Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-07-12
Weeklg gntelligenfer'
OFFICIAL COUNTY PAPER.
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federate brigadicr TO the theatre OF
national politics? Southern gentle
men around me on this floor are here
because they thought the country
was restored to its nominal relations;
that the states were rehabilitated
under the constitution that each
state had the right to select its own
representatives in both branches of
congress, and that they were not
compelled to ask leave to come of
any set of men from any part of the
country.
Gentlemen, 1 welcome you. You
are right in being here. You are
met however by q party with a vic
lent unwelcome, with abuse and de-
nunciation hurled rs q Keynote TO
party warfare by the great senator
from New York, and followed up by
all the senators OH that side of the
chamber. Sir, there is something
due to history OH this subject. Ia the
confederate soldier unfit to take part
the affairs of this government ; or
is it in fact ouly the confederate SOL
dier who votes the democratic ticket
to whom you object !! Is it the con-
federate soldier per Sc, or does the
objection to him only arise when he
votes the democratic ticket! 1T a
confederate soldier votes the repub-
lican ticket, and indOrses all the ras-
cality that overwhelmed the south As
a deluge during carpetb4gism, do you
not embrace him? Tell Tie wien
you have ever spewed such a one ut
of your mouths. Tell NE where You
ever repulsed him from your warm
est and most affectiOnale political
embrace. None such have ever been
cast out by the republican party. On
the contrary, all such have had seats
OF dignity and robes OF honor as
signed.
It is but q little while ago since a
confederate brigadier first took part
in the control of public affairs. lie
was invited to do so by the cand date
of the stalwarts for the next presi-
dency, General Grant. Graut APP
pointed Brigadier- General Amos L.
Alderman, of Georgia. to q seat III
his cabinet. A majority of the repub-
lican senators sitting here to-day on
their Oaths voted to- confirm him az
the first law officer of this govern
ment. They gave it to him To con-
strue the constitution, to interpret
the laws, to render decisions blnd'ng
for years, aud perhaps for all time.
General Grant put into the hands OF
confederate Brigadler-Genera Amos
L. Alderman the portfolio of justice,
and a republican senate confirmed
him ; and why? Not because he was
greatly learned in the law. Nor did
they object that he had carried a
sword, and killed whom he could,
under the confederate flag he voted
the republican ticket, and that was
enough ; it washed away all his sins,
aud made him clean and pure in their
eyes, though his sins had been as
scarlet before.
Another instance nearer home III
time and place occurs next to my
mind. ] know what profound salts
faction l will afford to the senator
from New York, [Mr. Conkling when
1 pause for q moment to pronounce q
eulogv upon the present administra-
ton. know the appreciation which
his robust intellect has OF the patri-
otto and comprehensive capacities OF
the administration now i'll power.
know. therefore, he will be grateful
to me for calling attention tO-the fact
that although he has arraigned us for
the dlsproportion of confederate
bfigadiers in this body TO the Union
brigadiers or major-generals, yet this
favurite administration of his has
confidrd one of its very important
cabinet portfolios 10 another confed-
crate brigadier, General Key, OF
Tennessee. [ have 10 word OF dis
paragemeut for General Key or Gen.
rral Akerman. | am not here to
abuse or denounce these men Tor
changing their politics !; they had u
right 10 do 80. l do say, no.
that senators on the other side, aft'i
voting to confirm these men for POSI-
tions of the vrry highest public i'm
portance, have not the shadow OF 8
right to assail us for welcoming the
sou heru senators who are Oh thls
floor. =,
General Key drew his sword under
The flag OF the south aud fought
hruugh the war. He then came iC
Ine senate. and while here made {
speech. refer TO it now principally
"a show how much the senator from
New York has forgiven, to exhibit
t rat gracious phase Of his character
which some do not know OF as vel
as | do. to illustrate that his forbear'
auce and charity are as broad as the
mantle that owe all sin. Genera
Key spoke just before he was ap'
. ,iLted to the place he now holds
Commenting upon the very memor
able field OF testimony wherein Eliz,
Pinkston covered herself and the re-
publican party with infamy. and
while arraighing John Sherman fol
being the patron of that paragon ol
falls, hood. the present postmaster
general Oh this floor, OH the 18Th day
OF December, 1876, used this language
"And Oh this testimony, the false
hood Of which is SO apparent on III
face, a state is to be d~istranchised
aud a president. whom. the peopl.
never elected, is 10 be placed III Of
fice."
It"ld you, Mr.. President, l woulc
prove how generous the charity o.
the Il or from New York has been
Within but Il few days of his appoint
ment and contirnation, the presen
p ,strnaster-general not only
ed t .at the present president of TIT
Uui,ed States was not elected presi
dent by the people at all, but further
that there was u plot to fOlst him int
tia, office by DISTINGUISHING n stat
through the imstrumchtality of whole
5 lie falsehpod. He has never recant
ell. this truthful statement that
know of. l suppose he has agreed
IT, vote the republican ticket, All,
W AS on that condition that a rep ubll
can Senate confirmed this c%onfederat
| brigadier with III additional handi
cap in the shape Of the speech l hav'
read from.
Mr.. Conkling. How does the sen
aior stretch my charity over that!
Mr.. Voorhees,. Because l hav
never heard that ringing voice whic
| God has gwen the senator from New
York in denunciation of that ap
pointment. 1 therefore supposed b
had condouedthe offences enumerate,
by me. | think the word 'condone"
filter word in this connection, al
things considered, than ''forgive.
The senator has been unsparing j
his assaults because of our afiliatio
with the men of the south, while tn
administration of his party appoint
not merely a confederate brigadiel
but Que who in this presence said ths
your president never was elected b
the people, that his claim to this
great Office rested on Wholesale false
hood and threatened the disfranchiss
ment Of q state.
Passing on, however, 1 invite sen,
fora IN faHo a MALI nth na &hanI,a