The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1880-02-18
Remarks of Representative Wolff on
tho Tramp Bill.

On Monday the 10th, the House had under
consideration the Code Chapter relating To
Trdmps. Major +. A. Wolf, Of Tppah coun'
ty, offered the following amendment
"Strike out the word tramp or 'tramps
wherever they occur, and insert the word
vagrant or Migrants
Mr.. Wolf said:
Webster and Worcester define the word
"tramp" to be a ot-walker, and In adopt.
ing this chapter as it now stands, exhibits
n poerty Of language in the coinage OF. new
terms, and with the legal definition we are
to falter in double sense, yoking the vag-
abond and azaroni 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
friendIess and fatherless boy, before had
reached the age of manhood, 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 eyentful period
was sailor on the broad bosom of the At
lantic; | have furled the royal top gallant
sail, and have often stood at the helm. |
padded canoe by myself from Cairo, one
hundred and eighty miles, to the mouth Of
the Obon river. Laughter. ! also taught
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.. Speakef--This question may come
home 10 gentlemen on this floor; peradven
ture, forsooth, some of their grandfathers
we're scissorsgrinders. Applause. Some
Of their grand uncles may have been organ
grinders. Laughter. Yes, sir, there are
gentlemen on this floor who put on clean
shirt collar every morning and ride a-gilpinl
on the street cars to the Edwards House,
and when they are at home they walk two
miles 10 borrow d cross.cut saw. Prolong-
ed applause and laughter. We are now
called upon to initiate the Legislators o
Connecticut and Massachusetts. The hope
| ful youth OF the country are to be put unde
the ban of the State. We are slow to de
wise means for the relief Of distressed hu
manity, but swift 10 persecute the homes
manhood Of the country, promiscuously
with God-forsaken and poverty-strickel
class Of this Gods green earth. The yec
manry, poor men of the country, have n
escape, whilst they are buiIetting tn
waves of adversely, and pursued by 9Th
slings and arrows Of an outrageous fortune.
They can only appeal to the Author Of tnei
being. Through a long line Of red tape,
petition is returned. "Blessed are the poo
and needy for they shall inherit the KinE
dom of God :" "Whom the Lord loveth II
chasteneth," and some lean poet squeez'
out a little line, "Sweet are the uses of az
versity." Loud cheers and laughter.l
Mr.. Speaker, it does seem TO me that
Christ and His disciples were on cart
tr aveling az they did in the land of Pale
tine, some frisky young man or some sir
pering maid would sarcastically point ou
athere goes a gang Of tramps." Thunde
ing applause and shouts of laughter III
chapter as it is presented to the people
one of series ofa long list Of grievance
and gives daily strength to the Nation
Labor Party. 1t is as 'bread cast upon Il
waters, which will appear after many days
Republics are sometimes tickle. VIII
Madame Roland was led to the guilotine,
| she pressed the statue of Liberty, she shrie
: ed, 30 Liberty, what crimes aud cruelti
have been committed in thy nameT'
ask gentlemen on this floor to pause. '
have revolutions in families as well IS
i nations. While we stand ready to win
e cate thelaw, by the punishment OF Offer
y ers, let US deal gently with the unfortun
e and not amalgamate the miseries and W
q of the country, with the honest and ind
: trious yeOmanry, men thousand miles fr
5. home, among strangers in strange land.
10 remember, We we're once strangers in
land ofEgypt." DIR. Fraklin and his m