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

minority was destroyed anu nOb oue
left to voice the will or the wishes, the
interests or the sentiments of one-hali
of the people of the United States, in
all important measures directed to the
collection of revenue, the expenditures
of public money, the disposition of all
those measures which lead to prosperi-
ty. The conservative sentiment and
principles which underlie our structure
of government would be set at naught,
and the minority might be fritted away
under the powers given by the rules
and under the Constitution to the
Speaker of this body and the majority
having acquired absolute control could
not only if they pleased increase that
majority so as to be entirely satisfactory
for the measures they proposed, but
they might destroy the minority of the
House altogether, and the minority Of
the people of the United States might
be left without representation on this
floor, and might cry in vain for relief, or
ask for measures for their prosperity
and the glory and the power OF this
Government. For they would he in the
hands of an inexorable majority. Take
one step more in the carrying out of
such principle and you have revolu-
ton.
Mr.. Speaker, if ever revolution comes
to this great country; if the Liberties,
the privileges, and the power OF this
great people should ever be broken, it
will not be by war it will not be on ac
count of social relations, or caste, or
privilege. Through this body is the
highway upon which bad and design.
log men may travel to revolution when
in the future they may dare to strike at
this matchless structure of human gov.
ernment. And | emphasize when we
put on the ermine, when the partisan
and the politician becomes judge, let
it be spotless. In Gods name let us be
judges and not partisans. Let US sink
the character of political representatives
of class or privilege or color, and feel
that we represent people. The Con
stitution makes us judge fairly when we
come to judge, and not seat a man be.
cause he is black man, nor exclude II
man because he is q white man. IL he
is black man having legal rights SUI
perior to a white man, let us seat him,
because he is a man created by the
same Providence that created the white
man. That is surely logical, as we have
made the black man our equal before
the law 10y amendments to our Consti
tuition. And if in our political struggles
we reach for the black man for political
purposes delude, degrade, and begulle
him, to oppress and bring him back to
q mental bondage, a deerer degradation
to him than the physical bondage from
which he has been relieved, we degrade
ourselves and humiliate our pride Of
superiority of race, and fai. to elevate
him.
Mr.. Speaker, take care that your
committees report properly, after full,
impartial, and Just consideration of the
law and evidence. But who on that side
of the House has read the evidence as
detailed 10y the gentleman from Massa.
chusetts, who has INDUCED in the bitter.
ness, in denuncations, IN charges OF
talsehood and of perjury? Who has
read that evidence lut himself? In
the answer made hy my distinguished
and youthful colleague from Pennsyl.
vanid you have perfect uHd entire an
swer to the gentieman's allegations.
Mr.. Ranney. vii! the gentleman
allow me to ask him question ?
Mr.. Cartin. What is 1t you want?
Mr.. Ranney. Have you read the re-
cord in this case?
Mr.. Curtin. No, | haye never read the
record, and do not believe it as you
state 1t. | take my knowledge Of the
facts from the statements oti my col.
league, Mr.. Belitzhoover, and to his adj
mirahle and trenchant speech what |
say is Il supplement.
Mr.. Rinney. If you have never read
it, then do not deny it.
Mr.. Curtin. am contending for the
right of freeman and the Representa-.
ton OF freemen. The bitter allegations
which have been made here come most.
ly from vitiated political desire to as
sert power. If the contestant was elec.
ted, although he is dead let US act as
judges and expel the distinguished gen.
tleman who Is here in his atat and rep.
resents a constituency. If the contest.
ant was not elected, our duty will be
performed when we declare as Judges
fairly and honestly on the testimony as
adduced, and not be betrayed into the
adoption Of the sentiments, principles,
and declarations OF the committee with
out thorough and fair investigation in
the absence of which all the allegations,
rhetoric, and defamation to which in
this and the other contested rights to
membership drivel into unmeaning
farce, and the consumption of time
which should be given to the very i'm.
portant business OF the House yet to be
disposed of.
That there was something wrong and
out of place is shown by the fact that
the learned and distinguished chair.
man Of the Committee on Elections Mr..
Calkins yesterday, when majority had
decided, a painful majority brought
about under circumstances not the
most creditable to this Government, got
up in his place and stated that in bis
conscience he did not believe that the
man now sitting in his seat had a
right to occupy it, and notwithstanding
his declaration, and he of all others, as
chairman of the committee, should
knOW the majority acted and tho con.