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

anu VIII IN less tnan ninety days have control
OF tnls nody also thus Rrasping the entire egis-
lntve department of the Government through
the unlawful capture OF the Southern States. II
the prescribed vote OF the South were east as its
lawful owners desire. the Democratic party
could not gain power. Nay. II II were not
counted on the other side against the instincts
and tho interests. against the PRINCIPLES md
the prcIudices Of its lawful owners. Democratic
success would DO hopeless. 1t is not enough.
thcn, for modern Dcmocruic tactics that tho
negro vote shall be silenccd; the demand goes
further and insists that 1t shall be counted on
their side. THAT all ihc REPRESENTATIVES in Con-
gross and all tho Presidential Electors nppor-
toned by reason of the negro vote shall be- so
cnst ana so governed Hs to insure Democratic
success. regardless OF justice in defiance Of
law.
And this injustice is wholly unprovoked. I
doubt II II be in the power of the most scurch-
ing Investigation to show that in any southern
State during the period of Republican control
any legal voter was ever debarrrl from the
irCcSt exercise OF his suffrage. Even the re-
vengcs which would have lenprd INTO life with
many who dcspised the negro were buried out
ot sight win z mngnnnimiiy which the suue-
rior race fail to follow and seem reluctant to
recognize ] know II IL said in retort Of such
charges against the Southern elections as am
now reviewing thut unfairncss Of equal gravity
prevails in Northern elections. | hear ii in
many quarters aud rcnd IL in tho papers that in
TIE lgte.exciting election in massachusetts, in:
timidntion and bulldozng. II not 80 rough aud
rancOrOus as in the South. were yet as wide
spread and effective.
| have read and yet | refuse 10 believe. that
the distinguished gentleman who made an en-
crgetic but unsuccessful canvnss for the Gov
ernorship of that State. has endorsed and up.
proved these charges and ! have accordingly
made my resolution broad enough to include
their thorough investigation. am not de-
handing lair elections in the South without de-
manding fair elections In the North also. But
venturing To- speak for the New England States
OF whose laws and customs know something,
dare assert that in the late election in Mnssa-
chusetts. or any Of her neghborng Common
wcaiths. II Will be- impossible To ilnd even one
cuse where q voter WAS driven from the polls
where voter did not have the fullest. fairc-L
irecst opportunity to east the ballot Of his
choice. and have II honestly and faithfully
counted in the returns. Suffrage on this conti-
nent was ilrst made universal in New England
and in the administration OF their Affairs her
people have found no other appeal necessary
Than that which il address"d 10 t3eir honesty II
conviction and 10 their intelligent sef-intrrcst
II there be anything different to disclose pray
YOU show II To us TINT We may amend our WAYS.
But whenever feeble protest IL made against
such injustice rs have described in the South,
tauntt nat nr9 you going T. do about il r.
and How do you propose 10 help yourselves 2"
This Is the stereoiyIhd answer Of defiance
which intrenched wrong always gives 10 in
curing Justice: and those who imagined It 10
ne conclusive DO not know the temper Of the
ngainst the complicated outrage upon the right
81 representation lately triumphant in the
south there will DC arrayed many phnses Of
IN harmony. Men who have cared little. and
affected TO care lSss, Tor the rights or the wrongs
OF the negro. suddenly find that vast monetary
and commercial interests. great questions ~
revenue, adjustments Of tariff. vast investments
in manufactures. in railways. and In mines. are
under tue control OF u Democratic Congress
whose majority WIS obtained by depriving the
negro OF his rights under common cOnstitu-
ton and common laws. Men who have cx-
pressed disgust with the waving OF bloody
shirts. and have been offended with talk about
negro equality. are beginning 10 perceive that
pitsslnsy 10 the cluHiity OF whle men under
this Government ana that however careless
thSy may os about me rights or me wrongs OF
about tho rights Of their own race. and the dig
nifty, OF their own nresdes and their own kin
dred.
know something OF public opinion in tho
North. know great deal about the views.
wishes ana puEp9ssfes o. me Kepu6lican nary
cation there Is not one man. whose opinion is
entitled 10 be quoted, that does not desire peace
and harmony and friendship and patriotic
und fraternal union between the North and the
South. ThS wish IL spontaneous. instructive.
universal throughont the Northern states and
yet among men Of character and sense there is
surely no need Of attempting 20 deceive our
selves as 10 the precise truth First pure. then
peaceabe. Gush VIII not remove agrlevanc".
and no disguise OF state rights will close the
eyes OF our people to the necessity OF correcting
great national wrong. Nor should the South
justice TO the negro is not also injustice 10 the
white man nor should II ever be forgotten that
be found, The war. with allits costly sacrifices,
was fought in win unless equal rights for nll
classes be established in all the States OF the
| Union; aud now in words which are those 81
friendship. however differently they may Toe nc
/ ceQtet, tell the men OF the South here on this
\ noOr and beyond this chamber that even II they
/ could strip the negro Of his constitutional
| rights. they can never permanently maintain
! the inequality OF white men In this nation they
! can never make u white mans vote in the South
| doubly AZ powerful in the administration OF the
| Government as n white man vote in the North
! In memorable debate in tho House OF Com
! mons Mr. Macaulay reminded Daniel O'Con-
! nell. when BE was moving for repeal. that the
/ English Wings had endured calumny. abuse.
| popular fury. loss OF position. exclusion from
| farliament rather than the great agitntor him.
| sell should be less than British subject; and
| Mr.. Macaulay warned him TINT they would
never suffer him 10 be more. Let me now re-
mind you that the Government under whose
! protecting nag We sit TO to-day sacrificed myrl-
! ads OF lives and expended thousands of millions
/ Of treasure that our countrymen Of the South
| should remain citizens Of the United States
| having equal personal rights and equal pollti-
| cal privileges with all other citizens. Aud |
venture. now and here 70 warn the men OF the
/ South in the exact words OF Macaulay. that We
| will never suffer them TO be morel
Upon the conclusion OF Mr. Blaines speech
! there was considerable applause In the gal
| lerles, but It was soon checked by W. A.
Mr.. Thurman then took the floor and sub
| mitted the following rs an amendment TO the
resolution OF Mr.. Blaine:
The eSm%se ,as n,o inquire Whether any c5Gn
a1 ,"e nas vm m oi , tdea,e,n WY. ,ls
privilege by reason OF - vote or intention to vote AT The
and 70 inquire whether IN the year is7s money was
fai'ed uy basement or oinetMise upon Federal onre
what circumstances and hy what means and what
~
AMI iur,hcr whether such assessments or IN
violation at law mud shall further inquire into the ucuon
and conduct o. United states supervisors Of Election IN
the several states aud 10 the number OF mArshal..
deputy mdrshals and others employed 10 take part
the conduct Of the said elections what States
appanisi tie amount " noney paii or promised e. he
pad 70 Them and how or ny whom, aud under what law
Mr.. Thurman then addressed the Senate ms
| follows:
Mr.. President. attempted to offer that amend
ment before the Senator from Maine proceeded
| with his remarks. but failed to have any oppor-
! tunity to do SO. ] intended then to say that
/ whatever opinion might be- entertained on this
| side OF the Chamber as TO the competency OF
! Congress 70 make all the Investigations that
! these resolutions contemplate. yet we We're dis
! posed 10 waive all scruples Of thAt character.
and suffer the resolutions TO pass without oppo-
/ sition II the amendment now proposed should
! be added 10 them. The Senator from Maine,
] however. having a speech carefully studied and
! prepared. exercised his right 20 deliver TINT
/ speech before my amendment could Dr. offered.
| rise 70 mako any extended reply 10 the speeeh
| that have heard Just now. Should this debate
/ be- protracted | may exercise my privilege 81
! saying something IN reply TO the Senator from
! Maine. but to-day shall cOnllne myself 10 "a
/ very few general observations.
The senator II frank In ono thing. His resO-
! luton is broad. il includes all the States. Ii
/ provides for an investigation whether the
] rights Of American citiNcns in connection with
! the elective franchise have been violated or in
terfered with In any of the States, but he frankly
| admits In tho very outset Of his remarks that
]