The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-05-08
the wisest and most statesmanlike for US

sage have not finally made up my mind
as To the course ! would suggest, or be
ready to accept aud vote for in the eau
Gus. My impression is, however, that
there will not be found majority of the
House to oppose extending the appro-
priations by joint resolution and giving
!, the country the opportunity OF ex-
pressing itself, through The press and it's
public men, upon the issues involved:
In the meantime, before any profier of
pealing clause in the army bill should be
passed separately and submitted to tho
President for his approval.
The repeal Of the jurors test oath,
which is now annexed To the legislative
appropriation bill, and the proposed
modification of the supervisors law,
should also be enacted i'm separate form
and submitted to him also. lf these
measures, presented independently,
should be vetoed by the President, then
the Democracy, which is the party of
the Constitution, should take its stand
upon the Constitution and refuse to vote
the taxes of the people unless their griev-
ances are redressed This is the unques-
toned right Of Congress as it was held
by the Commons Of England for over
two hundred wears. The ultimate result
cannot be told until the President has
had the opportunity Of passing upon the
repeal of these measures which the rep
,esentatives Of the people deem to be OPP
pressive and obnoxious.
The issue for the repeal Of the Federal
election laws came from the Northern
wing of the Democratic party. They
were more concerned in the repeal of
these statutes than we Of the South, for
the history of the legislation 10y which
they were enacted shows that they were
designed to affect the elections in the
Northern States, and principally in New
York, Philadelphia, and other large cities
of that section.
The purpose of the Republican party
is manifestly, by threats and intimida-
ton, 10 force the North into solid Sec
tional attitude in order to regain thereby
the power which thcy-the Republicans
have lost by the past fourteen years OF
corruption.
In 1867 when they controlled both
branches of Congress they bullied and
coerced the Executive, and now, with
the Legislature Of the country in the
hands of the Democracy, intrenching
themselves behind the Executive, they
are repeating the same experiment Ol
forcing Congress To submit, in turn, to
the dictatiOn of the President.
CONGRESSMAN EvINs
thinks a conservative course is the w;sesl
to be pursued, and indeed the only safe
one. The Democratic majority have
done all they could to secure the repeal
of the odious laws in question. 1t was
in the power Of the President to defea,
their efforts, and he has exerted that
power. The responsibility for the fail.
ure rests upon him and his party alone
as the Democrats cannot pass the meas
ures in the face Of their opposition. We
ought now to accept defeat gracefully
and pass the appropriation bills at once
without the political riders. We ought
even to pass them first and then otfeI
bills repeating the obnoxious laws as
separate measnr.s. This cnnrsc would
leave the Republicans without excuse fol
their opposition as we would be acting
in manifest and perfect good faith and
| they could not say that we were holding
back the appropriations by way of threat
| If they refused at last to pass thes. meas
ures we could go before the country and
let tho people decide upon them. have
no doubt us to what their decision would
| he.
1t is important for usto get these issue.
before the country without affording any
| occasion for having our motives SO Inucf
as doubted, and without the measure.
themselves being entangled with any
other question. They should be fairly
and squarely presented for judgmen
| fhofr m. oln ol0
this course we would relieve ourselves o
measures or questionable methods. W.
should not allow ourselves, as Southern
men, to be diverted from what we thinl
is the true interest of the people, by any
pleas Of party necessity ON the part o
the majority of the Democratic party il
each branch of Congress, and will b.
held responsible for the legislation o
Congress. We have the right, therefore
tc dictate the policy to be pursued
Any attempt to adjourn without passing
the appropriation bills will be considered
revolutionary by the country, and W,
cannot afford to be put in that position
We have been between the upper ant
neither millstones long enough. We ar
willing TO do the voting and allow tin
Northern Democrats to hold the offices
but we claim the right TO shape th
policy of the party for which we mas
and will be held responsible. Wha
COnkling said in his recent speech is true
that we are the controlling power in boil
branches, and while it may be yer,
pleasant for Northern politicians, seek
ing their preferment, to keep up sectiona
strife, our interests demand that we shnl
have :. ct ssation of such strife. Shcul,
we adjourn without providing the mean
of carrying on the government, believ
it would solidify the North as much a
did the firing upon Fort Sumter i'll 1861
Our Northern Democratic friends nigh
then find the tide too strong for them
and leave US in the lurch by seeking ne,
alliances with the National or Green
back party. We caniioi afford to tax
the risks which they can. We canno
afford to play cat to their monkey an
Longer. If there are any chestnuts to b
had they will get them--the burnt paw
are ours every time. They stand in
very different position before the countr
fro:. ours. It is natural that the North
ern people should look upon us with dis
trust, coming as we do into control of tn
government 80 soon after the war, an,
we must lenrn to labor aud to wait.
do not n.ean that we should abando
the struggle. We. must renew it OIL ever
occasion until we accomplish our pur
pose, but we must confne ourselves t
the use of regular and constitutions
methods. ,.,i,,. t. ,si
n 1t is in no sense 2 "back down" for u
to take this course. We have ceTtainl
pressed the matter as far as we could
do not consider that the party has hae