The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-06-26
GOV. HAMpTON,s SPEECH.
Fun Text of the Able and Conservative
Remarks OF the South Carolina Senator.

The bill to repeal sections .s2O and S21
of the Revised Statutes of the United
States, relative to Jurors in the United
States Courts being under consideration,
Mr.. Hampton said:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: beg to acknowl-
edge my obligations to the Senator from
Delaware fMr. Baysrdl for the courtesy
which enables me to submit few re-
marks to the Senate; and in taking up
the bill which he has laid before the
Senate, do not propose to discuss it
specially. I rather prefer to make gen.
eral remarks upon the subjects which
have been under discussion during this
session.
The main reason why I do not desire
TO speak particularly to this bill, is that
I can hardly suppose that there is Sen
ator on this floor who will object to its
passage, for it strikes from the statute
book one of the most infamous laws
which have ever disgraced legislation. It
is simply to sirike off law which was
placed there, ifnot by mistake, by fraud,
and I therefore do not feel that it is nec-
essary for me TO enter into the discussion
further than simply to give an illustra-
tion of how the present law can be used
to tyrannize over the people of the coun-
try
In the recent trials in the United
States circuit Court at Charleston, q
short time ago, a jury was summoned.
One of the judges who was on the bench
could not take the test oath. The dis
trict attorney had been in the Confederate
army; the assistant attorney had like
wise been in that army. They of course
could not take the test oath. And yet
when the jurors were brought up every
democrat had that oath applied to him,
while all men who were not Demo-
Gratis, men who had served through the
whole war, if they were republicans,
were allowed to take their places upon
that jury without having the oath ad-
ministered to them. think it is not
necessary to say anything more to show
the improperly, to say the least, of al
lowing law of that sort to stand.
There are many reasons which make
me reluctant to obtrude my views on the
Senate at this time. recognize fully
the propriety of that unwritten rule of
the Senate which imposes silence upon
the new and inexperienced members Of
this body until they have become famii-
lar, by association, with the experience
of their older and wiser colleagues. The
physical disability under which I labor
not only makes all exertion painful to
me, but units me to do justice either to
the great questions now pending or to
myself, and I cannot, therefore, address
the.Senate at length. Nor is it necessary
to do,so. Argument, rhetoric, invectiye,
and denunciation have been exhausted
by our opponents, and can scarcely
hope that any utterances Of mine will
allay the prejudices which have been
aroused, or carry conviction to the minds
of the people.
These are potent reasons to enforce my
silence, and under ordinary circumstances
/ should have adhered to my determine
ton to take no part in the debates of
this session. But the subjects which
have engaged the attention of Congress
and of the country during the present
session are not of ordinary importance,
and the tone and temper Of the debate,
which has been prolonged through weeks
of vehement and angry denunciation,
impose upon the representatives. of the
South atleast the duty of honest protest.
Against my wishes, therefore, and under
every disadvantage imposed upon me by
my physical condition, / must, as one of
those representatives, ask the indulgence
of the Senate while ] place upon record
my earnest protest against the unfsirness
with which we have been treated.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Ths
Chair would state to the Senator from
South Carolina thatif at any timeit would
be more convenient to him to speak sit
ting, heis at perfect liberty to do so.
Mr.. HAMPTON. ] thank you, sir.
Day after day we have listened while
Senators of great reputation, high abili-
ty, and whose words are the creed of
thousands of conscientious and patriotic
citizens, have denounced the opinions
and the actions of southern men as rev.
olutionary and reasonable. It has been
declared that the Southern members rule
the caucus, debating the policy to be
pursued. The able any distinguished
Senator from Ohio (Mr. Thurman) with
equal truth, justice, and candor has, it is
true, met and refuted that charge by as
suming for the northern and western
democracy the responsibility of the pres.
ent political situation. But in spite of
this generous assumption of responsible
ty on his part, the truth still remains that
we of the South do make the democratic
majority in this Chamber, and we are
thus rs responsible for what we approve
and support as for what We suggest. Ihaye
not the presumption to make any claim
to leadership here, but while not at
tempting to lead, it is my duty to
know where and whom follow, and for
any vote which I may cast here shall
never endeavor to shield myself from
responsibility behind any man or any
party. If the policy support is revolu-
tionary, I am the revolutionist; ii there
is treason in my vote, I am the traitor.
But, sir, ask in all seriousness what
are the issues before the Senate to which
such language is appropriate? I might
demand of Senators on the other side
the proof that any action of ours was
revolutionary. I might open the Con-
stitution and reading its precise and en-,
phatic definition of treason, ask who OF
us is "leyying war against the United
States or giving aid and comfort to their
enemies" or what overt act of violence
we are proposing to commit? But do
not desire to make mere technical ar
gument. desire to meet the accusation
in its spirit as well as in its letter. Whist
are the issues before us? Let us under
stand them distinctly. But first let me
say what are not the issues We are dis
cussing. To me there is no question,
there can be none, as to the propriety OF
making the appropriations necessary tor
the support Of the Government in all Its
departments. Upon this point there
shall be no misapprehension of my posi-
ton. By no vote of mine will the ap-
preparations necessary for the efficient
maintenance of the Army be refused. 1t
is competent for Congress to declare un-