Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-27
The Southern Support.

10 the United States House of Representa-
tivcs yesterday, Mr. Chalmers was recognized
as entitled to the floor, and 'alIuded to the
speeches made by Mr. Garfield and Mr.. Hale
| On the 2lst Instant. Referring to Mr.. Garfield
be said that when he spoke his voice was the
voice Of Jacob, but bis hand was the hand o.
Esau. While he declared desire for the re-
storation of peace, be made an appeal to the
| very worst passions Of the North. While pro
| Tossing to defend the President, the speoche:
Of Messrs. Hale and Garfield we're carefully
| prepared assaults upon his Southern policy.
lie said the South was satisfied with the
| policy of MIR. Hayes, aud was making no efor
| 10 disturb it, as had been charged by gentle
men 90 the other side. The conviction o.
every member of the Louisiana returning boarC
could oct affect bis title, and 20 one in ths South
! would claim that it did. Referring to the
alteration of tho Vernon Parish returns. MIR.
| Chalmers said the gentleman from Maine seem
ed to think that the forgery of election returns
| was not 40 iudictable offense. He doubted
| whether the people of Maine Endorsed thai
standard Of morality.
| lie denied the charge so often mado that the
| South was not sincere in it's professions OF 10y
| atty to the country. or Of loyalty to MIR. Hayes
policy. The man who takes up arms, and ex
| poses his life for cause be believes to DO right
| is not traitor 30 much as they who would
| forge election returns and rob whole people oil
| their constitutional rights. The members of the
Louisiana returning board had stolen the liberties
| of tho people, and they would 20 down in his
tory linked with the blacklist traitors History
would show 10 the future who had best kept
faith, the ex Confederstes who surrendered
their arms or the republican party of the North.
| History would show whether the terms imposed
| upon defeuseless and unarmed people were
| dictated by spirit Of vengeance or by mercy.
Referring again to President Hayes. be said
| that he had shown himself to be an humble,
honest and upright gentleman, aud he (Chal-
mer's) would not for one do anything to bis 10.
jury. If he we're Governor of Louisiana, be
| would pardon the members of the returning
board as soon as they were convicted. Con-
vction was. necessary to vindloate the truth OF
history, but conviction and punishment sre two
| different things. The South would stand by and
be true to Hayes as long as he was true to him
self. The assault made on the other side was
| intended to drive the President from his policy
by an assertion that the returning board prose.
cutions were the mere entering step to an at.
tenn to affect the Presidents title. They hoped
| thereby to make him interfere, but he did not
SEQ how the President could interfere with An.
derson and Wells, moro than be could have
done with Boss Tweed.
Referring to the Wormley Hotel conference,
Mr.. Chalmers said he did not believe there was
bargain, but even if there was, he would not
now disturb affairs. In conclusion Mr.. Chal-
mers expressed an earnest desire for peace be.
tween tho Sections. Cromwell, the usurper, he
said was sleeping 10 Westminster Abbey beside
the hereditary Kings of England. The white
and rod roses were blended, and he hoped yet
to see the day when all sectional bitterness
wauld be dispelled. !Applausc.