Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-29

VI ~ b1AC 1b&01G44 CAlQlU6ID LlG
United States Senate, but was
beaten by more moderate
Republican, the late Joshua Hill. lie next
appeared as the appointee of the carpet-bag
Governor of Georgia-the prince of carpet
baggers, Bullock-to the Office of Chief
Justice of that State, which position he
subsequently, resigned TO take the Presiden-
cy of a railroad company. Now, that gen.
tleman was here as the leader of the Demo
cratic party, and his explanation was that
the Democratic party had erred
now it had righted itself
and rallied on his (Brown'sl grand reserve
of undying and unchangeable principles.
Laughter. That gentleman had alluded
to rumors of bargains. If there were any
truth in these rumOrs, then he (Mahone)
was indebted for any advantage he might
draw from 1t to the fact that the Senator
from Georgia did not know of the opportu-
nifty. Laughter. On that point he (Ma-
hone) would answer all the inuendoes
of Senators distinctly and gravelY, and with
q due regard to the dignity and decorum Of
the Senate. He hurled back with scorn
and contempt every imputation that his
action here had been induced by any other
consideration than that of the pro-
and of the welfare Of the whole
country. He avowed his responsibility,
his proud responsibility for the introduction
of Mr.. Riddleberger's name as a candidate
for office, but professed his readiness TO
withdraw that name IL it were true (as re-
port had it) that the Democratic Senators
would then Withdraw their opposition
to the election of the officers of the
Senate. The opposition to Riddleberger,
he said, was in view of the coming election
in Virginia. 1t was a desire to uphold
Bourbonism there. 1t was a desire to
uphold the party which, while openly pro-
Tossing obedience to the Constitution, held
by mental reservation purposes hostile to
the Constitution, and which did not believe
in the right of the freedman to vote. 1t
was to uphold the party that, while nomi-
nally accepting the Cincinnati platform,
In which full vote, free
ballot and an honest count had
been demanded, had introduced cOnstitu-
tional amendment requiring that no man
should cast ballot for any Office on any
account until he had paid a capitstion tax.
This effort was to uphold the party which
denied the Democratic creed, and which
had undertaken by methods of indirection
to disfrsnchise the colored man. That was
the purpose He had never given that de-
Dial his asset, either in public or at the
ballot box.
For one he anted DO political serfs In
Virginia. He stood prepared here on the
floor, by the courage of the men who were
behind him at home, to assure the country
that in Virginia, at least, there should be
free suffrage, a priceless suffrage, fun
vote and an honest count. IApplause in
the galleries. 1t was true, he said, that the
readjusting party had instructed its cleo
tors for Hancock and English, but it
was equally true that it had forborne, and
purposely forborne, from iustrueting for
those candidates as the nominees of the
Democratic party. The purpose of the Re-
adjusters was to stay the retrograde move
ment Of years, SO as to bring Virginia back
from number fifteen in the grade of States
to her original position in the sister
hood of States. Far be it from
him that his action here should
be controlled or influenced by caucus
whose party had waged war on his constitu-
ents, and whose party success was held
paramount TO what he conceived to be the
interest of Virginia and the welfare of the
whole country. The Rsadjusters of Virginia
had no feeling of hostility, no word of
unkirdness for the colored man.
BY no act OF his was
either the clash of arms or his freedom in
voked. He had not measured his duties by
the consideration of self interest. Not so
much could be said of the distinguished
statesman who urged the South to re-
sist. The Readjusters of Virginia had not
forgotten her abandonment from that
quarter and needed no counsel as to her
duty. 81 am here,n he said in conclusion,
''to assert that Virginia, the mother of the
Union, reueWs her old-time faith and devo-
tion to the government that her honored
sons aided to construct, and in furtherance
thereof propose to give my best abilities
and to exert my every energy" [Arplause
and Kisses In the galleries.
At the conclusion of his speech Mr.. Ma
hone was warmly congratulated by Messrs.
Conklng, Sherman, Dawes and other Re-
publicaus. A number of dilatory motions
were voted down, but, at p. M, on mo-
tion of Mr.. Dawes, the Senate adjourned
until tomorrow.
THE SUPREME COURT.
The Supreme Court of the United States
convened at noon to day, but, on account of
the absence CT Justice Field, whose mother
in law, Mrs. Swearingen, died in this city on
Saturday night, the court was left without