The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-03
THE BALL OPENED.
Mr. W0od Defends the south Against the
Attack O President Hayes Debate
Follows In which Messrs. Garfield.
Poster. M0nd and NOx IRke Part.

motion to-day to refer the Presidsnts
message to the committee OF the
whole House, Mr.. Wood said he could'n
avoid making one or two remarks to one
portion Of tho message. While. perhaps, as
whole the document was satisfactory to the
House, yet there were some references in it
which should be met at the earliest moment
tion which related to the Southern
States He fMr Wood had waited to
sec any disposition In the South to evade
or tO annul in any regard the recent amend
ments to the constitution. He had failed to
see any Indication in the South, NJ any cleo
tion or at any time or under any circum-
stances, for n series OF years, which indicated
any evasions of the law. He regretted this
position Of the President, who commenced
such n noble and patriotic purpose. when he
declared, in his inaugural address, that the
people of the South should have the same
right of self-government rs obtained In other
sections. He had watched with interest the
history of his administration from that time
to this to ascertain whether the President
would be forced from his position. knowing
there was a feeling against him in his own par-
ty IN has been a matter OF the greatest interest
To the whole people Of the country to know
whether he would continue in that course.
The President refers to the elections in South
Carolina and Louisiana. Although there re
thirteen Southern Stntes he singles out these
two. This IS an indication Of vacil alton ON
the stalwart element Of his party. The Presi-
dents eyos were opened to what was done in
South Carolina and Louisiana.
He closed his eyes tn what was done In
New York, where men were dragged 10 prison
by government officials, and where thousands
Of voters were intimiflHted making y differ
ence Of Mt least II 900 votes in New York city
alone. The President did not seq that. but
his eyes were opened to the South. He re-
grctted that at tho beginning Of the session
the President has thought proper to lend his
sanction tp this clamDr He fMr wood had
great regard for the President, aud that he
should have allowed himself to become the in
strurnpnt of the ultra wing Of his party was n
matter If profound regret.
Mr.. Garfield thought il was an unusual
thing to interrupt the ordinary form Of pro
ceeding by debating the Presidents message
and especially So because mem bars had not
the advantage of reading the message as pre-
sentnd. The exact language tn which the
gentleman objects was not before him or In
his mind. The gentleman calls attention to
the fact that the President makes reference
to some disturbances in the Federal elections
lP several States, and contrasting that with
what the President said ut tho beginning
of his administration he calls it vacIlation.
IL Is the right Of State to attend to its own
local concerns, and 1t is the right Of the ma
tional government to attend To national cleo
tious, and If that Is what the gentleman calls
vacillation, he NGartieldD hoped they would
vacillate in that way and that all would CON
tend for the right of the national government
to attend to its own elections lust aS the
States should be permitted to attend to their
own local affairs. The gentleman intimates
that ne can sec no changes or disturb
ances except in his own city and
district He Ufarfipldl believes that the gen
tleman did SEQ some changes in his own dis
trict, but they were not such vacilations as he
would have brought up or reminded the gen
tlernan of. II was not for the gentleman to
say that he saw no changes but If the Chief
tn
to them. II the President Of the Tnited States
has seen In any part ot this Union a failure to
Iecognize the full rights Of all entitled to suf-
ffage he would not only neglect his
II he did not refer to it. Does any
gentleman know why attention should be
called to this matter. He, for one, welcomed
it. and tho President should be thanked in
stead Of accused Of vaciIation An inpres-
sion was made upon his mind that there were
disturbances, IN the States. He didn't say II |
was true, but heard SO. He had heard it said
that intimidation was employed somewhere
In South Carolina and the rightfuI political
majority was suppressed. He did not know
It; perhaps it was exaggerated, but
it is the province Of Congress to |
investigate. Laughter All charges
he supposed would be welcomed !
This suggestion was in their line. but instead |
Of that, almost before the message was re-
eeived, the gentlemen expresses surprise that |
there should be any reference to the subject |
whatever.
Mr. Wood said it was no unusual thing to
discuss the message on a motion to refer. He |
wanted to correct the gentleman In one par |
ticuar. He didn't express surprise. He ex-
pressed regret. The singing out Of certain |
States was an Indication, for there is nothing
else in the message Of importance. 1t Is an
that the gentlemen of the other |
side intend to cause the Executive to raise |
once more the bloody shirt" SO that they
can keep their party ia power and again plum |
der the treasury.
Mr.. Hale defended the action OF the Presi- |
dent in calling the attention Of Congress to |
The late elections in South Carolina and Lou |
siana, and denounced Mr.. Woods attack
upon the Executive.
Mr.. Cox, Of New York, said there may have
Deen irregularities in the South, but he wanted |
% call attention to the violation Of naturaiiza-
lion papers in New York, whereby thousands |
If voters were defrauded He, for one, would |
shrink from no investigation Of this matter.
The message was then referred.