Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-01-29

use the patronage to debauch his State
That is the charge. He did not join thu
Republican party because he believed in re
publicanism; he did it because that party
had patronage to bestow; he did it because
he believed in the cohesive power of public
plumber. In the 'base bargain that ht
made to subiugate Virginia there was di
abolical illustration of seething the kid IL
its mothers milk. He sold himself and hi
State. Had he hid his head in shame; hae
he shown any symptom of repentance,
would, said Mr.. Diggs, be the last man tt
put this black indignity on him. Not only
did he sell his vote, but he deserted his
post of duty in the Senate. He came here
to the city of Richmond, and ''that malign
influence put it's tentative nose' into every
enterprise that was preached. These facts
are notorious. If Malone wasn't here to
influence and corrupt legislation, why was
he here; why was he here for five months !!
His presence here showed cowardice in
Washington or a determination to control
legislation at Richmond. Malone, said Mr..
Diggs, found deeper depth of infamy and
treachery than any who has gone before
him-certainly in my day.
Mr.. Diggs next attacked Malone on the
caucus conscience bound pledge.
The power thus acquired by Malone by
unprecedented malignity and cunning, and
welded with mastery hand, our Common
wealth brought to naught and taught the
world that the spirit of liberty is invIncible,
and made what Mr.. >Newberry calls the Sec
ond Declaration of Independence, and
earned again the motto she bears upon her
seal and flag.
| Mr.. Diggs said that as Malone was in
power bigoted tyrant, so in defeat he be-
came a whining spaniel. Then it was he
committed the objectionable sin; then he
threw the vile foam of his wrath in the
faces of his countrymen; then he accused
them of murder, rapine, all forms of vio-
lence; thon he wrote down his State as
great desert where the dirk, the pistol, and
the bowie knife were the only arbiters of
right and wrong, and where the ballot
boxes were toyed with, and where State and
Federal power were alike disregarded.
These vile ISLANDERS are SO devoid of all
semblance of truth that / will not dignity
them with any. citations of proof This is
his record, which centuries of usefulness,
if it were permitted him, would not wipe
out.
Mr.. Diggs announced that he would sup
port the resolution. He desired to make
Mahone's infamy immortal; he wanted to
put it on indestructible record, where after
ages can read it; and concluding he said:-
Let his name be gibbeted in undyins
shame.
Let his career be pictured in unfading
black
Let his record be written in everlasting
memorials as warning to trading politi-
clans with more cunning than integrity.
Let his soul be sunk beneath turbulent
pillows of vitriolic fire, ever rolling in
wrath. to the wild music of a bowling
storm.
God forbid that the fortunes of my coun-
try should ever become SO desperate as to
make his services valuable, or her name
sunk SO low as to make his character re-
spectacle. (Great applause
Mr.. Diggs spoke nearly an hour.
He was followed by Mr.. Townes, who
spoke about fifteen minutes, saying that he
was under no obligations to Malone, but
thought it absurd for the Democrats, who
never voted to send him to the Senate, and
always accused him of being Republican,
to get mad with him for supporting that
party.
Mr.. TONNES said that the time had
been when he [Townes] went to Mecklen-
burg court he babe his wife goodbye, not
knowing but that he might be brought
back home in in box.
Mr.. Wickham said that he was a Repub-
lican when Mr.. TONNES was Democrat.
Mr.. TONNES said he never gave Demo-
cratic vote in his life.] He pronounced
Mahone's charges false, and was surprised
to hear that the gentleman's life was in
danger in Mecklenburg. The only intimi-
dation that Mr.. Wickham knew of in the
late campaign was in his district, where it
was exercised by colored men towards col
ored men who wished to vote for him.
Mr.. Wickham closed with ferveRt- ttfi ittr
Ute to the people of Virginia, especially in
their hours of adversely, and uttered his
indignation towards Malone, who had so
grossly libelled her.
Mr.. Koiner replied with some warmth to
a remark that MIR. TONNES had made bring
ing in the name of Henry Clay to bolster
up Malone. Mr.. Koiner pictured Clay and
then Malone. After that he went on to
express his surprise at what Mr.. Townes
had said about his fear of his life in Neck.
lenburg. Mr. Koiner said that under the
circumstances he would with = eat pleasure
vote for the resolutions, and would consid-
er it one of the best acts of his life. He
expressed his gratitude to those of Mahone's
late political associates who had come out
aud repealed the monstrous charges made
in Mahone's manifesto.
Mr.. Bailey followed in opposition to the
resolutions, and in defence of Malone, his
political friend" With reference to Ma
homes ''pronunciamento," Mr.. Bailey said
that Malone was not alone responsible for
it. The Readjuster Executive Committee
stand hla fO, md .,
by nearly every leading Readjuster in Vir-
ginia.
On the question of the Danville riot Mr.
Bailey said: 81 believe that the Danyille
massacre was the legitimate result of a.
cold-blooded, premeditated, and prearrang-
ed purpose to bring about collision be
tween the whites and blacks, and that the
circular issued from there shortly before
the election was the cause. "The inno-
cent blood of these unfortunate negroes
cries aloud from the ground and their ghosts
will not down, but will linger unbidden
along the pathway of the old Bourbcns. ("
Further on Mr. Bailey spoke of .sBourbons
and nigger-klllers.
Mr.. Meredith, in replying to Mr.. Bailey,
stated that Mr.. Bailey had said words here
that he would not dare to utter outside of
this chamber.
Mr.. Bailey asked what the gentleman
meant.
Exactly what l say" answered Mr..
Meredith.
Mr.. Bailey retorted that if the gentleman
would walk out of this chamber he would
repeat his speech to him.
Mr.. Meredith said that he could not be
misunderstood; that he meant what he
said, and held himself responsible for it.
but that at this moment he did not care to
be interrupted further
Mr. Meredith declared Mr.. Mshenc's
statements false, false as false could be- and
he was surprised to hear the Senator from
Washington county say that they were
true.
Mr.. Bailey said that he did not assert
that they were true, but that he believed
they were true.
Mr.. Meredith further on said that Vir-
ginia had never been disgraced until Ma
hone and his satellites-sucha as the Senator
from Westinghouse possession of it. and
that talking about ''dirt eating"-if rumor
be true, no man living had had more exer-
else in that respect than the gentleman
from Washington county.
n