The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-05-03

respectable stepping-stones for him; for
he brushed past them in moment and
fastened to put this struggle in the Sen.
ate upon higher ground. At one bound
he leaped to the height Of this argument
and told US that this apparently unim-
poftant struggle. which is going on here
is in fact struggle for political power
in Virginia; that it involves in its con-
sequences possibly the installation Of the
republican party in that State and the
destruction of the democratic party
there, ..., 49,,
My colleague we'll knows for what he
is contending. He well knows the prize
which is put before the eyes of his par
ty in this contest which is going on here,
and, with courage which will always be
found equal to his desires, he hastens to
avow ii. It is, he says, a struggle for
political power in Virgins, and it is this,
be says, which lends interest to this con
test in bis eyes. ggae 49, 69
Sir, / am glad we have at last the SIM
pile truth stripped of all its DISCUSSES. 1t
is no longer question Of the election
|of officers of the Senate !; It is no longer
|a, question Of equipping the Senate for
the discharge Of its public duties it is
no longer question OF our convenience
and comfort in the transaction of the
public business which is committed to
us /; it is no longer question of reward.
ing political favorites or reinstating faith.
full public servants. 1t is struggle for
political power in the State of Virginia
at the coming State election; and the in.
strumentality to be used in that struggle
isr to clothe Captain .Riddleberger with
all the dignity, and all the Importance,
and all the moral influence which an
election to high Office in the Senate,
which close affiliations with the Repub.
licar members OF the Senate, which this
unanimous vote of confidence by every
republican Senator can give him; and
also to strengthen his hand for ths. con-
test in Virginia by giving to him the
power of appointments of the sixty or
eighty or . hundred employees Of the
Senate, and the power OF dispensing the
patronage ola hundred Of more thou
sand dollars which will accrue in the
shape of salaries before the next meeting
of Congress- 1t is struggle for politi-
cal power in Virginia, and the instru-
mentality to be used is to give to this
gentleman s'brigade of the employees OF
the Senate, paid at the public expense, to
perambulate that State and to watch and
win Legislative elections in doubtful dis
tricts by gifts and promises OF Offices
and salaries, and everywhere to aid in
swelling the aggregate of votes for the
Governor and other State officers We
ere fold that at the next election in Vir-
ginia q Legislature will be chosen which
will have the selection of nine members
of the supreme court OF that State, who
will hold their Offices for twelve years,
and all the fiscal State officers, and per-
haps the magistrates and judges of the
county courts. .....-zS,
This, democratic Senators, is the strug.
gle to which you are invited. Ithas
been proclaimed by the leaders OF the
republican party; it has been defined so
that it cannot be misunderstood by my
colleague. This is the gage of battle
that is thrown down to rs and venture
in your presence to take itup.
II for the purpose Of acquiring politi-
cal power by this means one-half of this
uewly.e.ected Senate can neglect the bu-
siness ,ofthe country in confirming NOM
nations; if for this purpose the newly
installed administration can sit supincly
by, and see its friends refuse to consider
lis nominations and equip II for the dis
charge Of public duties, to which task we
Of the opposition constantly invite you
II for this purpose grave Senators Can
invoke the doubtful and dangerous pow
ere -of the vote OF the Vice President to
exc out majority which the States and
the people have denied to you on this
floof, then we Of the minority can use
all the rules which have been established
for the projection and guidance Of the
Senate 10 prevent the Contamination OF
that great wrong.
We viii invite you ever and continu
ously to 60 to the discharge Of the pub.
lie business. We will submit to your
guidance in the order and the transactior
Of that business. We will faithfully and
| intelligently and industriously consider
the nominations which your committee
report totus. We will consider accord.
ing to the best of our ability and advise
according to our best judgment as to tht
treaties which your. committees submit
TO our action; and when the public bu.
siness is, all discharged we will unit
with you in adiourning the Senate; bu
we will not permit (much less will VI
aid) the desecratlon OF the holy thing
upon that altar, consecrated to the dis
charge of great public duties, sacred t.
the discharge of great public trusts, ded
icated to the service of the country, AMI
therefore for the service of all parties
but for the partisan uses Of none, to b,
dragged from their high places andmad
the instruments Of petty political warfar
and the spoils of petty partisan triumphs
We will prevent this wrong. You MAJ
call it improper; you may call it irregu
lar; you may call it revolutionary; 20,
may call it reasonable; but we will pre-
. vent this great wrong, as we think it,an,
then we will appeal to the people, ou
, masters and your masters, to decide th
eight between u.s.. 1t ts4 as544 'asi,
jlMr. President,this is no longer ques
ton of q. free ballot and fair count
The Senator from Illinois, Mr. Logan,
J, who is not just at this moment in hi
place, with his frey eloauence, SCENE
to desire for day to give that phase t
this struggle. The junior Senator fror
Massachusetts, [Mr. Hoar, who know
how to depict every passion so strongly
from mournful lsmentation to frey in
dignation, and who lends to the intensit
, Of his speech SO much by his voice an
bis manner and his tone and bis facts
expression, seemed to me to speak wit
rather bated breath when he remembers
that he approached this subject OF a fai
count fresh from the triumphs OF th
electoral commission In the latter day
of this debate we have heard very littl
; of free ballot and fair count. It wa
7 too broad a farce. Since when, l shoul
lx,s ~ , - - ~