
ma ks
stood
Mr. LAMAR dnterrupting)-I did not what the
gentleman has attempted to force my remarks intos
but which he will never succeed in doing.
Mr. EDMuSDs-The Senator is mistaken in that.
have not attempted to force the Senator'S remarks
into anything The record will show exactly what he
has said. aud think 1t will appear that have not
misstated the substance Of what he has said. But
explanation, the point of the Senator from
Maine. The Sen ator from Maine did not complain of
the inequality of personagcs in one part OF the Union
or another; what he complained Of was-supposing
what he believes to be true turns out to be in
vestgation--that a small number of persons in the
situon have taken to themselves by that species OF
usurpation the power of large number exercised
under the constitution in lawful way III the North
west. Is the Senator satisfied il that turns out
to be true. would he like To rectify it,
The senator would. of course, like to rectify 1t.
I must assume that he would What then. Is the
Of saying that going to ovcrturn the gov
crnment il We undertake TO hnd out whether tho
constitution has been grossly violated by denial OF
equal rights in respect vt the elections to the popular
branch OF the Congress of the United States? And
where is the necessity in such of holding out
the terror and kindling the confagration that tho
Senator referred to- in respect to senatorial repre-
scntation upon an inquiry Of that kind? The people
OF New England far may speak for them. be-
eve in justice and in equal rights under the cost-
tuition and according to it, just us the fathers and
their have made it, and in the States and
and ann surprised To- hear Southern senator assail
the very foundation of State rghtsl there is. aud
there must be. political equality; that in respect OF
the people represented IN the other branch OF Con-
gross there shall be fair equality Of fair numbers,
fairly and freely exercising their rights and no. the
subjects of tyranny, and corruption and fraud any
where. that makes your government nothing mor6
and nothing less failed to See then, Mr.. President,
the great danger that New England runs In UNDER
taking to make an inquiry of this kind If the Senate
agree TO it, But did not rise to enter into this dis
ciission at all. but only, that have had fair
expression of both Sides to ask for the regular order.
Mr.. LAMaR-Still. slr. President. cannot accept
the position which the senator from Vermont assigns
me. He says that he is surprised to find Southern
senator assaing the principle Of state rights. He
will find me In that position. Sir have been
tine defender Of that doctrine but nasmuch ~ sur