Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-10-01

Secretary Sherman, in a speech at liyaits-
VILE, Maryland, on Saturday, furnished Il
speedy refu,ation 10 Senator Bayard's claim
that the Democratic party deserves credit ioi
resumption. He reminded the country ol
the historical facts in the case, which are
that the Public Credit Act, which was the
first step on the road 10 resumption, was
passed against the solid NEGATIVE vote Of the
Democratic opposition. Mr.. Bayard leading
it in the Senate; that the Refunding Act OF
1870, the next vital step looking towards re-
sumption, was passed against the negative
vote of nearly every Democrat in Congress
When the Resumption Act itself was pre-
pared, in 1874, every Democratic member ol
the Senate Finance Committee opposed it
and on the division upon its passage, not
single Democratic Senator voted in its Ia
vor. Mr.. Bayard asserted the other NIGH
tina, he proposed an amendment iC
the Resumption Act to destroy th'
United States notes when presented
for redemption, or in other words TO retir,
their entire volume and prohibit their reissue
He did make such proposition with the dis
tinct knowledge that if adopted il would de
feat the bill, and thus prevent any progress:
whatever towards resumption. After The
Resumption Act was passed, the Democrat:
vehemenlly assaied it, and out of 13a Demo
Gratis present in the House. 100 voted 10 re
peal it, and in the Senate, 20 ont of 30 Dem
ocraiic Senators voted in the same way. By
the Republican Senators the bill repeating
the act, which had passed the House, wa:
defeated by a bare majority of one. Mr.. Bay
ard voted against the only practical measur,
for resumption that was offered, and OPP
posed the execution Of that measure when II
became law In the face of such a record
and the demand of the Democratic Nationa
platform ri 1876, for the repeal of the Re
sumption Act, it seems n little cheeky fol
the Delaware Senator 10 speak of the Demo
cratic party rs deserving credit for Resump
tion.
TErE To THEIE FRIENDS. The following
letter, written bya prominent clergymcn ii
Texas, shows how unsounded is the statement
that the colorcd people of the South art
ready TO desert their friends and join Tho
Democrats
Il frequently hear from the North and
East that the colored people are going
to the Democrats. Let me give You a little
instance. | heard it myself. 1t tells you,
Just where the colored people are. was al
Richmond. in Fort Bend county, waiting al
the depot for the cars. \ colored woman
came in and soon after her white man.
give you the conversation that passed be-
tween them. Good evening Nancy said
the man; how are all to-day : All well,
sir, thanl, YOU. We'll Nancy, how is
John going to vote this fall :: My old man
(referring to john will vote with the people
that set us free Nancy, le: me tell you
you and John and the rest Of the colored
people talk and act foolish. Why don't YOU
vote with your old friends = Old friends,
YOU say-who are our old friends :: 4 am
one of them and so are all the Democrats.
Are you an old friend ? Do you remember
the time when you found me with the Speller,
when was trying TO learn to read, and how
you stripped me naked and gave me five
hundred lashes yourself and that other
time, when You found me with pen. trying
to learn TO write, and how You told the driver
to give me two hundred lashes, telling him
that you would kill the -- -- -- if
she would not stop that, and how long was
sick after it, -, Nancy, that was in the
past, and you should let the past 60 (llow
anxious some people are TO let bygones be
bygones) Then you know that you are now
Christian, and, Christian, you mnSi Jet
the past GO Yes, | am Christian. and let
me tell You cannot forget the pit was IN
when Jesus found me. think of it and
thank Him that lletook me out. John will
vote with the people that set Us free. can
not forget where we were when freedom
came Just then the cars came and went
on board. So did the woman. | learned
that man was her former owner. She was
one of the most intelligent women l have
found. That story tells you just where the
colored people are.