The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-03-29
SENATE.
Mr. Malone Replies to His Ma
ligners.
A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHT OF
INDEPENDENT ACTION.

WASHINGTON, March 2S.-All the available
space was crowded to-day at an early hour with
the expectation of hearing speech from Sen
ator Malone.
The Vice-President laid before the Senate
resolution for the appointment of Senate otfi-
GERS, stating that the Senator from Virginia had
the floor
REMARKS OF SENATOR MALONE.
Mr.. Malone promised his speech by express
ing his regret that he should be compelled
again to interrupt the deliberations of the Sen
ate. trust, he said that Senators and the coun-
try will concede that to this seeming forwardnesS
l am provoked. If L may fail to challenge the
generous consideration of those who would APP
pear to have found pleasure without justifica-
tion in their varied and ungenerous assaults
/ do not doubt that 1 shall command the re-
sspect OF brave and independent spirits here, as
L know shall among my own people. l shall
not complain of that indrection that has char
acterized the manner and method of Senators
in their illusions to me. 1 must accept that.
They comport entirely with their own sense of
manly department and Senatorial dignity, how
ever little they do with my own.
Virginia is accustomed to meet occasions
where the independent spirit of the Anglo
Saxon is required to assert itself. Virginia
has ever met with fortitude and becom ing
dignity every duty which destiny imposed,
always, however, with much contempt for
small party lines when a principle was in
volved in which her faith and honor were
committed With absolute confidence in my
loyalty to her and my dev otiOn to every in
terest OF her people, will not relax my pur-
pose here to repel every impeachment of the
constituents who sent me to this Chamber
with clearly defined duties which they and
comprehend. l was elected to the United
States Senate to do their will-not to caucus
to do its bidding. Virginia gained her title of
cold Dominion" by the broad and indepen
dent action of her own people, by the loyalty
of her sons, by the instinct of independence
without help at the hands of those who would
now interfere with her affairs. However
feebly l may express that spirit against the
gratuitous care and concern for her at the
hands of strangers-strangers to her trials, her
sacrifices and to her will feel that the
spirit of her people inspires me when 1 scorn-
fully repel for them and for myself the I'M
generous attempts to instruct Virginia
Senator as to his duty to them and to himself.
Senators should be willing to deal with their
constituents. l answer for mine. To him
that would insinuate that my action in regard
to the organization of the committees of this
body has been controlled by impure consider
ations (and 1 am 10th to believe that any
Senator has SO intended) in the language of
another I say:
eff thou Sayest am not peer
To any Lord of Scotland here.
Highland or lowland, far or near
Lord Angus, thou hast lied.''
Now permit me to say that Senators can no
more realize my regret than they can measure
my amazement that my colleague (Johnston)
should khave felt it incumbent on himself to
join the assaulting column in this Chamber
He first introduces the question of my politi-
cal consistency, or, if he prefers inconsistency
and next he would introduce me to this honor
able body not as his colleague but as re-
pudiator of public obligation. The sense of
Justice of my fellow-Senators renders it neces-
sary for me to apologize for noticing my col
leagues criticisms on the one hand and his
perversions on the other. However much he
logic of the attorney to demonstrate what 1
ought to be, am by my convictions and my
sense of honor what l am. In this particular
have largely the advantage of my colleague,
for if l take him by his record, diminutive as
it is, he neither knows what he is nor what
duty he came here to perform. (Laughter)
The purpose of the readjusters, he said, was
to stay the retrograde movement of years SO as
to bring Virginia back from number Is in the
grade of States. to Ler original position in the
sisterhood of States. They had no feeling of
hostility for the colored race. He had faith
and it was his earnest hope that the march of
would proceed until Gods great family should
every where enjoy the blessings of civil, reli-
gious and political liberty.
In conclusion, he said: l am here to assert
that Virginia, in the matter of the Union, re-
news her old time faith and devotion to the gov
eminent that her honored sons aided to con-
struct, and in furtherance thereof propose to
give my best ability and to exert my every
energy.
At the conclusion Mr.. Malone was warmly
congratulated by Conkling, Sherman, Jones
and other Republicans. The Senate soon after
adjourned.