The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-03-20
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON March -, 1870.

wv ASulNtFAON nnIsn ~. l5ta.
MR.. EDITOR There is no enc act
of the Southern Democracy that shows
their firm determination to insist upon
the dogma of State-rights more than
the defeat Of the Senate bill to prevent
the introduction Of contagious diseases
in the House Of Representatives, be-
cause they insisted the money should
be spent under the direction OF their
respective States. TIL object Of The
bill was to prevent lie outbreak and
spreading Of the yellow fever, but che
Southern Democrats, hy their action
say they prefer the yellow fever to
having any thing done under the al
thority Of the United States Govern
ment to prevent it, Let the loyal
North consider we'll this action OF the
Southern Democracy. Does it not
clearly show that they consider the
principle Of State-righ.s Of FIR more
Importance than the II ost vital meas
ures for their protection without it's
due acknowledgment? II their under
standing Of State-rights prevails, what
does the United States Government
amount to? 1t can do nothing against
any State that may see fit to enact
laws contrary to the United States
i laws
The great topic Of conversation at
present is, Who is to be the next
Speaker of the House Of Representa-
tives and the contest appears to be be-
/ tween Hon. Samuel j. Randall, the
Speaker Of the last Congress, and Hon.
| Joe. Blackburn, of Kentucky, W it'll the
chances in favor of Nj. Randall, who
is backed by Gov. Tilden and his sup
porters. Col. VIM. III. McCardle Of Mis-
sissippi published a letter written
to Representative Manning ofhis State
in which he claims the speakership for
the South. quote largely from It to
show the defiant disposition of the
Southern Democrat.
My Dear Colonel: The interest
feel in every thing that effects the
South must be my apology, if one be
needed, for addressing you this letter.
The contest for the Speakership is the
absorbing question Of the hour and [
learn with a surprise akin to disgust
that a very few Southern Representa-
tives have reached the preposterous
conclusion that it is 'unWise, impru-
dent and impOlitic" to elect a South
ern Democratic Speaker Of the next
House of Representatives This obiec-
ton is crystalized by the Hon. Mr..
Atkins, of Tennessee, as reported in
the following language: ''The Demo
Gratis can not afford to elect a South
ern man Speaker of the House."
Has it ever occurred to the South
ern gentlemen who oppose the cleo
ton Of a Southern man to the position
Of Speaker on the ground that he is
a Southern Democrat and acos a Con-
! federate soldier; that not one of them
could have been elected to Congress
but for the fact that they were intense
ly Southern and had also been Confed-
crate soldiers?
1t was these considerations that en-
abled them to secure an election over
a carpet-bagger or d renegade, and if
they think "the Democrats cannot af-
ford to elect Southern man. why do
they not remedy the blunder bv a
prompt resignation? The Southern
Democrats i'll the House are or they
, are not the equals of their associates,
If they are equals they are entitled to
the privilege of being elected TO any
position within the gift of the House,
Ii they are the interiors of their fell
lows, self-respect and manly regard
!, for the honor of those they assume to
represent demand that they should re-
tire from positions which they tacitlv
acknowledge they are unworthy to fiji
I have no doubt that a carpet-bag-
ger or renegade can be
found in every Congressional district
in the South who will be quite willing
to serve himself in Congress for $4,000
a year and milage. And if the South
is to have the brand of shame placed
! upon its brow, III Gods name let it be
50 placed by some alien or renegade
hand, and not by those whom the
Southern people have warmed into life