National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-18
Weeping and Wailing and Crashing
of Teeth.

The Democratic papers continue to
blubber over General Mahone's refusal to
betray the Virginia Readjusters by acting
with the Bourbons under the lead OF
Hampton, Vance, Bayard, and Barnum
They admit that all the regular" Bour-
bon Democrats in the Virginia Legisla-
ture voted for Senator Withers,
giving him ffty-three votes. Mr..
Wickham received the straight
Republican votes. No man elected as a
Democrat or as Republican voted for
General Malone. No member was mis-
led. The Ben Hill tactics were tried on
at the time the balloting took place in
the Virginia Legislature. Every effort
was made to frighten away from his SUD-
port the men who had ceased to be par
tisan Democrats and become independ-
ent Readjusters. In this connection we
quote from the proceedings in the Vir-
ginia Legislature when the latter was
elected Senator:
In the House Mr.. Nicol Democrat called upon
the gentlemen of the other side to say if General
Malone goes to the Senate will he go there to act
with the Republicans or with the Democrats.
Mr.. Bailey tReadjuster)- Democrat will you
vote for him?
Mr.. Nicol said he would not.
Mr.. Gibson (Democrat) reiterated the question of
Mr.. Nicol. He said General Malone was coali-
ton candidate, and not the representative of the
Virginia Conservatives.
Mr.. Payne Democrat) before the roll was called,
wished to know if General Malone will operate
with tho Democrats RpruhiicaDS in Congress or
does he wish to carry readjustment there? Heun-
derstood they were called upon TO vote for man
with the knowledge that his party dare not state
his political principles.
Mr.. DiekensOn (Readjuster) supposed General
Malone would be shrewd enough to know the in
terest of Virginia and to pursue it.
Mr.. Payne (Democrat) asked if the gentleman
would be good enough to give the name and pur-
pose of the party.
Mr.. Dickinson (Readjuster) said the name was
Readjuster, and the purpose and policy to turn
Virginia from the downward to the upward road.
Mr. Payne (Democra0 said there were but two
parties in Congress; with which one would Gen.
eral Malone operate?
Mr.. Dickenson insisted that General Mahones
opinions were well known, and he would never
disgrace Virginia nor misrepresent her people.
Mr.. Payne (DemocraD said as General Malone
was to go to the United States Senate without any
avowed principles, he hoped he was not to be in
the market.
Mr.. Gibson Democrat) said with Mr.. Paynes
permission he would answer: II say he goes to
represent no party no principle, no people, but
simply Billy Malone"
Mr.. Chamberlayne (Democrat) then made Wig
orous but Intellectual effort to ascertain General
Mahone's status, after which the debate was closed
and Malone was elected.
1t will be seen from these extracts that
Malone was not the representative of
either the Democrats or Republicans, both
of whose candidates were defeated for the
Senatorship.
Now let Senator Ben Hill make as good
showing as to the course he pursued at
Miledgeville in 1861, when he voted for
the secession of his State, after being
elected by old Wings and Douglass Dem
ocrats to vote with the Union men against
II Traachery nuothal