The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-06-22
STAUNTON,
Speech of Hon. John Paul

Speech of Hon. John Paul. p
The House having under consideration the South
Carolina contested election case Mackey vs.. Dib
BILE
Mr.. Paul said -
Mr.. SPEAKER:-As a member OF the Con-
mittee on elections of this House, deem it in
cumbent to say something in defense of the
course and conduct of that committee
The case presents to this House and to tho
people ofthis country one ofthe most remark
able spectacles ever witnessed in the history
of its politics.
You have before you to-day, what A case
which gentlemen dare not discuss on its mer-
it's. Have you heard from the distinguished
gentleman Mr. Davis, of Missouri, ! who has
just taken his seat one word that asserted a
claim for MIR. Dibble in the seat he holds on
this floor on the merits of this case? No; and
you will not, because there is no merit in it.
Applause. II is fight on .echnicalities-
technicallties that would not be entertained in
magistrates courtAi in Virginia Laughter.
Why do you not strike for the truth The
object OF all these Investigations, think,
should be to see who received the indorSe-
mcnt of the sovereign will of the people; in
this case, who received the Endorsement in
the second district of South Carolina. sAnd
amy policy that is intended to thwart and de-
feat that will is wrong. Applause on the Re
publican side. know not who inaugurated
this policy | know not whether this fight is
made under the lead of Northern or Southern
Democrats
Blu, there is one thing do know The peo-
pie Of this country have arrived at that period
in their history when the popular will as ex-
pressed mt the ballot-boX shall be recognized
Applause
do not presume to speak for any other con-
stituency on this floor than my own, and l
speak for rs noble, as high-minded, as brave,
and as chivalrous a people as God has yet
made on this earth. Applause l do not
speak for any narrow district In which the
lines are tightly drawn between black and
white. | speak for district in which there
is majority OF more than ten thousand white
voters. speak for a district that embraces
the historic ''Tenth Legion" of Virginia De-
mocracy-the counties of Rockingham, Shen-
andoah and Page-the citadel of Democracy in
its most desperate battles with it's opponents,
where Andrew jackson loved to turn for en-
enlargement against his leagued enemies, and
in whose valleys and along whose hill sides
the voice Of Henry A. Wise, conqueror of
knownothingism, fingers like legend of ro-
nance; and tell you those people hayc lifted
their voices in unison with the omnipotent de-
mand of the people throughout the country
that there shall be everywhere a free ballot and
II fair and honest count. The masses of the
people are honest, there is a sentiment of JUS
lcc, "a love of fair plav IN the American heart
that has only scOrn and contempt for any eff
fort to obstruct the most seaching investiga-
tions OF the truth.
The gentleman from Missouri, mr. Davisl
surrendered this case i'll the outset of his re-
marks when he said he did not propose to dis
cuss the facts in the case. He did not pro-
pose 10 discuss whether or not Mr. Mackey re-
ceived more votes in 1880, or whether Mr.
OConn0r received the majority. No he
was going to discuss The question whether or
not the testimony ought to be received in this
case. He discussed it from the standpoint
that the testimony had been tempered with
And what an exhibition he made as prose
cutting officer! Who ever heard of making a
charge of forgery against a man. and then
when proof is called for none is forthcoming :?
Why. this Election Committee has been her
allied over this country as accessory after the
fact 10 the crime of forgery The newspa-
pers have been full of it. Oh, what campaign
documents have been written! What i'm
mortality has been give 20 Smith Great
laughter. A very unusual name but through
the activity and energy of his friends, he has
had that name indelibly impressed upon the
public mind.
Smith is always and everywhere in the dis
cussion of this case. 1t began with Smith on
his affidavit; it will end with Smith. Take
Smith out Of .i.e o"sv.s.r.d you nave no case.
But for Smith the legislation of this country
would have gone on uninterrupted for the last
ten or twelve days; but Smith is the political
Jumbo of the day. [Great applause and
laughter.l Why, sir, it is remarkable that one
little man down in South Carolina can call
.I :. w -. ,t, .IJ = los ,.u
'"9 0 ror e. n o,,ou W oma ap IN .ha ds
,r;o. rarrasontod hv NV, fr;ord M paGo Of
C'i;e,r,,;.N ro raoi;na now ohou, Sn;th rho
49, tns .alorro,,hed 70 Lmrono hot tho
A,,'a.;oar, CorTross 10 i, . doa1 Iocl, nn no1
,',. Of Ga, 1nroat In,,e.,'t"r WI
u now ~an,1nmen befara we nrocaed anv
fi,r,hcr let rs investigate smith Refore Won
investigate the conduct of the Committee on
Elections investigate the character of the man
on whose testimony YOU are asked to charge
that Committee with being accessories after
the fact to the crime of forgery, Mr. Dibbe
brought Smith here: and Mr.. Smith is no new
acquaintance of MIR. Dibble. He knew him
in years gone by. After Mr.. Smith had been
member of the State Senate of South Caro-
lima and Mr.. Dibbe was member OF the
House of Delegates in South Carolina. it was
alleged
Mr.. Dibble-Will the gentleman allow me
10 ask MN question
MI raui-oerla'h'y
Mr.. Dibble-Or rather to make statement.
l was not member OF the House OF Rep-
resentativcs when Mr.. Smith was Senator.
Mr.. Camp-It was not stated that you were.
Mr.. Dibble-Nor did l know until saw
MI. Mackey s testimony ANYTHING about Mr..
Smith. Though NAV have been a member
of a committee which mentions his name in a
list with the names of u great many others,
[ had no distinct knowledge of Mr.. Smith.
3 MIR Paul-Of course not. and what pro-
pose to do is to refresh your recollection
I Laughter
Mr.. Dibble-Let the gentleman make his
portunity to reply.
Mr. Paul-You will have annie onnortu-
n;,v Th;e oo,,,la,,on cm,;tl with uhnm von
haI M nrayions onnn,in,ance T find was re-
no,,rd 1v von 40 recaivnu y hribe Of ri Goa
In ono ;1eianca when a Senator nf Sonth Oar
DINA
,,- ,..,o
l.. nr; ": A.herloh-May ASK 'he seh''en''h
"''n Vbrglha question!
Mt .au'-Oeft1hly'
l., WI, Asnellol.,I .: ons was '''''' '''''
III, was Markeys fight poWrr
WI Mou!.on T. as not Ni''chey Ill 'no s''''o
c"lesory VIII ohii'h!
MIR. Paul-No, sir; do not find them there.
II he was, MIR. Dibble and his committee ior-
got to report him; and if such be the case, MIR.
Dihbic was derelct in his duty as represen-
tative of the people ofSouth Carolina. In an
Instance rnDOrtS