The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-04-30

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prescribed while reconstruction fOurishe
over them when the President, the Sci
ate, the Supreme Court, the Federal jud
ciary, and the State governments were q
in the hands of the party represented u
the Senators on the other side of til
Chamber, and 50 the solid South" cOul
impress none of its character, none of il
influence upon tho action of this Govern
ment or any Of its departments I; when
was represented alone by the solid Nortl
and by the INSCRIPTIONS and irresponsible
dependents of the Republican party froI
the South.
Sir. will you have the picture OF wha
this Government was when "the soil
South " was not here? | will give ii I
you, although 1t was presented to the Sci
ate on yesterday by the Senator from Sout
Carolina, MIR. Butler.l A distinguish
Republican Senator, distinguished for hi
learning, his juridical ability, his elC
quence, his high scholastic attachments, hi
devotion to the Republican party, and hi
intense ,irreeOncilable hostility to "the soli'
| SOUTH" has painted the picture of tn
period when this Government was no
burdened with the hated presence of thi
accursed South:
My own public life has been a very brief an,
insignificant one, extending little beyond the dura
|
mat brief period l pave seen five judges OF hgl
court Of the United States driven from office b.
| threats OF Impeachment for corruption or mai
| administration.
Since "The Solid South "has been here
can you point Inc to five judges of the Fed
eral courts that have been driyen from
their high places upon charges of cOrrup
ton and maladministration
have heard the taunt, from friendliest lips
fab hq-
In the East to take part with the civilized
world in generous competition In the arts Of life
the only proddct OF her institutions in which sh,
surpassed all Others beyond question:
No question about that the one single
thing in which our Government
surpassed all others beyond question
At that time when ''the solid SOUTH was
not here,
was in her corruption.
Twill read further:
When the greatest railroad Of the world, blnd-
ing together the continent and uniting the Two
great seas which wash our shores, was finished
have seen our national triumph and exultatiou
turned TO bitterness and shame by tho unaniniou
reports OF three committees Of Congress-two oi
the House and one bece--that every step Of that
mighty enterprise had been taken IN fraud.
"The solid South" was not here when
that shame fell upon the nation and il
seems to me, sir. that when men with this
record fresh in their memories clamor
about the dangers and the vices of +" the
solid South their cheeks would mantle
with shame.
have heard in highest places the shameless
doctrine ayewed by men grown old In public
Offices that the true way by which power should
he gained in the Republic is to bride the people
with the Offices created for thci" service, and the
true end Tor which 1t should he used when gained
IL the promotion of selfish ambition and the graft
hcaton Of personal revenge.
Sir, that taunt touches no man on this
side Of the Chamber.
hay. heard that suspicion haunts the footsteps
Of the trusted companions Of the Presidents
One thing is certain, Sir, and that since
the solid South has been here no such cor
ruption has reyeled in the high places of
this government. | do not say that il was
her influence which eliminated it, but l
do say that cOntemperaneOusly and stimuli
taneously with her presence it took its
flight; and l claim that she has been no
obstacle TO the restoration of purity in the
administration of your public affairs.
A noted Lobbyist is reported TO have re-
marked that " since these Internal Demo-
Gratis had cotton here to Washington the
business bad dried up" Said he,
- in the name of God, do you expect gen.
tlemen of the lobby to live on oxygen"
Mr.. President, SO much has been said
about "the solid South" and so much
against il rs u justification Of these extra
ordinary combinations and affiliations, that
propose to go little furtbur into the sub
ject. Ii Is charged that by ''the solid
Souths" allying itself with the party that
constitutes the minority at the North, IL
seeks to get possession and control Of the
and to WELD it, power for its
own selfish purposes. Sir, If the Northern
people cannot see for themselves the fall |
lacy of this view and the unreaty of the |
Danger alleged, no argument that a South
ern man can advance will avail anything. |
Il Is easy to see that IL the North chooses
10 WELD the Government through the in
of either political party it |
San do so and hold the solid South " in |
IN impotent minority--a minority as impo-
tent in the Democratic party us it is in the |
Government at this time.
The idea that the South under any COM
Of parties will ever again get con- |
troll of this Government and direct its pow
ers independently Of the will of the North |
Is Of all ideas the most absurd and chimer-
cal. The North is the majority and the |
dominant section Of this country. The |
vast preponderance of her population and
resources will for an indfenite period con-
rol the national policy, whatever party
nay be in the ascendent. IL the majority
# the thoughtful people Of that section
leem change In the national administra-
my relative change In Southern power or
influence. Six Northern States alone have
greater electoral vote than all the solid
SOUTH and all these States save one have
,iven Democratic majortIes at different
lines within the last few years. Should
hese states for the time being choose to
AXE up the reins of the Democracy all the
'outh united could not impress its dis
inctiye policy, IL it had one, upon Demo-
ratio caucus.
But, Mr.. President, IL is not true that
here is, as distinct organization with
distinctive policy, any "solid South in
his chamber or in the other. There Is no
UGH element here as factor In legislation.
iou cannot point to any part Of the legis-
Jews or the purpose of Southern Senators
8 a solid body. THERE'S a greater diver
ity of sentiment among them upon every
ubject Of national interest than there Is in
he representation of any other section of
he country. l could give illustration after
Illustration. My friend from Indiana Mr..
Toorheesl this day stands in closer aflilia-
ion upon the subject OF the currency with
he Senator from Texas than he does with
ny Of his ncighbors across the line of his
wn State. | could give measure after
leasure In which IL win be shown that the
ffinities of political utilization and legisla-
we cooperation are In no sense Of the term
ectionaI in this body, and that Southern
len exhibit variety and diversity and I
-eedOm and an independence in their
Jews and sentiments and actions which are
lown among Senators from no other see
on of the country.
There Is one point, and one only, upon
-hich they are solid, on which they will
,main solid and neither Federal bayonets
or Federal honors will dissolve the soil d.
v. They are solid in defense Of and for
lie protection of their own civilization,
leir own society, their own religion
yainst the rule Of the Incompetent, the
,rvile. the ignorant, and the vicious.
1 will now submit n proposition to the
enators on the other side on this point
N not going into the history Of the causes
hich led to a solid South, but here chal-
nge any Senator upon that side, with two /
RECEPTIONS that win not name, TO write !
irly in his own language the condition Of .
lie Southern people In any state while un-
sr earpet-bag government; will consent ,
at he shall write the hi story OF that gov !
the character of its officials I; the '
.ture Of its administration and the opera !
On of its laws I; say will consent for any
.nator upon that side Of the House, with :
1T two exceptions, (who, out Of respect to
EN-, will not name,) t0write the history
the Republican government in the South,
nature, its character, its influence upon
c happiness and prosperity OF that pco-
c will agree to accept his description
1t In his own language; and then will
bmit the question 10 any tribunal IN the
Grid, to any community IN the world, ms
whether there is anywhere on earth