The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-02-09
scovILLE's BLAST.
His Arrangement Of the Stalwart
Politicians.

The following is an extract from
Scoville's speech before the jury in
defense of Guiteau:
say, and say it without fesr,
that the movers of this prosecution
are those politicians who seek to
hide their own infamy by casting
the blame on this insane man. l
say that such men as Conkling, and
Grant and Arthur-those who made
war without justification on that
dead president whom they have
since lauded to the skies-institu
ted that state of things and manu-
factured that degree of public eN-
citement and political feeling that
rreyed on this insane man until
reason left its throne and he did
that which he considered to be per
fectly in accordance with tn ir coun
sci and conduct. / did not intend
to say this when l opened the ease.
Then | expected fair and impair
tial trial l supposed that there
wonld be no effort on the part of the
prosecution. on the part of the gen
tleman who represents the United
States government, to prevent US
from introducing all proper evi-
depce, | supposed that l would
have the poor pittance which |
asked for, and which as an Ameri-
can citizen | was entitled to, which
every criminal is entitled to until
the jury bring ip their Verdict
supposed that we would have that
which / came to Washington for
to-wit: a fair and impartial trial of
this case. But since l have found
that the evidence has been sup
pressed, that every undue advantage
has been taken that could be taken
by the prosecution, l have come to
the conclusion that | shall not spare
these mn who fomented this strife
and permit them to make a scape-
goat of this insane man, so that
they shall be still revered and hon
ored in public estimation. What |
have to say is this, and say it with
out any feeling, or if there is any
feeling it is one of regret that men
placed so high in power, elevated so
high by the suffrages of their fellow
citizens as those persons are, should
forget their high duties and de.
scend from their high positions in
which they have been placed, to the
petty and ignominious scramble for
Office which was exhibited in the
warfare waged on President Gar
field. Do you believe that this
CRIME would ever have been com
mitted if Conkling and Flatt had not
resented the nomination by Gar
field of Judge Robertson to be col
lector of the port of New York?
Here is a president, whom since his
death all say to be one of the no.
blest of the land / say it because
l believe it and because | had that
opinion of him before his death.
But these men, who since his
d ath, have been so profuse in their
admiration of him, who have said so
many things in laudatiOn of his
character and his high motives,
were ready before the ID of July
last to trample him in the dust if
they had had the opportunity. They
were ready to degrade and dis
grace him with his country. They
were ready TO see him go down in
obscurity and disgrace to the grave
if it could be done without the aid
of an assassin's hand. l admit that
Mr.. Conkling is (imitating Mr. Por
ter's style of defamation zone of
the first parliamentarians of the
age" that he is a great statesman,
L admit that; and Mr. Conkling,
with those qualities, had no right,
had no business, to engage in a pet
ty squabble about a petty office.
He waged war on the chosen repre-
sentative of the American people in
the presidential chair. Mr. Conkling
shall not shirk, shall not avoid,
shall not escape the condemnation
of the American people, if can fas
ten it on him, for that disgraceful
conduct on his part.