Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-05-03
SENATOR FRYE'S SPEECH.
DELIVERED IN THE L. s SENATE, WED
NEsDAY, APRIL 20, 1881.
A FREE BALLOT AND A FAIR CouNT.

aoiS NN XIV VI idONSNNN SnoVAu ho'S NJ =
me silent during this session simply as
''looker on here in Vienna: but find
that Unexpectedly | am obliged to leave
on Saturday next for protracted absence
to attend to some legal business which |
accepted when | knew nothing about this
session; and there are some things which
it seems TO me ought to be said that are
still unsaid, and therefore hope the
Senate will excuse me even if 1t does
seem to be a slight breach of modesty on
my part
Some Senator on this side yesterday in
the progress of the discussion, | think It
was the Senator from Pennsylvania, Mr..
Cameron. exhorted the Senators on the
other side 10 be brave men. Now, sir,
have been sitting here looking on since
| have been q member of the Senate, and
i, seems to me that those words Of the
Senator from Pennsylvania are mere idle
words they are wasted words. never
saw in my life, never read of braver
men than are today on that side of the
Chamber.
Here we are, sir. in this extra session,
with the Constitution over Us, with duties
before vs., the Democratic party in the
Senate clearly in the wrong. knowing
themselves to be In the wrong. knowing
the Constitution to be against them, we
on this side undertaking TO do the very
duty which the Constitution prescribes,
and instead of the Senators on that side
putting themselves on the defensive, they
stand here and carry the war into Africa
day after day, and | find Republican
Senator after Republican Senator driven
70 q defense: they on that side wrong,
these Senators right. All, Sens,ors, there
Is bravery enough in the distinguished
Senator from Georgia Mr. Brown when
he rises in his place with great dignity
and with the Constitution OF his country
in his hands. reads day after day lessons
to the Republican Senators on their duties
under il. Confession Is sweet for the
soul. and We; confession to the public, to
the world. sometimes requires higher
degree Of bravery than anything else; 1t
was brave act on the part Of the dis
,irguishcd Senator from Georgia when
he in open Senate admitted that he had
been within few years Republican IN
the State of Georgia, that his life had
been in peril as Republican, that he
then became q Democrat, and from that
day TO this has enjoyed perfect safety.
Nr. BroIrR.-Mr President
The Tic,- -President.-Does the Senator
from Maine yield to the Senator from
Georgia;
NJ. Frye.-Cer,ainly.
VI. Brown.-I hope the Senator irom
Maine will permit me 10 interrupt HIM
minute. said no such thing. do
no, presume he intends TO misquo,e me.
Nr. Frye.-l understood the Senator
from Georgia 10 say that there was danger
when he was Republican in Georgia
nr. Bro,rn.--No, sir, | did rot say
that
.Nr. Frys.-Will the Senator kindly
tell me what he did say l so under
stood him.
lr. Brotrn.-If l had copy OF the
Record containing my remarks | would
tell YOU exactly what said. The sub
stance of it. however, was this: | was
asked by q Senator ON that side whether
these was not a time when had Repub
hcan proclivities-l believe that was :he
language he used-when II was not safe
for me 10 20 without guard, or some
language to that purport. replied that
there was a time just after the war, when
| had taken my position on reconstruction,
when it was probably not safe, but that
period ceased two years before | reunited
with the Democracy, and was as safe
as any one was.
Now, have no objection to telling the
Senator, if he will permit me TO inter-
rup, him long enough
Mr. Frye.-The Senator has replied
to the question, and has made the cor
rection which be desired 70 make; ana
will proceed.
lIr. Brolrn.-I ask the Senator 10
permit me 10 add this said nothing
about having been in danger when | was
a Republican, and that when returned
10 the Democracy was safe, for | dis
tinctly stated that two years before
returned was as safe as ! had ever been,
and | have been ever since. My return
to the Democracy had nothing whAteNer
TO do with the want of safety. There
was but single occasion, if the Senator
will allow me 70 state it, where | was
unsafe that | know OF. There was one
meeting | attended where was informed
that nv life was in danger. | went on
and spoke as usual, however, saying that
| had made the appointment. and intend
ed TO I'LL it, and / was not assaiied, and
there NAV have been no real danger.
though had reason TO believe there was
on tina, occasion. That was the only one.
Dir. Frye.-Well, Mr.. President, it
is brave even to admit as much as the
Senator from Georgia does now. As to
his Republicanism, know myself ne was
a Republican, for | had the pleasure OF
hearing him deliver a very fine speech In
1868, think, in the Republican conven-
ton.
lE. Brorn.-I have not denied that
acted with the Republicans in 1868.
M. Frye.-Mr. President, there was
one other thing which required courage