The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-13
Senator Stewards Reasons fol
Supporting the Nomination.
The Great Southerner's Record tho
Best Evidence of Loyalty.
Republicans Cannot Vote Against
Him Without qualification.
A Patriotic Appeal for Complete
Reconciliation Between the People
of the North and South-An Issue
Should Not Be Made.

The Hon. VIM. NJ. Stewart, one Of the
Republican senators from Nevada, has
written TO one OF his constituents very
clear and strong statement why he should
vote to confirm the nomination of tha
Hon. l.. O. G. Lamar as justice ci the su-
preme court OF the United States. Tho
main portions OF MI. Stewards admirable
letter are given below:
"a person TO be fit for justice of the su-
preme court must be good lawyer, man
of high character, and attached TO the prin-
ciples of the constitution of the United
States, Mr.. Lamar posscssesall other nec-
essary qualifications and has, since the re-
construction measures became an accom-
plishcd fact, adhered to and acknowledged
their binding force and obligations, and all
vised others to do the same, aud is now
prepared in good faith, without any men-
tal reservation or evasion, 90 take the re-
quircd oath to support the constitution,
and to he governed in his official actions
by that instrument, including the three
amendments adopted and ratified as the
verdict oi the war. lie is qualified 10 be a
justice OF the supreme court OF the United
States, notwithstanding that prior TO tho
adoption OF the reconstruction amcnd-
mcnis and during and before the war he
was an open and ayowcd seccssionist, and
that hc bore arms against the government
Of the United States to dissolve the Union
aud maintain the Confederate States as an
independent government.
"Whcn Mr.. Iamar's nomination vas
frst sent to the Senate. convcrsed with
many senators, and found little or no OPP
position To- his confirmation. II was gem
orally conceded that the time had arrived
when the south must he represented in
| the supreme court, rs in every other de-
partmcnt of the government; that nearly
u quarter of century had elapsed during
which time no representative southern
man had been appointed u justice Of tho
supreme court.
~ had nothing TO do with the selection
! of Mr.. Lamar lie was appointed by tha
! President uf the United States cle,ted by
| ths people. But |, In common with many
! Republican senator's, egiricd il as fortu-
nate the selection had been made oi lha
only southern man whose record was con-
| spicuous ~ an advocate ui the validity
! oi the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments, and who had uniformly
advised the people OF the south that thesa
amendments wen as stcrd and binding
~ any part uf the constitution. Many ot
the rpmonsimnccs which | have read
against the confirmation of Mr.. lamar
allcgc that he holds opinions adverse 10
the validity ui ihcrc amendments, and
that the principles which they involve ara
not safe in his hands. Judging Mr. La
mar 10y his record, which j. the only critic
rion by which public men can Do judged,
the suggestion that ho j. not incyokahly
pledged Ia support the whole constitution,
including the reconstruction amendments,
Is untrue in fact, aud must have bccn
made in ignorance Ol his uticnncCs ON
many important and conspicuous Occl-
sions which | suppose had attracted uni
ycn,al attention.
"Whcn a member Of the Scnnic. in tho
year 1874, my attention, with that Of many
other senators, was attracted 10 Mr.. lamar
by his culogy on Charles Sumner, which
| thrilled both houacs oi Congress and tho
country with admiration for its cloqucncc.
IL exalted sentiments, aud its appeal to
both sections OF the country. Those who
were the most enthusiastic Ia the praise of
that speech were then the most ardent u
Republicans. and distinctly call Ia mind
tribute paid by the Hon. George 4.
llonr, then member OF the House of
Rcprcsc natives and now senator from
Massachusetts have Il before me now
In the North iw0iorH ReriOB Tor January
aud February, 1875, volume l2d, IL is rs
follows
"'Thc eloquent words Of Mr.. Lamar, ot
Mississippi, ~ touched the hearts oi tho
people 0l the north that they may be hdrly
said 10 have been OF themselves an import
ant influence in mitigating thc esir,nge-
mcnis Of u generation
"Can mom honorable ambition Ia
cherished than that of mitigating the cs-
arrangements u gcncmtion between thu
citizens of this great republlc2 II such
praise was due To the man who had dono
this, what must bc thought and said of
those who seek 10 revive and perpetuato
thoso rcscntmcnts? | have not forgotten
the silent attention with which the scn-
aion and representatives IN Congress lis
tened TO Mr.. Lamar's speech, about tho
same time the eulogy above mentioned
was delivered upon the attitude OF tho
people then recently In nbcllioni their o
feelings and purposes with reference 10 tho
Union. and the now order oi things,
wherein ho made the following notable
uiicmnccs, which, upon examination, 1
find In the Congressional Rood OF tho
ilrst session Of the Foriy.third Congress,
Appendix, Page i26:
'"rhcy 1.-THE southern pcople) fully
recognize the fact that every claim 10 tho
right Of secession from the Union Is ex-
tingushcd and eliminated from the Amer
lean system, and no longer constitutes
part oi the apparatus Of the American gov
crnmcnt. They believe that the institu-
tion Of slavery, with all its incidents and
ailinities, Is dead, cxtinguishel, sunk into
q sea that gives not up liz dead. They
cherish no aspirations or schemes Tor IFS
restoration. With their opinions ON the
rghtfulncss Of slavery unchanged by tho
events OF the war, yet ~ an enlightened
people accepting what Is inevitable, they
would not, II they could, again IDENTIFY
their destiny ~ people with an insu,u-
tion that stands antagoni1cd 20 utterly oy
all the sentiment aud living iofccs Oh
modern civilization In q word, they m-
gard the new amendments TO the consutu-
tion which secure to the black raoey'.<en.
shin and suflfagc 10 bc not less sacttd and