Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-03-17
mocracy for which you (Mr. Hill

say that l am not mere as paltl-
san, nor am l here to represent that
Democracy which has done SO much
injury to my section Of the country.
The gentleman undertook to say
what constitutes a Democrat. hold
that am an infinitely better Demo
crat than he. Laughter. He who
| stands nominally committed to full
vote, and fair vote, and an honest
ballot, should see that they can be
had in the State of Georgia, where
tissue ballots are fashionable. ZAP
plause.
am in every sense a free man
here, and trust to be able to protect
my own rights and defend those OF
the people whom / represent-cer-
tainly to take care of my own. do
not intend (again addressing Mr.. Hill
directly that you shall undertake to
criticise my conduct by innuendoes.
wish the Senator from Georgia to
understand just here that the way to
deal with me is to deal directly. We
want no motions of discovery to find
out how | am going to vote.
You were notified that | should
stand on this floor representing in
part the State of Virginia. Certainly,
the Legislature which elected me did
not require me to state that | was
either a Democrat OF anything else.
was elected by the people not by
the legislature, for it was an issue in
the canvass and no man was elected
to the legislature by the party with
which | am identified who was not
Instructed to vote for me for the
Senate.
The gentleman has been chasing
all round this chamber to see if he
cannot find partner somewhere.
He has been looking around, occa-
sionally referring to another Senator,
to know exactly who that Senator
was who had the manliness and bold
ness to assert his opinions in this
chamber, free from the dictation of
the Democratic caucus. ! want that
gentleman to know, henceforth and
forever. that here is the man who
dares stand here and defend his right
against you and your caucus. Loud
applause and much laughter provok-
ed by the violent gesticulation of
Senator Malone, who launched de-
fance at his adversary in a sort of
miniature war dance.
Mr.. Hill again tool. the floor and
said he could only understand the
gentleman on the principle thata gull
tv conscience needs no accuser.
Laughter on the Democratic side.
He had not mentioned the Senator's
name or State: he had only asked
who the Democrat was that was ex-
pected to vote with the Republicans,
and, to his establishment the Senator
from Virginia said he was the man.
He had not said anything offensive to
the people of Virginia, but he had
said the people of no section of the
country would tolerate treachery.
He had said that there were thirty
eight Senators who had been elected
as Democrats. Did the gentleman
deny it? Would he say that he was
not elected as a Democrat He said
he was not required to state he was
a Democrat, and in the next breath he
said that he was better Democrat
than he himself (1ilD was.
Addressing himself to the Repub-
leans, Mr.. Hill said: | commendhim
to you; take good care of him; nurse
him well. Laughter. How doyou
like to have among you worse Dem
ocrat than | am?
Mr.. Conkling-oh. no, not worse,
better.
Mr.. Hill, scornfully-Oh, a better
Then my friend from New York (Mr
Conkling) is better Democrat than
| am.
Mr.. Logan-He could not well be
a worse one.
Mr.. Hill-Never before has there
been such an exhibition in the Senate
where a gentleman shows his democ.