Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1879-04-26
Senator Hereford's Speech.

Two weeks ago Senator Hereford, in
The presence Of full Senate and crowded gal
leries, in fefutation Of The Republican cry Of
revolution on the part Of the Democrats in
endeavoring to remove obnoxious laws from
the statutes, delivered a speech at once mani
Testing thorough research aud profound ac-
quaiutauce with the principles which. i'll re-
eutly, have been accepted as underlying the
whole fabric Of the general governmental
speech that ought to be read aud thoroughly
digested by every American citizen who feels
that liberty has a charm and is worth gu ef-
fort to preserve. Since Il is not possible for
US to give the speech, we make an extract as
a Slmp,e Of It's entirety. He said
"Mr President-Must not the voice OF the peo-
pie be heard have they not right % be heard
To-day one great, prominent party has control Of
both branches Of this government TODAY TWEEN
ty-thrce out of thirtv-eight Governors of the
crai states represent tue same great political par
". The people have spoken 10 every way they
can speak O. place that parry in power which has
fought against toe enactment Of such laws Oh is
and they are ia favor OF the repeal OF them
/ Tweuty-three Of the thirtv-esht States have de-
mocTatc Governors to-day. The same sentim ent
/ pervades beta halls Of the American Congre S.
/ Shall not that voice of the great American peO-
/ pie be heard? What right has any man, then, o.
saw that the President wall, bv his veto, check and
stAe the voice OF the people thus spoken in every
I mauner1 Who ever heardO the President veto
! ing bin for the repeal o. a law Many OF these
I laws were placed upon our statute-bOok by being
\ tackled upon appropriation 0tls and we seek 10
] get rid of .hem iu the same manner. No English
Sovereign has dared since ls32 90 veto bill OF the
I British Parliament. Mr.. President. have near
I ly done. I have thus iee0ly tiied 70 raise my
voice Ia favor of ifee elections, uncontrolled by
/ standing army-ths terror through all ages Of
D free government; uncontrolled by YOUR supervi-
sOrs of elections, those paid iuiormers and spies
upon free people, uninnuenced by your thOus-
ands OF unsc, upuluus irresponsible deputy mar
shais wearing on their LETT breast the badge OF a
[ nited States officer aud holding IN their right
hands the ucSet-the bl.llt of political party
. political engine 90 power a thousand times mere
. o. De dreaded than the- army ia favor of a free
and tas jury al over the land, the "avOrite child
OF che En- lsh law, thc origin OF which Is " lost
in the night OF time " uf which it. too, has been
said that 30 is Of a tradition high that nothing
Is known of It's origin, and 90 perfection so abso-
lutte that 10 has remained 10 undated vgor from
/ It's commencement 90 the present time. by one
. of the ancient Kings of Wales 10 was called the
] apostolic law" By The elder Pitt 10 was called
&c the butiress Of liberty" lae great Erskiue, the
especial champion % personal liberty had en-
graved ua the scroll of his coat Of erms, Trial by
jury"
'.M7 President, it was for this right Of trial
/ by jury tAat our revolutionary fathers fought
and died; 10 was for tbs inest'mabie right that
. Washington drew his sword n was 20 maintain
aud preserve this, among other rights, that those
Noble men crimsoued the snow % Valley Forge
with their .iic's blood. Shall We, wthouta 81 ug-
/ gle, surrender itt Never No, neveT.