Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-12-12


Mr.. President it will not do. This sys
TEN of legislation toward the South tina
began ten years ago is reaping trli't, alt
il is not by additional penal laws that yo'
can better the condition of this country
| What does the Senator want more pena
laws for? Let him look into the statut,
hook on this very subject, let hin read
the statutes in regard to the enforce
ment af the rights 0f citizens to vote
and | defy him to find in the statute
hooks OF any civilized country on TIM
globe a body Of laws 30 minute, st
searching and bristling all over witt
penalties and fines and forfeitures as dc
these laws. But that is not all. In al
dition to that you have vast machinery
superintendent of elections, Federal
supervisors, marshal5 and deputy mar
shals and paid electioneerers out OF the
Treasury of the United States, under the
guise of being man To preserve the
freedom of suffrage and peace al cleo,
tons. You have q whole army OF them
provided for by your statutes. Whal
more does the Senator want? ]
think see what is wanted.
This il note which is sounded To the
people of the North that they must re-
| trace their steps, and this very party,
which required amendments to the con
stitution 10 he made i'll the interest, II
was said, of the colored population OF the
South is now preparing to iace
about, retrace its steps, and undo What
it did only few years ago, either di,
rcctly or by indirection. Indeed, i
thought while the Senator from Maine
MAS making his speech, how much rea-
! son this country, and especially the
Southern part, had Ia congratulate itself
that the next House of Representatives
will not have majority oi gentlemen
thinking like the gentleman from Name
ior If he is right in what lac said, II his
sthreats are not mere idle wind, tand J
certainly do not attribute any such
thing 10 him. il they are deep.
seated and permanent thoughts "i
those with whom he acts, then
| should he prepared Ia see House nf
Representative in which there was q
Republican majority exclude southern
members by the score. Then ] should
he PREPARED Ia see them decide them
selves that the right of suffrage Was
prohibited down there I" the negro, and
then tu srr them IN their supreme au-
thurity, H. they would Cunstrur II, vote
ont the chosen Representatives al the
south; not hy ones, not hy twos, but by
the score. it is fortunate thing for
this country; il isa fortunate thing Tor
our free institutions that there is not in
the present House I'll Representatives,
and will not be- in the next, majority
thinking III the Senator from Maine
thinks and willing tn act II, he II willing
tO act.
Mr.. President, one word on the
amendment ! have offered. II l. my
own belief that there Is a tar greater lam
ger that mruaccs our institutions and
meuaCes the right Ol suffrage III this culln-
try than that by which the Senator has
alluded To-. Sir, the most dl,hrarten-
ing thing toan American who loves Tree
institutions, Is Ia scc year hy wear that
the corrupt use OF money III elections In
making its way, until th" time may
come, and that within the observation
Oi even the oldest mau here, when the
elections in the United States will lie
~ drbauchcd ~ ever they were III the
worst days oi tue borough parliament
taTy elections In the mothcrland.
Mr.. President, there is the greatest
danger The danger Is whether this
country shall bc governed with the
view IT, the rights uf every man, the
poor ~ we'll a. the rich man, "r whcth-
cr the largest purse stall carry the
elections, and thus be- a mere plut"craCy
instead ola Democratic republic. That
il the danger; aud that danger, lctmc tell
NV friends. exists lar more III the North
than in the South. Sir, il he wants 10
preserve the purity I'll the elections, II
he wants to have this government
perpetuated as q system that
can be honestly administered
from the primary election To the sigma
ture Of bill by the President, let him
set his iare toward 1t and exercise his
ability in stopping the flood gates oi
corruption that threatens I" deluge the
whole land and bring Republican lnstI-
tutions into utter ruin and disgrace.
Mr.. President, there Is one thing that
made me doubt little ~ To- the pro-
pricty uf this resolution, although, ~ |
said, am going Ia vote iur It, ami what
the Senator from Maine sad, has ADDED
t. the great doubt entertained IN the
subject. and that l. that ] am not quite
sure there are not persons who favor
this kind oi "A resolution, and as much
debate upon II as YOU can have, ami a.
much investigation a. YOU can have, III
Order 10 divert public attention from
real questions which ought H. engage
the Congress OF the United states, %
questions OF economy, questions
IT finance, questions of gov
rrnmcnt. All are To- he showed aside
that popular speeches may he
made, tending Ia cNCitc one section
al the against another and I" s"t their
minds mad with passion instead "i AP-
pcalug tu their Good ami deliberate
rea-"n certainly Il" not charge the
senator from Maine With having got
this Tor the purpose, putting aside and
and throwing out ut view that which
should form the subject oi our thoughts
aui I'll mur legislation, but tear such
NAV liz ia some men > mInis a. one al
the things to be desired hy such rrso'-
luton.
Mr.. President have said much more
than intended Ia say Indeed ! did
not expect I" speak ten minutes. tut |
have spoken twenty aud probably
tw wenty-fye. ! beg pardon tor speaking
~ long aud will take nay seat.
The Nic,. President The question Is
uu the amendment PROPOSED by the
senator frgn Obi".
Mr. Eimunds Mr. President,
am guni deal impressed with
what the scnatnr irum uhm
las said, especially In resT+Ci
tu the corrupt use ui money aud the al
temp, Ia use Il 20 influence elections,
The disclosures that are said ~ have
b,r.n made and have been stated in the
newspaper, during the lat can,IAiZn
undoubtedly lead iu an inquiry into
that very dsngrr"H, pIaciice which
hupr his amendment Will L. - enGarg,st
a. H. cover. Bat what riSs TO do NOV
is a. ask tia; his amemiment may IL
printed, and then I" call i1r the regular
uT,ier
The Nict- President The or Ter 4
J print will l., gRiereSi-
Mr. BIziu,-I i1 not wish To iStSIH