National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-30

the power Of congress over the election Of sona-
tors, representatives, and the president extended
to making ana Altering laws and regulations
passed by the respective states and, ihcIolorcWhs
fuller than in respect to state elections, yes the
constitution provided that the tight OF IN peo'
pie to he secure In their persons, houses, papers,
and effects against unreasonable seatrneS ana
seizures shall not be violated that " ali persons
born or naturOlized iu the United states, ana sub
icct to the jurisdiction thereof are citZons oil the
United States;' that mo state shall make or en-
force any law which shall ahridgG 'hc prlNlcges
or mmuniucs Of liens Of the Jutlci states; nor
shall any state du rive any person Of life, bery,
or property with ut due process nt law nor deny
to any person within li5 Jurisdiction me equal
protection Of the laws and that the rlgi't OF
citizens of the United States to vote shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States or by any
state, on account Of race, color or previous con.
dtion of serviude.' IL was also declared that
Congress shall have power to make ali laws
which shall be necessary and proper Tor carrying
into execution the foregoing powers ana All Oher
powers voted hy the constitution IN the
government Of the United States or in any
department. or oniccr thereof rover Is u,so
given to congress to enforce the recent
amendments by appropriate legislation
II the essential rights of citizenship were over
thrown by n state or by the people of state with
the sanction Of the local authorities within inc
limits of stale, tnen congress as the LEGISLATIVE
power OF the United States, was bound to provide
additional safeguards and should exhaust all the
powers Of the national government TO maintain
these essential rights of citizenship wlthln the
limits ofall the states in as full and complete Il
manner US IL would guard and protect the unques-
toned rights of citizens OF the United states
within the domains OF the most powerful nations
of the world, lie could appreciate the changes
which had occurred in the southern states ana
tho natural autogonisms which would arise by
the emancIpated slaves minglng IN tne same
community with their former masters.
He could pardon the prCjudices of race, OF
caste, and even of localities, and the American
people, he thought, had awaited with great t9r-
beaiuuCe for the time when constitutional rights
would 10 respected without regard TO race or color
creed or party. II the time had come when mem
bers Of the republican party, through whose
REtNtpnpp
had been maintained, could not enjoy their con-
stitutional rights, were murdered at the ballot box
without fear on the part Of their murderers Ofpun-
ishmcnt; wcry driven from their homes by out.
rage and terror, and that black and white alike
were subjected to Ostracism aud inlustic. aud us
pa.icnt iuquiry demanded end tGl open, and
iuuly assertion that the rights and Cqualltios Of
cirizrnS should be maintained ana enforced at
Ii the Copiah resolutions were the creed of the
democratic party In tue south, then, indeed, was
They seemed TO him the very germ Of dcspotism
nnd DuTDurity. ami yet he was assured by u gen.
tlemGn friendly TO tNtm that tnty were the creed
OF nlne.cnh5 Of the patty in power in Mlssis-
s.ppI. II was glt that the groundwork of opin-
iuIis 50 uttv!ly IupuguUuL " republican instltu-
lions should lc known.
In this investigation" he said, "i would seek
every lanAdun ur excuse for the Conduc. OF the
people complained Of. would give To their mo.
lives and 10 the natural feelings of mankinh IN
their ii Uat,Ou the most ghurI aDlc construction.
! would give to thum uii the political power they
ever elJ yud, ana Wit out umkindnesN, or pain.
or penalties, n even pio"cuos. / would eN.
that is enjoyed by any citizen in any
part Of our country but when thir concession i
made To- th.m would demand that III he states
nndgrtavlr CuNr'l ms freedom Rnd equality ui
I CHS aud privileges gunr"n eed by the ,onst.tu-
ton ana tIg laws t. bU C4L.Igls, White or black,
natlNe or nntur,li2cd, poor or rich, ignorant or
by the stale government, or, IL not, that those
rights and privileges ~ all bc asserted aud main.
taiHgG iy tie national government. Upon this
issue would appeal 70 every generous minded
man, u every lover Of his country, to every one
who Wishcy O euiuy lis own rights 10y his own
freside irce i0M embarrassment To- stand 10y those
WHO, yielding 20 u,nur, tuG protection OF tue laws
in the chi ymcut Of uguu rights, viii demand the
same for Themselves md for their associates
MIR. MGu.ne ihuU addressed the senate IN sup
port of the resolutions a. iOllUws:
1t beEOoECS inc III the name OF Virginia to eN
lress rCpyC, thUt tNgrc should be found in the
conduct Of any o.tiuu OF her constituency occa.
sion for uvh luu avs that OH which tHe Icsolu.
tgn tcilre NE 'vhule i IN part pfedic@ted
That 1t ha, come II is known OF ull men l. DO
not heSila,C TO confess, hut neither for the cOnUcp
ton nor tot tle iuCrudigly proceedings which in.
s,iied and led uu 10 the Violent UyeTlhrow of the
civil law and Tic uuurUyoked brutal murder Of
unArmei Clilcus, pniuinlly conspicuous at Dan
vile, protest are the zeal majority of her people
III any wise responsible.
Ii Is dive 10 her iuir name, and 10 the love of
ut people for liberty and their respect for law,
their devuli' u t1 The ice AID unhindered eSgr-
else Of The rights ana riYiiegCs OF citizenship that
such contrary uud vicious methods such lawless
prucceGings ms characterized tie conduct OF the
Lourt on rlrty-now audlhgrc ut Dauvillc, cul.
miuHtiuS III high crime against the laws OF man
and Creator, should be CNpOSGd 81 is but just to
the uustuinVd character OF her people that both
the actors aud The, eonsp.rators IN these foul
deeds, done WITHIN her borders, In contempt OF
the civilization Of the yge and The constitution
and laws Oi bJih the state ana national govern
mcuis, should he brought to the bar Of public
opinion IL they cannot be under the hand ola
rightuus administration of Justice.
At no time IN the glorious history of Virginia,
lsIn a .l.,f
tuTC, has the sGutmenC found root with any party
that political ends may be achieved by such fes-
tering methods and means as gave rise to the
DRuv!llG mussncrG-aud the kindred proceedings,
abuses, and disorders which marked the conduct
OF that political faction. It's leaders and organs,
weary Of ambition TOR place and oi desire 10
pudiated them and their shifting principles
openly adylsedGEy IesorL which might perchance
Thut rcgu OF terror and lawlessness sup.
pressed ami superseded tue functions of the civil
Jaw IesIrairtng the liberties OF the citizen aud
exposing human life TO the disordered Will aud
irvnziGd PASSIONS of Il political mob, licensed by
the teachings Of its own political faction to enact
such outragus us trauspired at Dunviile the chlei
magistrate OF the commonwealth in his general
message to the legislature, sufficiently bears wit
Ness.
lie says; "Tho condition Of the state as to
htellh and prosperity is such that congratulations
may be exchanged, Providence has extended TO
Hnr fields genial suns aud refreshing rains. We
have hAu buuntNul harEests, Increased industry
ana growing reputation.
at j. sad to mar this pleasant picture by alluding
10 al unhappy circumstance which all good peO-
pie should pray God shall never be repeated in the
state Of Virginia. Far be 1t from the governor Of
this commonwealth, whose duties are purely
executive, 10 cHaracerl2e or critcise, in any par.
tsHn sense, The trouble by WHEN death and blood
came un tie third OF November to many citizens
in one of tue cities vi state There is no pur-
pose here u gsk your hVuoreu body TO- investigate
the matter There is uu right vested in the gov
ernuT to do 50. But the charge made against
the state aud that community-it cannot
lc denicd-is this: That men Were
billed, men were wounded, of no
matter what party, OF no matter what color; and
that contrary 10 oil lIC law serving habit OF this
people no man has been accused, arrested, or
lGied for his pGit in the killing or wounding
This Is the view Of the affair in which all good
people should Join, JudiCinl Investigation should
be haQ, witnesses should be allowed to testify,
should be mace To testify, and the truth should
be made apparent SO that the commonwealth OF
Virginia should be placed before the world us one
o. the states whch tries crimes, no matter who
The report Of the grand jury following the ca
Unity 10 which he refers but completes the
damual lc picture, That tie law there, in DAN
vile ana in that region, fails Of Tghtiul suprem-
ncy aud the power Of maintaining order, peace,
and the safety of organized society is parGlyZed,
Jet tho murders and uuproyOkcd attempts TO take
life, since the spcakiug picture AZ DanYIlle, argue
the force OF this assertion.
The time has come, II occurs to me, when this
government should consider Of its duty, where
tue local authority tails 10 protect the citizen IN
the enjoyment ul the lmmuulNeS guaranteed by
the supreme law,
hope, MI President, the proposed investIga.
tiOn VIII proceed ana that thl, whole matter may
be pTOhCd to the lotion, aud somewhere IN the
power OF the nation the cure may be found fora
political dsca iraught, as conceive, with grave
concern " lhe aRlCly OI human life, the llDerucs
otthe citizen, the peace, welfare, and happiness
Of the nation, II not Tor the integrity of our own
republican form CtgOvernmen
what consideration follows paramount ale
glance ifthC right To life and to exercise the prly
lcEcS common /" citizenship, ana 10 enjoy tic in.