Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-05-03

The following is a synopsis of the
great speech of Senator Vest, of Mis-
souri,, delivered in the Senate Monday,
April 11th, as reported in the Congress
sional Record:
Mr.. Vest.-Mr. President, congratu-
late the Democratic party and the coun-
try upon the fact that at last the issue
b between the two parties in the present
remarkable contest is distinctly and
sharply and unmistakably defined. The
Democratic party have never been ac-
tuated in this conflict by the desire SIM
ply to attain possession of the offices of
the Senate. If such had been the case
two years ago, with an absolute majority
and absolute control, the Democratic
party would have taken every Office in
the Senate without question or debate.
With that absolute power in our hands
the pay-rolls of the Senate to day de-
velop the fact that within q very few
hundred dollars of One-half of the pat
ronage of the Senate is in the control of
the Republican party. My own State
of Missouri, giving to the Democratic
party the largest electoral vote of any
State in the Union, receieved out of the
patronage of the Senate the miserable
pittance of two messenger places a.
mounting. together to $1,000.
Sir, the offices of the Senate constitute
not the issue between these parties. The
issue is defined and well known to the
Senate and the country. It was read to
us by the Senator from Pennsylvania
(Mr. Cameron y it was detained to us
by the Senator from Connecticut (Mr.
Hawley) in campaign speech, during
the delivery of which could almost
smell the barbacued. meat and hear the
shouts of the approving multitude. 1t
has been shrieked and yelled at us by
the Senators from Massachusetts. Final
ly, in the grave and deliberate accents
of the Senator from Ohio (Mr. Sher-
man n,) we have had laid down with em-
phatic precision the object of his party
and the question between US.
That object, in SO many words and
stripped of all rhetoric and all surplus
age, Is simply this : the national Repub.
lican party of the United States propose,
with its vast prestige, its great influence,
its patronage in the Senate, and its
Federal and executive patronage, to
throw itself into the contest in the State
of Virginia between the two factions OF
the Democratic party, and to crush out
with this unequal aid the real and true
Democracy of that glorious old Com
monwealth. The Democrats in the
Senate are called upon in the name of
the Constitution and under penalty of
being denounced as revolutionists and
traitors 10 sit supinely here and see this
monstrous outrage perpetrated upon
that gallant Democracy in the State OF
Virginia. If Democrats in the Senate
should sit here supinely and submit to
any such thing as that they would de-
serve to be branded as dishOnored men.
Every consideration of principle, every
consideration of honor, every instinct
OF chivalry, calls upon us to stand by
our brethren in the State of Virginia in
making their last great contest, after
everything else is lost save honor, fol
the historic glory of that Common
wealth, the mother of States and states
men and of the Democratic party.
l tell the gentlemen now, in no spirit
of bravado, that, rather than submit to
this interference by the National Re-
publican party, in that contest, and
rather than see the Democracy of Vir-
ginia stricken down after that fashion
we will stay here, God willing, until the
ice again gorges the Potomac and the
SHOWS OF December wreathet these hills in
their winding sheet.
But, Mr.. President, the great, over.
Whelming, stupendous argument of gen.
tlemen on the other side In favor of this
coalition, coalition without congenial.
1ty OF principle or opinion, is an honest
ballot and fair count! They can swal.
low reputation, they can take down
elimination, they can lunch ON readjust.
ment, If you will just give them a fail
ballot and an honest count Now, Mr.
President, let us look at that for mo-
ment. Ii there was one issue in the last
Presidential election which overshadow'
ed all others, 1t was "the solid South