The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-04-18
. APRIL IS, 1879.
Colonel Withers's Speech.

- =
n,he cni,oouics, too, which occurred De-
tween the two our senator goe Tue aofan-
tase every time, though his demeanor IS at
ways so courteous as to be renarkabie.
we have thought 1t proper to notice Colo
mel W,THERs's speech, because ne exposed
IN "a clear manner the weakness, ana, as
no said. puerility OF the effort OF Mr.. BLAINE
to ridiculc the senators who were adVoca-
ting tho bill as it stood. Colonel WRITER'S
said on this point:
It is but pucrile effort III senator's VIII
pardon me for using the term) when seHa-
tor on this floor rises in his place ana IN
send OF attacking the principles wlficn I'M o.
der,ie this great question deVotes nln'seii
for half an hour to the attempt to ridlcule
The arguments OF those who oppose hlm Dy
stating the fact that only one soldler 10
county IS to be found throughout the states
east of the Mississippi. 1t Is IN ADMISSION
on the part OF that senator OF the poverty
OF his case when he can ind no stronger
argument to use in opposition 10 the Dill
which is now before this body. IL IS not
that senators here fear the presence OF one
or two or fifty men who may be in their re-
snectiyc States, but it is that provision OF
law now exists which renders 1t possible
that not only those who are there, but
others may be brought there ]! The eXi-
pency requires it AMI the condition OF the
oublic mind or the exigencies OF party ne
cessity demand that they should be 80 used
TO dominate and control elections. In other
words. the presence OF the military at the
polls Is absolutely incompatible with Tree
Government: and | announce that as the
1rinci,le upon which this bill, with this
clause OF which we hear SO much, has been
based.
The question is whether under the condl-
lions OF the existing law it may not be pos
sjble FOR an Executive who shall 80 desire
10 50 distribute md so use the soidleTy as
to destroy the freedom OF elections. IL IS
not to confront present danger "nlch
threatens imminently to interfere WIFE ecc-
tons, but it is TO remove from the present
or any future Executive the temptation
which the possession OF this power "ou'u
offer. should he desire 80 TO do, to destroy
the liberties OF this people and erect upon
the ruins of the Republic dcspotism sup
ported by the arms Of Soldlcry.
Is this a vain and chimerical fear? Thc
Senator from Maine seems 30 TO regard IL
and vet IL we look back at the history OF
every free people who have ever lost their
liberties we shall find that without one soil
tary exception their liberties have been de-
stroycd through the operation OF the mlE-
tary, through the agency or lis commander,
or Under the direction OF an ambitious prince
or ruler.
Colonel WRITER'S gave ALEXANDER HAM
ILToS. GEORGE MASON, and PATRICK HENRY
rs his authorities amongst the fathers OF the
Republic.
Here is q report Of Il part OF one Of the
colloquics we alluded TO above:
Mr.. BLAINE: | am not now talking
about military officers: there is not sena-
tor on that side of the chamber who ever
saw military force ut the polls, in my iuds-
ment.
taken.
Mr.. BLAINE: will yield for testimony
On that point.
Dir. HEREFORD: Prior to the time that
the State OF West Virginia passed from un-
der the control Of the Republican party we
ALWAYS had the military there, and l have
seen them at the polls making arrests on the
day OF voting in my own town.
Mr.. BLAINE: When?
Mr.. HEREFORD: When?
Mr.. BLAINE: Yes, when did you ever see
military man in the uniform OF the United
States making arrests at the polls?
Mr.. HEREFORD: have known OF them
make arrests in Mercer county.
Mr.. BLAINE: When?
Mr.. HEREFORD: II you stop moment
can look back and think.
Mr.. BLAINE: want to know when?
Mr.. HEREFORD: In 1870, sir.
Mr.. BLAINE: Ten years ago?
Mr.. HEREFORD: About that.
Mr.. BLAINE: Or before that?
Mr.. HEREFORD: 1t was after the war.
l saw this: We had company OF soldiers
stationed in the town where | live within
one hundred steps OF the voting-place, and
that company on the day Of election were
divided up, par: of them sent to an adj
joining county, the county Of Mercer, where
they expected to control the voters.
Mr.. BLAINE: One company!
Mr.. HEREFORD: Ana were placed
there within seventy yards OF the place OF
voting.
Mr.. BLAlNE: What did they arrest
anybody for?
Mr.. HEREFORD For the purpose of
intimidation.
Mr.. blaine: Oh, yes!
Mr.. HEREFORD For the purpose Of
intimidation.
Mr.. BLAINE: | should be clad to hear
any other testimony on that side.
Mr.. WILLIAMS : | can tell the honorable
Senator that saw soldiers marched into the
public square and stack their arms, since
the war.
Mr.. BLAINE: What time since the war !?
Mr.. WILLIAMS: Eighteen hundred and
siX,y-Gve.
Mr.. BLAINE: That is good while ago,
and Kentucky was in condition OF up
heayal about that time, 1865.
Mr.. WILLIAMS: And know from in
formation that they were stationed at a
number OF polls in other portions OF the
State.
Mr.. BLAINE: Has the Senator seen any
since that time?
Mir. WILLIAMS: This | saw with my
own eyes. l saw men 60 up In the presence
Of soldiers to vote.
Mr.. BLAINE: Has the Senator seen any
since 1865:
Mr.. WILLIAMS: No, sir.
Mr.. BLAINE: The Senator, then, has
had fourteen years To brood over that, and
he cannot stand it minute longer.
Mr.. WILLIAMS: The power 10 put
them there Is still in the law; and It Is to
deprive the President OF the authority to
take them TO the polls for which we now
contend.
Mr.. BLAINE: The Senator tells lis tina,
be Is particularly sensitive about what he
saw when the country was still in dis
turbed condition fourteen years ago, while
to-day there is not and has not been fol
years solitary Federal soldier In Ken
,,aI.,, =, 80 ta.y Iue