Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-05-13
Senator Iorrill's Speech
EIGHT HANDED DEMOCRATIC rYRASS

Following is tht speech delivered in the
nted States Senate ON Friday, April 2
by Hon. Justin s. Mornll
Mr. PreMdeItt l ntil u very short time
ago it was not my purpose to contribute any
thing to this debate, but the baseless charge
of II corrupt bargain, 50 ilippantly made, im-
plies that the Republican Senators must be
one of the parties TO that bargain. | should
he sorry to know that even any Democratic
Senator had so poor an opinion OF me that
denial OF this charge was necessary; but
shall say that 50 lar rs the vote OF the Sena-
tor from Virginia was concerned, | under
stood in advance that it would be cast on
our side without any conditions whatever.
Whoever may believe otherwise OF me or of
my associates, ! can only pity their creduli-
ty and scOrn their measure of Justice to polit-
ical opponents.
As for myself should have been indiffer-
ent us to whether the officers of the Senate
were to be Democratic or Republican, if We
had been asked as matter of grace to retain
the present incumbents until December next;
but the principle now sought to be maintain
cd and to which there IS grave objection is,
that they shall be retained against the will of
the Senate and at all hazards, and that a
Democratic minority may, whenever it
rules of this body, arrest the action of the
Senate upon any question where the votes
of that minority, if given and counted
against it. would be wholly Intellectual, save
to indicate the measure OF their disapproba-
ton. It's practical suspension of the
functions of the Senate at the will OF any
number OF Democratic Senators which may
amount TO not less than eight, that being
ONE fifth of II quorum, and the number re-
quired to call the yeas and nays. 1t is this
eight t-handed tyranny 10 which the Senate
is called upon to surrender. 1t appears to
me to be no less than a rank usurpation of
the rights privileges and power of the Senate,
and the doctrine, though now, as | think,
inconsiderately supported by many eminent
gentlemen of the opposition in rather violent
If not intempcrate speeches, will ultimately
he crushed by the upper and neither mill
stones of the public judgment. 1t is fraught
with danger to our institutions, and therefore
it will not be tolerated by the people. The
decision of the several States, from which
there is no appeal, has reduced the Demo
cratic party from lis recent position of the
stronger party in the Senate to that of the
weaker party, and n true adherence 10 the
fundamental principles Of Democracy, as
well as of Republicanism. requires an hon
est, cheerful and prompt acquiescence.
Mnorities under our constitutional forms
of government, being outnumbered and law
fully defeated, must submit, or Republlcan
government is failure. Any other device
or expcdicnt, ANYTHING less, must degrade the
great American Republic TO the level of less
advanced peoples, where revolutions. con-
spiracles and Instructions have become al
most periodic and chronic. Here the minor
ity has its full rights with its voting power
only limited by actual numbers. Its copious-
ness in debate unrestricted; but 1t would be
preposterous, if it were not wilfully and fta-
grantly wrong, for such minority to insist
upon the mastery. and say to the Senate, you
may do this, but you shall not do that.
What would Madison OF any OF the states
men in the early days Of the Republic, say to
the attitude of the present Democratic filibus-
ters Of the Senate? He and they would ad-
wise them that their action is in1efensibc,
and that, if they hoped ever TO be in any bet
ter position than that of the minority which
they now hold, they would do better not to
stamp upon their historical record in large
type an example 50 prehensible-possibly
to return to plague the inventors. if Republi-
cans should ever be equally reckless of their
constitutional duty.
Ii is in vain TO make the prctrncc that the
Democratic party of the Senate is not now
in an impracticable and hopeless minority !,
and the hollowness of snch a prelence is dis
closed by the want Of courage 81 long and re-
peatedly exhibited in the refusal 10 solve the
question by square and direct vote of the
Senate.
If there has been introduced into this
debate something of bitterness and acrimony,
matters which would better perhaps become
other places than the Senate the Record, |
think, will show that the opposition side of
the Senate are responsible for the introduc-
tion of that style of debate. The party
which gives blows must expect to receive
some in return. Something must he par
doned TO the law of retaliation, which human
nature is ever weak To resist.
The politica, Brahmins Of the Democracy,
who hold all those who disagree with them
AS a lower caste, as much as they do those of
different color, and who claim u proprie-
tary right to the 'Solid South, and TO its
1888 Democratic electoral votes, while reck-
lessly assailing the Republican party, have
vet not infrequently admitted the unexam-
pied prosperity of the country, though 1t has
secured that prosperity for more than twenty
years while so largely under Republican rule.
Another hopeful sign is 10 be seen in the sen
sitiveness of Democratic Senators as 10 DEM
ocratIc State Reputation, and their anxiety
to apologize for and la diminish its apparent
extent and amount Most hopeful of all is
the assertion of some Southern Senators,
which, if unfounded, is still that trlbHte
which hypocrisy is said to pay To virtue, that
nowhere else but in the South is there 4 free
vote and fair count. anu then s,raightway
do they thank Gel that they are not like
other men, much less like those of Massa-
chusctts or even of Rhode Island They
4 4 H., E.... IL Of Ia.
colored race. although they delngel their
land in hlooI tn keen that race and their
Descendants forever in loudare; and we are
further notified that the party which pro
claimed freedom and citizenship throughout
the land no LONGER possesscs the confidence
nf that enfr,nchised color,d phalanx which
;s tn add FORTY votes in Congress to the Solid
S,uth Democratic Senators would seem
inst now 10 hay, stolen Republican clothes
anil hone they will not doff the: garments
when th,.v return home.
~. ia nni s.,.L +, diminish the lawful
nolitical mower of auy section of the country,
hut ,,, ,In cav ,vhen vou b,v, NIL tnat in
ito fullest mcasur,. we will not consent 10
hav. !, ,ransccn,l,d in any ouart.r here or
Elsewhere. liz COUNTING a minority AS more
noten,,sl than I'M, majority.
Nr President | ,touId not have added
unvf hiutr N the l,usuh pf tliS debate NJ II lIl
mi hrcn far th,. INTRODUCTION of what an
wears tn ,n,. :, new r,.,,ur. in tb. debates and
usares of lhe Senate. and refer To the com
h;ncJ a,,,cL. nf Democratic. SENATOR'S unou A
sincl,. Senator who has i,,st taken his seat in
this body. If that Senator comes here with
.n,, las ,i,lc II, cx,r,.;.a his free will with
any less of absolute personal iudtpcndencc,
or with less ri,bt 10 be guided in all of his
n,,i,;cal and official uciInns hy his own iuds-
men, and conscience Than any other Scnl-
ter. must confess that have been unable
to comprehend wherein his iuteri"rity is 10
be found. And yet Senators come here d'ti:y
with all their partisan artillery and small
arms, loaded to the mu2zlc with invectives
and inucndocs, which are discharged with
great noise at the devoird head oi The new
Senator from Virginia. and all because that
Senator, elected ia opposition Ia the Demo
cratic party and without lis help, has not
felt it 10 be his duty t1 supply one vote, that
parlmounl need oi The Democratic party oil