The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1884-02-07

peared to him SO thoroughly unprece'
dented and outrageous in all parts
that he had written to the Fedora
Judge before whom the cases were
tried, inquiring If it could be posi-
BILE that the scene which must have
followed the expression of Mr.. You.
mans sentiments, was tolerated By
him in Federal court of justice. He
had received reply in which the
correctness of the report of MIR. You
mans speech was endorsed and the
newspaper accounts Of the resultant
controversies between the counsel
confirmed. Under the circumstances
he was quite surprised to believe that
the people of South Carolina had
thought it worth while to allow the
Federal court to exercise any juris-
diction within the borders of the
State. Southern chivalry was we'll
known to be peculiarly adapted to
all forms of social courtesy and pro-
badly had suffered a severe strain in
allowing the Government to prose-
cute offenders against its laws at all.
He was more surprised to find that a
Federal Judge had allowed an officer
of his court, such as Mr.. Youmans in
his capacity of counsel was, to in
lge In stricturet hgainst the repre-
sentative of the Government, which
were calculated to bring the Federal
authority into disrepute in case
where it was merely attempting to
vindicate the majesty of its laws.
"Under the circumstances" inter
jected Senator Butler, cit was then
the presiding judge who was most to
blame"
"Ah! very well, sir" said Mr.. Ed
munds. 'But as the only arguments
which can be brought against the
confirmation Of Mr.. Speer are based
upon the objection manifested by
South Carolina Democrats to his rep
resenting the National Government
among them, it is for the Senate to
say whether the Federal Judiciary
has any rights in the South which
the chivalry of that region are bound
to respect"
Senator Butler responded to this
language in proper terms. He dc
Tended Mr.. Youmans and the law
abiding character Of the people of his
State with the force and dignity Pc
culiar to him, and intimated that Mr..
Speer had gone out Of his way as
principal counsel for the Government
in the election cases, to insult the
Democracy Of the State as being
cognizant Of and responsible for all
violations of Federal election laws
within the boundaries Of the State as
part and parcel of their political
policy. He unhesitatingly gave it as
his opinion that Mr.. Speer was un-
fitted, both by character and legal
attainments, to properly fulfil the du-
ties demanded Of a United States At
torney in so important district as
that of Georgia
1t was a. this point that Senator
Lamar arose and speaking in the dig
nitied and careful manner which us,
ually characterizos his utterances in
the Senate, denounced the statements
of Mr.. Edmunds as premeditatod and
wanton insults to the Southern poo
pie generally, and particularly to
their representatives, in the Senate.
81 am a member of the Judiciary
committee" said Mr.. Lamar, "and as
such ] propose to vote for Mr.. Speer's
confirmation; but | shall not give
him my support upon the ground
which the Senator from Vermont has
based his, but for reasons directly
contrary. Mr.. Speer is probably the
best representative of his class
though a very poor class it is-and i
we defeat his confirmation the mex
appointment to the vacancy now ex
isting will probably be worse. | shal
vote for him as a matter of duty, /
not as a matter of pleasure. | have
read the newspaper reports of Mr.
Youmans' speech, and while | do no
endorse it in its entirety and unde
the same circumstances perhaps woulc
not have given utterance to it my
self, have no hesitation in saying
that it could not and did not com
pare in vindictiveness and falsity t.
the political harrangue which l hav
Just heard from the Senator iron
Vermont,I wish to say to the Senate
that | am compelled to regard hi
atterances as deliberate intent t,
insult the representatives OF tn
Southern people on this floor"
ooh, no, no." said Mr., Edmunds
rising briskly from his seat, 81 trus
my friend from Mississippi will acqui
me Of any such intention"
"Well," said Senator Lamar, "i
spite of the disclaimer of the Senate
| must adhere to my declaration tina
his extraordinary speech at the be
ginning of this debate could hav
had no other purpose in view than
desire to affront the Southern mem
bers Of the Senate, and to hold theI
up to the view of Senators as the III
blushing defenders of political po
icy, than which no worse can be COZ
, celved of, in this or any other cour
try. l positively believe that his il
: tention was to insult, individual
f and collectively, every Southern Ser
ator on this floor, and, so far as | al
personally concerned, must say
the Senator that he has succeeded.
Il i-WaSltington Post.
rI - .