Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-06-21

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object to any legislation which affords
any excuse or justification to the gov
ernment that it has the right or interest
in any way or in any degree to interfere
with the perfect freedom OF elections.
The roughness or even riot OF an elec- |
ton is no greater than any other viola |
ton OF the peace; and no state in this |
union is without ample means OF sup |
preston. And if the state authorizes
are unable or unwilling to do their duty
you have not now, you will not have tor
generations TO come, an army strong
enough to take their place. 1t is better
so; better that in one or two great cities.
nay. in one or two great states. there
should be temporary turbulence. contu-
sion. than that in the whole country
there should be military despotism.
Congress has the right to decide who
shall take his seat as representative and
who shall not. Congress can punish
with distranchisement any community
which would force into these halls an
improperly elected member; and that is
safer, a mole constitutional safeguard
than the exercise of any doubtful or un-
lawful power by the federal govern
ment.
But, Mr.. President, unjust as have
been the assumptions against the South
to which have alluded, there are others
not less grave. There has run through
this whole discussion the strong and
steady current of insinuatiOn that the
south is not true to the union; that its
object in pressing the repeal OF those
| measures which we deem dangerous to
our liberties is to give US freer field
| for conspiracy and better opportunity
to suppress by force and fraud the real
voice of the southern people. We are
tauntingly told that proof OF these
charges is found in the presence on this
floor of twenty-five members who served
in the confederate army, and the south
is reproached. nay. denounced, for
sending such men to represent her here.
Sir, the answer to this charge is simple.
| Nearly every man in the south who
could bear arms was in her arIaies and
she can scarcely be reproached with
Justice for trusting and honoring in peace
the men who risked their fortunes and
their lives for her in war. And when
the fact is cited that while the south
sends so many OF her old soldiers to
represent her IN this august assembly
, the north sends but four. l submit that
the reproach, if reproach rests anywhere
, belongs rather to the north than to the
south. feel that but speak the senti'
ments of every man here who was IN the
, confederate service when l express my
deep regret that there are not in thi!
r chamber more OF the men who met u:
t IN battle, tor If opposed to US politically
+ they would, ii true soldiers and gentle
t men, treat US with the respect tha
brave men never fail to accord to eacl
other. And, sir, had these great oppos
8 ing armies which for four years con
: fronted each other in a death grappl'
t been left to make and enforce the term
Q Of peace, not only would the countr.
r have been spared much of the sutferin:
= and the humiliation it has experienced
r but it would have enjoyed peace hon
+ orab.e alike to conquerors and conquer
9 ed. We should long ere this have see
a union re.established on the basis G
d fraternal reconciliation and Who'll
if people bound together by the indis
y solluable bonds OF mutual respect
e common interests, and common dest
s ny. Such, at least, ls the firm convit
8 ton of every true soldier in the soutt
l. and all her sons were soldiers. Nor
q this conviction wanting among th
). brave soldiers OF the north, TOR hav
,r heard it expressed by them time an
ID again.
q That the men who truly represent th
south are here to-day is due mainly
e. our friends on the other side. Whe
r. you insisted that the states should n
le turn to the Union; when you called w
at on them to send back their repr'
e. sentatives, did you mean what you sal
ii or did you mean the southern states
re- be rotten boroughs to be filed by non
r. inations OF the republican party? Ii
70 deed, did you not tor fifteen years NAL
20 them SOP And l will leave it to Il
OF candor of republican senators to 50
ed whether they are satisfied with the r
er suit OF the experiment they made at sue
ct a frightlul cost to US and to the who
IN country. We are here because we {
he represent the popular majority, th
OF character, the intelligence. and tt
oil property of the states which have sci
to US. We are here because lett to theL
O. selves the instincts of the recently e
IS. franchised voters have taught them tn
of their interests are identical with oul
by We are here because, belonging to yo1
50 own race, trained IN the same polite
IL experience as your own, taught by yea
he OF rule how to govern, we could not
of subordinated, and the people of Il
country did not wish us to be suborC
ny mated, to such mass of ignorant vote
1t. as you had rashly and suddenly create
Id We are here, we trust, for the good
n he whole country. What we were "
tie knew when you insisted that we shou
of still be part and parcel of this Union.
al For the past you cannot expect US
as apologize; to do so would be to sac
I'd. flee our own selt-respect and to fort,
al the respect of all honoroble men.
in the heat OF conflict we struck ha
blows, and doubtless we spoke ha
he words. But does remembering
he repeating them now bring US a.
ed nearer to the peace and harmony t
his which the whole country 80 arden,
he longs? The men who served in the @
ng posing armies are now the stron ge
advocates OF a true reconciliation. '
The learned in common school how to
he spect our enemies; we learned that q,
nd sonal courage and honor and truth we
sly better guarantees of patriotism tn
hin constitutional learning or eloque
speech; we learned at least that in SD
IDS OF differences, even unto death, the
was a common country which we cot
de- better serve in friendship than in hatre
,ur and were our antagonists of the late "
The here to-day, in the contests ON this ao
ich as In fiercer battles OF yore. whoey
EN- might be the victor, we should be ASST
nld ed OF fair field and an honest sure
MS, der. [Applause IN the galleries. Jud
US more by our acts
sti- The presiding officer. (Mr. Wallace
es- the chair) The senator will susper
ITS, The chair gives notice that if further ,
vas plause occurs in the galleries he "
try order them to be cleared. Order IN
ion be preserved.
ant Mr.. Hampton. Judge US now by {
on acts; and again ask what are they
ate provoke distrustP We ask you to STR
huf | from, ho Stafpta ho,l- -, I,