The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-02-25
Remarks Of Representative Wolff on
the Tramp Bill.

On Monday the 10th, the House had under
consideration the Code Chapter relating to
Tramps. Major F. A. Wolff of Tippah coun.
", offered the following amendment:
"Strike out the word tramp or 'tramps'
wherever they occur, and insert the word
'vagrant' or 'vagrants.'
Mr. Wolff said
Webster and Worcester define the word
tramp" to be foot-walker, and in adopt
ing this chapter as it now stands, exhibits
poverty Of language in the coinage of new
terms, and with the legal definition we are
to falter in a double sense, yoking the vag-
abond and lazaroni with the poor men of
the country, who have the manhood and
courage to travel on foot Applause.
Mr.. Speaker Such jeers and taunts
come home to myself because when
a friendless and fatherless boy, before l had
reached the age of manhood, 1 trav-
eled through twenty-five States of this
great Republic from the Cordelleras to
Castle Garden, and from the falls of
Niagara to the most Southern KEYS of
Florida. During this eventful period l
was a sailor on the broad bosom of the At
lantic have furled the royal top gallant
sail, and have often stood at the helm. |
padded a canoe by myself from Cairo, one
hundred and eighty miles, to the mouth of
the Obion river. Laughter. / also taught
a five months school at Bald Point, on the
St. Francis river, in Arkansas, and chopped
cord wood on the Mississippi and the Ala
bama rivers. In all my tramps | have
never understood that my integrity has
suffered any deterioration, for | always
paid my way.
Mr. Speaker-This question may come
home to gentlemen on this floor; peradven-
ture, forsooth, some of their grandfathers
were scissors-grinders. Applause. Some
4 l.,
grinders. Laughter. Yes, sir, there are
gentlemen on this floor who put on clean
shirt collar every morning and ride a-gilping
on the street cars to the Edwards House."
and when they are at home they walk two
miles to borrow a cross-cut saw. ProlOng-
ed applause and laughter We are now
called upon to initiate the Legislators of
Connecticut and Massachusetts. The hope
full youth of the country are to be put under
the ban of the State. We are slow to de-
wise means for the relief of distressed hui
manity, but swift to prosecute the honest
manhood of the country, promiscuOusly
with God-forsaken and poverty-stricken
class of this Gods green earth. The yeo-
many, poor men of the country, have no
escape, whilst they are butfetting the
waves of adversely, and pursued by "the
sings and arrows of an outrageous fortune"
They can only appeal to the Author of their
being. Through a long line of red tape, a
petition is returned. "Blessed are the poor
and needy for they shall inherit the King
dom of God :" "Whpm the Lord loveth He
chasteneth," and some lean poet squeezes
out little line, "Sweet are the uses of adj
versity." Loud cheers and laughter.
Mr. Speaker, it does seem to me that if
Christ and His disciples were on earth
travelling as they did in the land of Pales-
tine, some risky young man or some sim
pering maid would sarcastically point out,
"there goes gang of tramps." Thunder
ing applause and shouts of laughter. The
chapter "a it is presented to the people is
one of a series ola long list of grievances,
and gives daily strength to the National
Labor Party. 1t is as ''bread cast upon the
waters, which will appear after many days"
Republics are sometimes tickle. When
Madame Roland was led to the guilotine, as
she pressed the statue of Liberty, she shrek
ed, go Liberty, what crimes and cruelties
have been committed in thy name :" l
ask gentlemen on this floor to pause. We
have revolutions in families as we'll as in
nations. While we stand ready to vindi-
cate the law, by the punishment of offend
ers, let us deal gently with the unfortunate
and not amalgamate the miseries and woes
of the country, with the honest and indus
trious yeomanry, men a thousand miles from
home among strangers in strange land. For
remember, We were once strangers in the
land of Egypt" DR.. Fraklin and his many
loaves of bread, and many other celebrities,
have had their origin as tramps. Long and
loud applause.
No poet ever wrote against tramps Tom
Moore in his Traveller, says:
II knew by the smoke that so gracefully
curled
Above the green elms, cottage was near;
And | said-'If there be peace to be found in
the world,
A heart that was humbled, might hope for
it here
The amendment passed by an overwhel-
ming vote but was subsequently reconsid-
cred, and laid on the table.
The Vermont Republicans for Grant.
BURLINGTON, Feb. IA fully attended