New-York tribune., 1882-04-28
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON.
THE AFRICAN AND THE CAUCASIAN.
SPEECHES IN THE HOUSE BY THE CONTESTANTS
IN THE LYNcH-CHALMERs CASE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO rHE rklBUNEi

Ne
House of Representatives almost invariably ask to
have pointed out to them the seat formerly occu-
MED hy General Garfield. In that seat to-day sat
a neatly attired, bright colored man, John L.
lynch who caims to have been elected 20 Congress
fro-, the shoe String District of Mississippi in 1880
Mr. Lynch was born thirty-fve years ago. in Con-
corIa Parish Louisiana, opposite Natchez, TO
which place he made his way upon its occupation
by the Unicn forces in 1868. He served two terms
in the Mississippi Legislature and during the last
one was Speaker of the House Of Representatives.
He has also served two terms in Congress. being
elected the hrst time when he had barely reached
the constitutional age to be qualified member of
the National House of Represen tatives. Mr.. Lynch
was elected TO Congress again IN 1876, but by
fraud in Mississippi and injustice in Washington,
denied admission. and his seat was given to
James r. Chalmers, who has since managed to
retain il.
The presence of niger" on the floor of the
House even a. q contestant. was distasieful 10
many OF the Democrats land their discomfort found
loophole for expression when he rose to speak.
good many colored people had gathered in the gal
leries TO enjoy the unusual pleasure of hearing one
Of their race address the House. and rs be rose
there were murmurs of applause among them. Ii
was instantly checked by the Speaker, but
not soon enough to prevent the obscure
MIR Moulton, of Illinois-a testy white-hared
old gcntleman-frOm starting up and demand
ing that the galleries be cleared on account
Of the disorder" Nobody needed Mr.. Moulton's
ridiculous demand. With the exception Of
q half-dozen Democrats who affected Indifference.
every member present paid careful attention to Mr.
Lynch's speech-a compliment which Its merits
fully deserved 1t is seldom indeed that the House
hears better speech than that Of this Mississippi
colored man to-day. He spoke with great delIbera-
ton and earnestness, and III many passages, a., for
example, when ne dwelt on the doctrine that the
suppression of the colored Republican vote IN the
south is no greater crime against the negroes than
it is again st representative government.
After giving a vivid picture Of the fraud intimi-
dation and violence By which the coored people ot
his State and of the South had been Systematically
deprived Of their rights, Mr. Lynch said i'll con-
cusion:
regret compelled that it seems TO be the
setted determination OF the bourbon party al me sotn
thar we must either have ceRtraized Govern
the roveTprtl in one wav the win in another For it
is iucunrover,ihle and ncisputab.e fact that he
city and the purity o the ballot IS the chel ll4I III
the structure uust neces arly fall speak oday not
tie behalf OF my party hut IN behalf OF my country
hope that - eak u 4 ss partisan Dat rs patfiol II
tne party which / belong ana TO which ! ,ed thai
alleg ance cannot commend itself 20 the approha-
uon ard support OF nal '1ty ol the Al,icdn Pcopu
upOn it merits, then Il doe- not deserve sncceSs
: s.
tue eOu.hern aes throAgA ana ny "lch InIt c,1a @
made solid IN its support -of one or thc
nas. ana vii be des1royed The people Of this great
country are intel gent and patriotic 20 tolerate
continuance Of sucn Odrages upon our elective system
Such methods aDd sucl lraccea are conI'aiy 80 sLIe
spirit the hich we live and 10 the civilization
plrts Of our country Nor d. -onth East and West, and
4 and classes or our people peace happr
ness and fiaterna feeling upon sucA conditions
VII secure 10 al exact justice ana tue equSI prolec
0u o the aw is tine aim the object the nope ana me
,f.r
accOmp -hment of these grand and noble purposes ana
the attain ent ot these connnendaDie ana patriotic
ends invoke. IN the language OF the immortal Lincoln
the considerate judgment Of mankind and the gracious
favor VI Almighty Cod
Mr. Lynch spoke with great el0quence and was
repeatedly greeted with hearty applause; and when
he concluded ne was surrounded and warmly con
graduated by Republican members. General Chal-
mers sat through il all listening atteniiYely. but
with manifest sgus Of uneasiness and when be be-
gan ms reply il was evident that he was bo,h en-
barrassed and excited. In manner and style as
wen the matter OF his discourse. the Caucasian
cOntrasted most unfavOrably with his negro OppO-
nent. He began by describing Mr. Lynch and those
who advocate his right to seat ia the House a.
co-consplrators," aud within the hrst two minutes
found ume to announce his opponent a. a " per
iurer" and 10 stigmatlze him as " this political
f1ulteaur Nobody can complain Of General Ch4l-
merys lack of candOr unless IL be his party friends
the House. lie has been complaining of the general
lack Of knowledge Of members respecting the merits
of nis case in the difficulty that be had experienced
in getting them 70 take an interest N IT, ana 10
Illustrate u SAID Early IN the session went TO q
prominent Democratic member OF thls body and
asked him 10 examine my case. He replied that he
would rather nor DO that for he was AFRAID he
might find something there that would compel hlm
10 vote against me- In other words this prom-
nent Demo. Ia. perfectly willing TO vote for
Chalmers and dreaded to look into the case lest
his conscience should drlve hm 10 vote the other
Mr. Chalmers most unexpectedly luege@ " stall
colo nv fIupVv
that the reason Why Lynch did not get more /
votes was that. as delegate 10 the |
Chicago convention be had declined to join the 3O6
and that many cOlOTed voters In the ShOcstrng dis
trct had therefore refused 10 vote for hM Tor Con-
gress. Cha liner dId not Omt u lnstlfy the Missls-
slpp plan on the ground that 4 was an exercise
Of the sacred right Of self pTeserVIti0n'
General Chalmers i not an attractive speaker, and
by the time e had finished today hls audience was
MT. Hammond, Of Georgia, who spoke for /
Chalmers and comp ained because this case had been
"precipta ed upon the House1at the close Of The |
fifth mouth Of tle session, and Mr. Denote. u In
diana, who made a short but effective speech Tor /
Nj Lynch.
when Messrs. Calkins and RObeson will speak for /
Mr. Lynch. and Mes>rs Garlic, Hooker, House and |
Tucker for Mr.. Chalmers vote Will then be |
Jealous efforts induce the Democrats TO resort TO
illDusteTiug which does not now appear probable. !
1t Is reported tonight that at least three Demo
Gratis Will vote TO Lynch, but that also appears
not to be probable.
TIE RIGHT AND THE WRONG OF ThE WAR !
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBCNE-l
WASHINGTON. April 27.-rhe Objectionable |
feature of the Anthony rule in the Senate described
in W ashington dispatch published in The TRIBUNE /
of this morning. was removed by amendment, /
which was adopted to-day without division and |
the measure % repeal that section Of the Revised !
Statutes prohibiting ex-rebels from being ap- |
pointed to positions IN the Army was discussed. |
without any Limitation to the length |
OF number of the speeches. The debate a re-
marksbe ono for this session. in that it dealt with