The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-29

and Democratic leader were admitted to
entitle him to the honor II It was given to any
Northern Congressman. But the DEMOCRAT
thought the time had come when tho South
was entitled to some recognition at the hands
of the National Democracy, and that IL could
not DO more fittipgly expressed than by in
| vesting some Southern man with the respon-
slbilitles and powers Of the speakership. II
| was thought that the sectional line had been
drawn long enough. and that the Democratic
party, at least, should not be afraid to trust
the third political Office In the country In the
| hands OF member from the South. For
this reason the DEMOCRAT at an early day
| supported the candidacy Of Mr.. Blackburn.
| believing that gentleman In every way as
capable OF filling the position aeceptably
as Mr.. Randall, and that under his direction
the legislation Of the country would be so
shaped as to convince the people at large that
Its interests were fully protected and adj
vanced by giving the South leading voice
In the control OF affairs.
At q later stage of the speakership contest
| the DEMOCRAT opposed Mr.. Randall on other
and more selfish grounds. 1t was widely
circulated, and not denied, that he was the
bitter enemy OF this section and opposed to
all It's interests In Washington. His pro-
nounced opposition to the Texas Pacific Rail-
road the DEMOCRAT could not condemn for
there was O job concealed In that measure
which brought upon 1t deserved defeat.
Shorn OF these Objectionable features. the
bill would probably have become law.
Many other good Democrats besides Mr.
Randall opposed 1t. comprising large
majority of the Southern Congressman. Ger
teinly no sectional hostility dictated their
course. 1t was based upon sound and lasting
Democratic principles. and met the approval
Of the country. The charge that the Speaker
opposed the Mississippi levee bill and other
measures OF national Importance simply be-
cause the South was TO be benefited princi-
pally thereby was OF different character and
promptly brought forth hot and earnest CEN
sure ON the part Of this journal. 1t now ap-
pears that tho charge was unfounded. as well
as many others. The editor OF the DEMO-
ORAT has received letter from distin-
guished Southern member at Washington set
ting Mr.. Randall right upon these questions
and eifectually dlsposing Of the charges men
toned. This letter was not intended for pub
LEGATION, but In justice to Mr.. Randall we deem
1t proper to make liberal extracts from It. No
better vindication of that, gentemsn can be
made than by reproduction OF some of tho
statements of our esteemed correspondent:
II the DEMOCRAT Of the nineteenth instant
ind an editorial on Handali's election which
In one respect Mt least, know to be unjust In
speaking OF the measures In which we are pc
culiarly Interested having tackled on them Jobs.
etc. the article states that this faint aftapbei
IN the Rrayll gubatdv and N hn ponina Raf1 tuay
schemes. but nothing OF this sort was deyeI.
oped in connection with the Mississippi levee
bill. TO which, Randalls opposition was equally
persistent"
/ have had frequent occasion to consult Mr..
Randall and always found him an open advo.
cal for an appropriation to rebuild the levess
can further state that,hs urged the necessity OF
bringing In a bill as early rs possible at the sec
pnd session In order that It might be acted on
before the adjournment. During the last third
session he aided In getting up the bill for con-
sideration which had been reported from tho
Misslssippi river. The bin was taken fr"m
the calendar ont Of its regular order aud q day
fixed for Its consideration, to the exclusion OF
aud was continued and kept before the com nit
too and House until 1t was fully discussed and
nassed; Not motion was made or a step taken
and action on the bill that Mr. Randall
did not give his friendly advice and assistance.
to aid rs 10 passing 1t through the House.
The hue aud cry raised against bin. that he
Is unfriendly to the Sou b, is not true. 1t was
with his assisl ance. that the delegation sue
ceeded IN passing the bin TO re-establsh the
Mint ut New Orleans, against the rival claims
Of seven or eight other important cities Of the
West and Sou,h. He was n warm advocate Of
the payment to Capt. Eads to enable him to
complete the work on the jetties. He 50 eonsti
tuted the Oommitte on Commerce. that our
Southern rivers and harbors have received
targer appropriations than ever before Out OF
tho forty-twO committees. more than half were
presided over by Southern men. and OF these
committees Louisiana has had more than her
share of representation on them.
That he was opposed to ths Brazil mail sub
House: 1t was not Randall. but Southern De-
fnocrats whose votes killed the bill. as well as
those who ought to have voted for It In the
North. From my reeoieel ion OF the vote be-
leve there were only two Democrats from New
York who voted for Il. and only six Republicans
from that state did the same. Mr.. Ran dali,
heli"ve, opposed Tom Soott's job. known as the
Texas Pacific, but iss not opposed to bona fde