Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-06-05

II
they must rest upon the word ''man-
ner." Mr.. ThnrmaE then went into
legal argument 20 show that, even upon
the basis gwen the laws By the Repub-
licans, they were unconstitutional, and
he read from the Federalisi in support
OF his position. He remembered dis
tinctly when these laws were brought
forward Ia Congress.
The prelense was that they were me-
cessary 70 protect the poor freedman Of
the South in bis right 0f suffrage: bua
that was sham. The real purpose was
4 IS dEFTfsa fteNneU ID l4e NUS1II IIuI1
voting, and no more devilish machinery
for that purpose had ever been devisesis
At that time there were only about eight
Democrats in the Senate, and they sat
over in the northwest corner OF the
chamber, while all other portions Of il
fairly overHowed with Republicans.
He wanted to LET the Senate and the
people know where those laws origina-
ted; they were conceived by the Union
League club Of New York city, parti-
san organization, aud the purpose was
TO prevent Democrats from voting in
4 q
State over to the Republicans, and such
a thing as protecting the poor freedman
was not thought of. Hethen read from
the testimony OF Samuel ]. Classy.
lawyer, of New York, who was en-
ployed by the Union League club 10
draft the laws. He took John |. Daven-
port into partnership and aller the bills
were prepared the latter came 10 WASH
inelon to press them through Congress.
Mr.. Thurman said that .he bills as in
troduced were aimed directly at nature
allied citizens, and one day he (ThuT-
mani went 10 Senator Morton and said.
"You can't vote for this BILL" The
result was that Morton condemned that
portion aimed to oppress naturalized
citizens, and il was stricken out. One
section proposed that a defeated candl-
date might By mandamus go before UNI
ted States court 10 ascertain iG any votes
had been rejected and TO compel them
to be counted. He and other Demo-
crats ridiculed the proposition so that Il
was stricken out. He demonstrated
that the effect Of the laws as operated
is 10 control elections for State officers;
that the Republicans had fixed Congress
sional elections upon the same day a.
those for State aud local officers, and
thus their unscrupulous deputy mar
shals had control over all, and he added
"Congress had no more legal right over
state election than il has over an etec.
ton in France"
lie then presented the figures recent
ly published in The Post, showing that
in 1876 S285, 900 were expended un-
der these laws, and in 1878, S222, 900,
nearly all Of il in the North, and half of
the whole expenditures each year ia
New York. That he said. was proof
enough of the intent ofthe laws. They
had been used by the Republican,
with what efecti let the Congressional
gains Of that party last year testify
Wherever the largest expenditure had
been made, there the party had made
the largest gains. There are now in
the House at least fourteen Republicans
who would not and could not have got
ten there but for these laws and the
manner Of executing them. That cx-
planned the opposition Of the other side
10 the proposed repeal, and their shouts
about Confederate brigadiers could not
conceal the truth from the people. Mr..
Thurman, in a humorous manner, told
how the money had been distributed
In New York city the thieves, ex-con-
victs, thugs and shoulder -hitters Of
whom ConkliBg had spoken, got the
largest share, because there were more
Democrats TO be kept from The polls
there. About S27 900 were given 10
the same class OF Radicals in Philadel-
phia, who always demanded their por-
lion Of every good thing. Not that dep
uty marshaIs were needed in the city
Of BrotheTly Love; the Republicans had
machinery there that never failed 10
turn out as large a majority as was
needed, regardless OF the votes cast:
but the thugs" Of Philadelphia dIdn't
propose to allow their allies Of New
York to capture all this easily earned
money.
Mr.. Thurman took hold ofJobn I. Da-
venport, and submitted evidence Of bis
oulFsges and expressions upon Demo
crats. He said that, though Davenport
had been passed over as OF no conse-
quence by others trefeFTing 10 Conk-
Hng,J Il can I put Up my sfHaaVHH
nose in the air and say / won't take no
lice Of this little pismire under my feet"
He showed that in addition 70 all the
other monies turned over TO Davenport
be got $4,000 Of the secret service
fund. and had never rendered any ac-
count for dollar Of ID. lie then showed
by testimony Of DavenPort's former
partner that he was poor when he first
began 10 handle this "eleciioE corruption
fond" but now he counts his wealth by
thousands. The Democratic party want
ed 10 repeal these laws and put down
this corruption and oppressSODs tLey
wanted far elections, and for that were
called revolutionists. lie criticized the
two veto messages severely, poiBiSag
out the Inconsistencies they contained,
and spoke Of them generally with eo5-
tempt. He characterized the sectional
turn the Republicans bad giTen 70 the
debate IN Ettingterms, and warned them
not to go too far; they might bring ab0u:
solidity where they didn't want IL; the
great West end South might solidiiy IN
1 their own interest.