Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-08-03


Now, if it is true that we can absolve
ourselves from the local law of state
or of Congressional district, if we can
rise above and override State SOY vereignty
and law made under the constitution of
the State and of the United States, and
the majority of this House can be law
unto itself and settle in caucus or com.
mittee or by the dictum of leadership
the question as to who shall represent
the people upon this floor, then | say
that one step more brings revolution in
this country.
1t is not the first time that this has
been done. 1t may possibly be that this
is done to punish the people OF the
South for what has occurred in the past.
Surely | have demonstrated in my
mOdicum Of history that did not agree
with them in that terrible war. ! gave
to my country, faithfully and conscien-
tiously, the freshest, strongest years of
my life in active struggle to give the
moral and physical power of the great
State to aid the central Government in
compelling obedience to the claws.
As ] then understood it now, the
North would not suffer a disruption of
the union of States, and war was MADE
to compel the States south of the line
to remain within the Government and
enjoy its blessings and benefits. In that
terrible war 100000 strong men, and
more, went down TO death, and those
who contended against the Government
and those who gave the highest meas.
ure of loyalty to sustain the Govern.
fa han -, ha
joyment of our matchless Constitution
and its broad liberty as citizens of one
common country. 1t did not occur to
me that the great heart of the North,
when obedience to the law was com.
PEELED and the people Of that portion of
the Government which had been in in.
surrection had returned to their allie.
glance, that they would take advan.
tage to disturb their relations with col.
or and caste to plunder and rob them of
what little was left. Mr.. Speaker, |
never accorded with that revengeful
spirit or sentiment and never will per.
haps if did would not be here aud
have the honor of place on this floor.
La this case the House is brought
face to face with contest from that dis
turbed part of the United States. No
matter whether the parties to this con.
test are white men or black. The mem
hers of this House will not forget their
character as judges, remembering in
their deliberations their oaths to their
Maker, the anchor which binds the soul
Of man to God, and judge knowingly
and uuderstandingly say that no man,
remembering that he is acting as judge
and Juror, will cast his vote and turn
his back upon this contest without feel
ing in his conscience that he has perform.
ed high and important duty faithful.
ly to his fellow.citizens and to his coun.
try.
What say will, am quite sure,
go for nauGhti you have decided to
turn this gentleman out. You have
spoken on the side OF the House. and
you will speak more am express.
ing INV sentiments. While they may
not affect man of the majority Of that
side of the House, what ! will say will
wing its way to my constituency, know.
ing well that the people represent, who
live in the mountains of Central Penn.
syivania, will respond heartily 10 the
sentiments which for them now de.
clare, that they have no i'll feeling of
hostility or revenge to any portion Of
the people of this country, and to the
august tribunal of humble opinion in
that district these views OF duty are sub.
mitted for candid consideration.
Surely they regard every man within
the borders of common country as
brother. They have that sublime feel.
ing OF patriotism which extends through
out all our land, not that sentiment
which binds you to your home and State
and the valley in which you live, how.
ever beautiful it may he or to the town
or city of your residence or to your SO
cial relations, however agre cable but
that patriotism which is n holer an4
higher sentiment of the human heart,
and makes US call every American citi-
zen a brother; that sentiment which
goes out in sympathy 10 all humanity.
II the action soon to occur is designed
to punish the people of the South, then
il is time to pause, for such direction
may lead to trouble. If it is expected to
humiliate the minority on this side Of
the aisle, then there must be another
denial of parliamentary usage, custom,
and law, which gives TO the minority
rights which cannot be disregarded
without dislocation OF the great fund.
amental principles which lie at the very
foundation of our great structure Of
human government. The recollections
of that terrible war which so challenged
the brain and all the energies and pow.
ers of this Government to give to this
great people a grandeur which was quite
new TO the nations of the Old World,
which illustrated the herosm of the
American people, and has so thorough
ly established their character wherever
martial virtues receive the homage of
respect, il must never be forgotten was
fought against men, against our own
kith and kin, against American citizens.
We did not in that war direct our forces
against women and children, but against
strong, brave men and we learned
lesson we are not to forget. We found
in the great battles OF the war, our
losses on the bloody field, and the long
contest which aGitated the commerce