Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-02-07
Senator Sherman's Speech.


the recent Democratic eutrages in Vir-
ginia and Mississippi, will meet with
general public commendatiOn. While
disavowing any desire or intention to
open up sectional questions, or to renew
old strifes, the Ohio Senator insists that
Congress has duty to perform in Sc
curing to all citizens of the United States
their constitutional rights. The Consti-
tuition provides that 'aIl persons born or
naturalized in the United States, and
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, ale
citizens of the United lStates." And
again, the same organic law sets forth
that mo State shall make or enforce any
law which shall abridge the privileges
or immunities of citizens of the United
States" Referring to these and CORES
Senator Sherman very properly claims
that if the essential right of citizenship
be Overthrown by State, or by the peo-
pie of State, with the sanction of the
local authorities, within the limits of
that State, it is obligatory upon Congress,
as the legislative power of the United
States, to provide additional safeguards.
Every well meaning citizen will endorse
this view of the case, and agree with the
Senator that the national government
should exert its every power to maintain
the essential rights of citizenship with
in all the States just as it would guard
and protect the unquestiOued rights of
American citizens within the dominions
of the most powerful nations of the
world. Mr. Sherman does not pretend
that the Danville massacre or the MUIR
der of Matthews in COpiah county, Miss,
was due to any action of the State au-
thorities, but he does not hesitate to ex-
press the belief that in both States there
had been organized conspiracies to sub
vert the freedom of elections, while
violence and murder were the resultant
effects of such conspiracies. In referring
to the outbreaks in Virginia and Missis-
sippi. Mr.. Sherman said:
"If the events at Danville were the
result of a chance outbreak or riot be-
tween opposing parties or different races
of men, they might properly be left TO be
dealt with by the local authorities, but
if the riot and massacre were part of
the machinery devised by 4 party to
deter another party or race from the
freedom of elections, or a free and open
expression of his political opinions, tnen
they constituted crime against the na-
tional government, and the highest duty
of the government was to maintain, at
every hazard, the equal rights and priv
ilegeS of citizens. If the events in Co
piah county, Mississippi, were merely
laWlesS invaSionS of individual rights,
then. though they involved murder, as
well as other crimes, they should be left
to the local authority, and if justice
could not be administered by the courts
and the citizen was without remedy from
laWlesS violence, then he must fall back
upon his right of self defense, or, failing
in that, he must seek home where his
rights will be respected and observed.
But if these individual crimes involved
the greater one of organized conspiracy
by party or race to deprive another
party or race of citizens enjoyment
and unquestioned rights, accom- panied
with overt acts, with physical power
sufficient to accomplish the purpose, then
it became "a national question which
must be dealt with by national gov
ernment."
A careful Investigation will show that
the Virginia massacre was the result of
Democratic plot, entered into for the
purpose of terrifying the opposition aud
securing a Bourbon majority in the Leg
islature. But for certain dastardly deeds
of crime. deliberately planned and car
ried into effect by the Bourbon element,
there is not shadow of doubt but
| Virginia would have been carried b, the
coalition party, consisting of Republi
cans and Readjusters. In the Mississippi
matter there is no attempt at conceal
ment. Matthews was ordered to keep
away from the polls under penalty OF
| being shot. The Democrats of Copiah
county publicly assumed the responsi
DilitY of his assassination and rewarded
his murderer by electing him to public
office. If these things are to GO unno-
ticed and unpunished, where, then, is the
security of the individual citizen? and
what becomes of the rights of the white
and cOlored Republicans of the South |?
The q eat North, which throttled rebel
lion and gave freedom to an entire race,
will heartily endorse the uUterances of
the Ohio Senator, in standing up for the
constitutional rights of Southern Repub-
licans, when he says:
"If the time had come when the MEM
bers of the Republican party through
whose agency largely the existence of
the government had been maintained
could not enjoy their constitutional
rights, and were murdered at the ballot
box without fear ON the part of the mul-
derers of punishment, were driven from
their homes by outrage and terror, and
that black and white alike were subject
ed to Ostracism and injustice, and ;is a
party distranchised, then, indeed, was
patient inquiry demanded and full,
open, and manly assertion that The
rights and equallties of citizens should
he maintained and enforced at every
hazard"
In concluding his speech, Senator
Sherman made a declaration which will
find response throughout tho entire
loyal North. Referring to the Southern
ex-rebels, he said:
"In the investigation l would seek
every pallation or excuse for the conduct
of the people complained of. l would
give to their motives and to natural
feelings of mankind in their situation
the most charitable construction.
would give tu them all the political pow
er they ever enjoyed, and without un-
Kindness. or pains, or penalties, or even
reprOaches. 1 would extend to them ey.
cry right of favor OF facility enjoyed by
any citizen in any part of our conntrv