The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-12-19

ting and proper, that one who occupies 80 con-
splcuous position at the present time, and who,
perhaps will occupy still more dist nguished
position in the future, should scrutnise with
anxious solIcilude the progress Of that people to
reconstruction, and to their readjuetment to that
healthy and normal condition Of our National
life. Sir had the Senator come forward with
some well.advsed scheme Of public education TO
1T this newly-en Iranohised race who have had
these exalted duties imposed upon them without
culture and without even the Trained Intelligence
Of practical experience, TO exercise their great
duties as free men and citizens, and participants
| IN the sovereignty of the Commonwealth every
one would have recognized the pioprlety and pa
trlotism OF such a movement for he would have
given to that people what they most need, and
which would protect them from every evil which
he now allows that they labor under.
There are other evils in that country which
might call forth the lofty and enlarged measures
of the patriot and American citizen. But must
confess to some regret that statesman so diStin.
guished In looking upon this recently dlslocated
member OF this great American empire, instead
of regarding 1t anxiously for those great interests
that affect this country through the long track OF
coming years should have concentrated his
whole gaze upon the simple attitude OF party re.
lauonship, that nothing should have struck the
gentleman except that particular partisan fea'
ture which affects the ascendancy of this polite.
al party or other organizations that are unknown
to the Constitution and outside Of the laws of this
land. But, sir, the gentlemans remarks were d.
reCted exclusively to these parties and, with no
intent whatever to utter bitter retort, can not
but feel regret that one Of such resolute purpose,
of such tenacious and such daring ambition, and
such great abilities, should have so narrowed his
mind as to give to party what was meant for
mankind.
But, sir, what is the point at last, of the gentle
mans argument this morning2 II is remarkable
that there were some omissions Of very signif'
cant character, and 1t was directed simply to the
suppression OF the expression Of the votes Of par
ticular class of voters in the South, Mr. Presi.
dent, If / understood the contemporaneous de-
bates of that day, the object Of the amendment to
which he refers. clothing the negro population
with the right of suffrage--was to give them pro-
teclion for their edlm and for civil rights,
which the 14lh amendment accorded to them.
Now. sir, through the protracted remarks Of the
gentleman to-day, he could not utter one word
he could not, because II would not have been the
truth If he had.-.that there was single right Of
freedom or of citizenship belonging to the black
race of the South that was not as secure and as
well enjoyed as that of the prcudest and freest
white man in the land. There is another remark
able fact: That in this irdictment OF the South
there is no pretense that there is single menace
In her present attitude to any Of the great inter-
ests Of this countrv".not an lmputaton OF that
III. a NItA.N. .laWaEE man a
South may be- she stands In the line with nearly
a majority of the American people upon every
question which is now discussed in this country
or argued here in her Council Chamber,
But, sir, 10 come to the direct point. The Sen,
ator asserts that in consequence Of the suppress
sion of the negro vote at the South, an illegiu
mate and irregular South has proportional
power IN this Government SIT before this dis
cussion is over will show that no negro vote has
been suppressed in the Sou h. will demonstrate
that this political phenomenon, which is the sub
iect of so much discussion aud Misrepresentation,
is phenomenon that would occur in any socie-
ty. and that 1t has been brought about by agen
Cips which intelligence and virtue and sagaCty,
and other evidence of civilization, always bring
upon classes that are ignorant and abased, But
sir assuming all that this gentlemen says to be
true that there are in the House OF ReDresenta-
tives one hundred and six Representatives elect
ed of one party complexion, and elected by
means not what he considered legitimate let us
see where we stand in this position. Now, sir
what interest of the North, what interest OF this
country, is endangered by itY Sir with united
vote of the South, she stands poweTleSs section
in this Government. She is an unimportant mi
nority, unable to protect single Southern right,
or TO defend single Southern interest But, says
the gentleman, under the operations of these
amendments the South has representation not
in proportion TO the constituency which is repre-
sented and the States of South Carolina and
Mississippi and Alabama have twice as much
power, or more than twice the number Of Repre-.
sentatives that some Northwestern States have
which he mentioned. Mr. President, the humber
of that population entitled TO vote ought to be
counted You have no right TO draw a line be.
tween black and white, aud assume that black
man, because he did not vote the Republican
ticket, is therefore, q suppressed voter
But call atter ton 10 this fact that If we are to
embark upon g. system of legislation and polite.
al movements in order to adjust representation
and political power In this Government accord.
ing to constituencies the principle may operate
farther than the gentleman thinks What is the
population of the State of Maine? believe, 625,
600 II has been diminishing within the last 20
y, ars can not now recollect but perhaps it is
629 900 Take that Of Vermont both solid" as rep
resented here, and yet the State OF Maine has as
much power In this Government with her 100000
people as the State Of New York with her 500OO 900.
mean in this Government, not In this chamber.
Gentlemen correct me by saying "in this cham
ber" No, sir; they have got the affirmative pow.
er of legislation this day, Six hundred and
twenty FIVE thousand men women and children
in Maine are equal to 100000 in the State Of
New York That Is not all: The whole of New
England has not $500 900 population; and yet un.
der the operation of the Constitution and laws OF
the land, OF which l make no COMPLAINT, and
which is legitimate thing those 3 900 popu.
latiOn have SIX times as much power as sovereign
Commonwealths that have 5.0000C0 They have
got as much power as 20 OOOt00 in the large
Northwestern States that the gentlemen called
attention to, Sir why is one man in the Eastern
States equal to 20 in the Northwest except by vir.
tue of the Constitution the Constitution which
we are intending 10 abide by and maintain?
But, as the gentleman has vouchsafed advice
to southern men on this floor and outside, in Bl
spirit of fairness and equity will speak to New
England people, and tell them that in my opin
ron the direst foe they have got on earth is Rep
reseutatVe or Senator, whethe from their own
section or any other. that will Rindle This fire
who,e subterranean fame will liquefy the very
foundations on witch these proud and free Com.
mOnwealths are now rearing their aspiring heads.
Sir, the Senator is fishing in troubled waters upon
this subject, and when you come to compare
questions Of this kind you will fud that changes
of a more radical and fundamental nature will
be necessary in order TO ADJUST representation to
numbers in this country. will not now proceed
sir any further in my course of remarks At an.
other time, when these questions come up If they
Pe%aNASAPNFS
cussiOn,
Mr.. Edmunds-Mr. President, the point of the
Senator from Mississippi appears to be that if the
Senator from New England proposes to inquire
whether the Constitution has been violated in de-
pdving any part of the people Of the States of
their right to vote for members of Congress, he
thereby incurs the danger of overseeing the Con-
stiution itself which says that the States in this
body shall be equal. and therefore l understand
him to put 1t out as warning that the people Of
New England, through their Senators and Repre-.
sentatives, have no right to stand up for the Con-
stituton as tits in favor of equal representation
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
overturned. That, then is the question we are
invited to consider aud the peril that we expose
ourselves to, II we undertake to inquire whether
the Constitution has been violated. In other
words the representation Of the Democratic par.
ty of the South say to an inquiry into the viola
ton OF the Constitution, IF you dare make such
inquiry, you run the risk of OVerturning the rep
resentation of States and reducing yourselves to
q state Of servitude." That is the proposition.