The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-12


tolls US that there are important .dues- |
tons which we should consider and that |
Congress has not time to waste upon that. Tho |
initial step in the organization Of every, legis- |
lutivs body Is To see that Il il honestly filled bv |
men honestly elected and II were permitted |
by parliamentary lazy to speak OF the Other |
branch ~ Congress. would say and declare |
here to-day that the Democratic party does not |
hold rightful sway in that body now and holds |
IL in the next House by fraud and outrage which |
no moro defamation against sectional agitation
can overcome. Aud we are asked to abandon
all sectional agitation. or asked. under the Dcr
Of abandoning sectional agitation, to submit all |
the grave and great questions that affect prop |
erty and human right TO Congress that ~
bnscd upon the, destruction Of human rights.
md that lacks the warrant Ibid down by Jeffer-
sent of the governed. Manifestations of ap-
ulIuse In the galleries. which were checked by
William A. Wheelcr-The resolutions 90 to
the calendar. Tho Senate resumes the consid-
GRAFTON OF its nnnnished business.
Mr.. Lamar tDcm.. Missl-Mr. President, whom
these resolutions are printed and rendy for Ne
ton. shall have something TO say upon the
question Of their adoption. Before the question
passes or now. wish to make on9 or two re-
senator from Maine sir. il is not a surprising
thing, nor il 1t an unnatural one. that that dis;
tinguishcd Senator should feel u manifest ana
deep interest in the affairs Of the Southern
Gently undergone vnst change, social and po-
liii9al. and it Is reasona3le-it IL eminently 1T
spcuous position ut the present time, aud
who, perhaps. will occupy still more distin-
gulshed position in the future, should scru,,
tiniZe with anxious solicitude the progress Of
that people 10 reconstruction. and to their read
iustment 10 the healthy and normal conditions
Sir had the senator como forward with some
wcll-deviscd scheme OF public education TO ilt
this newly enfranchised race who have had
these exalted duties imposed upon them, with
ont cultur" and without even the trained intel-
gence ui practical experience TO exercise their
great duties as FREQ men aud citizens and the
participants in the sovereignty Of common
wcnlths, every ono would have recognized the
ugopyicty and the patriotism Of such move
mrnt: for he would have given to the people
what they most need. and which would protect
them from every evil which he now alleges that
they labor under There are other evils ia that
country which might call forth the lofty and
enlarged measures oi a patriot and OF an
American citizen. But must confess 10 som"
regret that statesman 80 iii Jtinguishcd, in
looking upon this recently dislocated member OF
this great American empire. instead Of regard
ing II HnNiously for those great interests that
affect this great country through the long truck
of coming wears, should have concentrated his
whole gaze upon its simple attitude of party re-
lutouship: that nothing should have struck the
gentleman except that particular partisan fen
cal party or the other organ izatons that are un-
known 10 the Constitution. and outside Of the
laws ~ this land. But. SIR, the gentlcman's re-
marks were directed exclusively to those par
ties and with no intent whatever To utter Bit
Ter r,EIo ono cannot snc but sd ieri tne re-
Of such tenacious aud such daring ambition
and such great abilities should have so mar
rowed MS mind rs TO give to party what was
meant for MANKIND
But. sir what is the point at last OF tho gentle
mans argument this morning2 II is remark
able that there wore some omissions Of n very
significant character. and II was directed sim
My 20 tho suppression OF tho expression
voters. suffragnns In the South Mr.. President.
| II understood the coutemporaneous debates
ol that day the object OF the amendment 10
which ne refers, ciotnlng the negro population
with the light Of suffrage. WAS TO give them pro-
Ts wR6 mar hs 5na 95 DnT ' N
corded 10 them. Now, sir. through the pro-
tract.d remarks OF tho gentleman to-day. he
! could not utter one wort-he could moi. because
! h would not have been the truth II he had-that
/ there was a. single right OF freedom or Of citi-
] South that was not as secure and rs we'll enjoy
/ ed us that OF the proudcst and freest white
| man in tho land. There il another rcmHrka-
/ Bile fact. that in this indictment OF the South
/ there Ia no pretence that there is single
] menar" in her present attitude to any OF tho
/ ton Of that character; for solid" as the
phrase goes. Ms the South may be. she stands in
/ line with nearly majority Of the American
/ people upon every question which Is now dis
/ cussed IN this country or argued here in her
council chamber But. sir. 10 come TO the di-
! rect point The Senator asserts that In conse-
! quence Of the suppression OF the negro vote at
the South by means that are Legitimate and
! irregular. the South has n disproportlonate
/ power in this Government. Sir before this
/ discussion Is over. l viii show that no
/ negro vote has been suppressed in tho South.
/ will demonstrate that this political phenome.
/ non. which IL the subject OF so much discussion
and misrepresentation Is phenomenon that
| would occur in any free society. and that il has
! hp"n brought about by the agencies which in
/ telligence and virtue ana sagacty. and the other
agencies OF civilization always bring upon tho
. classes that are ignorant and debascd But.
sir, assuming all that ~" gentleman says 70 bc
true. that there are in the House OF Representa-
/ uNes one hundred and six representatives ~
the party complexion. and elected 10y means
that are not what no considers legitimate. let
. us see where we stand in this posi-
North. what interest Of this country
. IL endangered by II. Sir. with united vote III
. the south she stands powcrlcss section of this
/ Government She II an impOtent minority. un-
Rh,o 10 protect single southern right or 10 de-
/ fcnl n single southern interest. But. says tho
gentleman, under the operations OF these
amendments the South has y representation
/ represented and tho States Of South Carolina
. AMI Mississippi ana Alabama have twice ms
! much power, or more than that. and twice the
/ Plumbers rs some" 81 the Northern States which
/ he mentioned. Mr.. Pres dcnt every member
Of TINT population entitled TO vote ought to BE-
Mr. Edmunds-Mr. President the point OF tho
| senator from Mississippi appears To- be that. II a
; .naior from New England proposes TO inquire
| whether the Constitution has been violated in
d"prlNing any part 81 the people Of the States 81
/ g.. he thereby incurs the danger OF over
| setting the Constitution ITSELF which says that
the states IN this body shall be equal and there
Ing that tho people OF New Engmnd
through their senators and Represcnia-
| tlvcs have no right 10 stand up for the
Constitution M II Is in favor Of an equal repre-
. sentulon by the people Of the States IN the
J h,hor House, unless they run tho risk al being
/ exposed 10 the danger Of having their Senu-
torial representation overturned That then.
f. the question We ARE invited 10 consider and
the, peril that we expose ourselves TO II we
una 'rtuke tu inquire whether the Constitution
| Of the United Suites has been violated. In
! other words the representatives Of tho Demo-
| cratic party oi the South say 10 an inquiry into
! a violation Of the Constitution. If YOU dare TO
| make such an inquiry you run the risk OF
oNctturning the representation Of the States
/ and reducing ourselves to state OF servitude"
Mr. Lamnr-lhther to protest against the in
| tcrprtat,on which he has put upon my re-
/ nurkS. ] mndo no such suggestion. Ii WAS
simply In reply 10 the theory the senator from
/ Nliue had hrouchrd. that this investigation WINS
justified in order that the OWL which he had dis
closed OF lOOOuO white men in the South having
| political power and vote in this Government
equal To- 3uuOuO somewhere elsa, that | said
| that the tendency OF such an inquiry and any
| theory justified by such resolution would
| lead H. q further Investigation, and would con-
denim the policy and the system and tho genius
/ OF the Government upon which our American
fabric POSTS
N!r. Blninc-Mr President. | wish 10 give no.
tlrc ihatat the Nory earliest opportunity that the
| hush' S4 "i the Sena'" VIII permit shall ask u
| vote upon these resolutions.