The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-02-08
THE ANTE BELLUM SOUTH In THE
UNITED STA3ES SENATEs


IL PISS lIolHftIS lka3lk4S Vi SlSOUG4leTu
Democratic statesmen into those who
now wield fhedestinies- of this country.
/ remember here on this hoor the then
distinguished Senator from New York
Mr.. Seward I, who has since become
more conspicuous in the eyentfuls times,
that have occurred, declare that power
had departed from the South /; that the
sceptre was now taken from her hand,
and that henceforth the great North,
by reason OF its; superiority in nunieri-
cal power and roll of sovereign States.
would, grasp, this power as her |. own,
prerogatiye and become responsible for
the administration of the whole gov
eminent. 4 am aware that Z, listened
to him with inpatiepce and pertia ps,
with prejudice, and thought his spirit
was too much that of exultation, not
realizing the magnitude of the great
undertaking which was about to de-
yolve upon him and his associates. 1t;
struck me that he did not have the
sadness and soiemnity W HIGH touch. the
heart of every great man when con-
fronted with the great events and great
responsibilities involving the interests
of untold millions. i shall never for
get the answer that was made to him
by q Southern Senator who. sat near
where my friend from Indiana (AIr.
McDonaid) now sits. He was sur
rounded by a circle of Southern Demo-
cratic statesmen, which, in ability and
purity, Will never be surpassed in the
history Of this country, Whatever may
be its glory which glory, i trust, will
be always great among the nations oi
the earth. There WAS James M.
Mason, whose square and massive sim
piicity of character and purity stand
monumental in our annals. There
was his accomplished col league, Robert
NJ. L. Hunter, whose clear and broad
craftsmanship found fit expression in d
scholarly elOquence that drew into the
same admlring circle his friends and
opponents in the same dmiring friend
ship. And then there was Mr. SfidelI,
shrewd and wise and prudent, and by
his side sat r. p. Benjamin, whose
astutenesss and Skill, eloqnence. and
learning have since won him fane and
fortune upon that high Olympic field
of mental conflict, the great courts of
Westminster. There was Robert
Toombs, who never. spoke without
striking at the, heart of I, big Thought
and kindling the ideas of all who lis
tened to him.. There was Albert g.
Brown, from my own State, who never
had a sympathy outside of the wants
and feelings OF. his own people "a who
yet was never oyerawed by their pre-
judices or sweryed from his course by
their passion. 5f4ss Il ~. y3fsls515
There was another, Mr. PRESIDENT
shall not be- permitted to; mention
his name in this free American Senate,
which has been so free. TO discuss and
condemn his errors ?--one who has
been the yicarious sufferer for his peo-
pie; who has been in the prison cell,
the solitude of whose punishment
should lift him above the jibe and jeer
of popular passion, >, whose words will
ever remain as the sad and the grand
memoranda, not Of triumph, mot soi
defiance, but of earnest purpose, the
SINCERE in9tiye Of the great, struggles
Which those who inaugurated believed
1t was q struggle Tor representative
liberty and constitutional government
Among these, and surrounded by them,
this senator spoke to his .associates in
terms which / have never read from
that day TO this, but which are stereo-
typed upon my memory, and which,
if the Senate Will permit me, / will
here repeat SSH ssSir ;, = said he, addressing
his Northern associates, swhat the
Senator says is true. = The power has
passed from our hands into. your hands; !;
but DO not forget-ft. cannot be forgot
ten it IS written npon the brightest
page OF history-that. we, the slave
holders Of the South, took your coun-
try in her Infancy, and after ruling
her for sixty of the seventy. years OF
her existence, we returned her to yon
without a spot upon her honor match
less in her splendor; incompatible in
her power; the pride and admiration
of the world. Time will show what
you will do with her; but no time can
dim our glory or diminish your re-
sponsibiity.'' Sir, it is not my purpose
to say what has been done with it; the
arraignment of the Senator from In
diana (Nfr. Voorhees) is still before
the country. There is testimony,
however, by a witness who may be re-
garded as more impartial than he a
Judge sterner than lie, will read
what he says. (Mr. Lamar here quo
ted from the remarks of Mr.. Hoar,
one of the managers on the part OF the
House of Representatives in the Bel
KNAPP impeachment trial, IN regard TO
official corruption in the Federal gov
eminent, New York City and various
States; the expulsion of members of the