Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-08-07
CAPT. WILLIAMS SPEECH
In Support OF the National Election Law
Necessity Of an Honest Ballot.

In Support OF the National Election Law
Necessity Of an Honest Ballot.
Tnthe dcba.o in the House on the Fed
erel election bill. Capt. Williams, of the
Dayton IOhio) district, made short
from the fact that the speaker and his
family are closely identified with the
South. Following are extracts:
j approach this question With the
frank admission that look at 1t with the
eyes OF soldier of the Union army, anx-
ious to secure what I believe to be the
legitimate results of the late war, not
with the desire to humiliate the proud
people of the South. My father was born
In Virginia, my mother was born and
reared to womanhood in the shadow of
the Natural Bridge, my wife was born in
Texas, and my children were born In
Tennessee Therefore, by the ties of
ancestral blood and domestic affection l
q bond OF sympathy that would prevent
me from doing them an Intentional in
Justice. honor their bravery, admire
but deplors the determined struggle their
statesmen have made for tha last twenty
Ave wears to regain in the halls of Con-
aress what they lost ON the field Of bat
tie. But 60 an American citizen be-
lieve that the time has come when, in
elections for President and members of
Congress, the elector, white or black
shall be projected by the strong arm of
the National Government in securing
free ballot and In having an honest count.
will not here discuss whether the nation
was wise in giving negroes the right of
suffrage, but in the swirl of the battles
fierce fame the shacklss that made them
tad nd Art 1f ha
Constitution placed in their hands the
ballot and clothed them in the sacred
mantle Of American citizenship, and /
believe it to be our duty to protect them
In exercising the right to vote for the
candidate of their choice without ques-
ton and without restraint.
Besides, there is nothing in the meas
ufA under discussion that will prevent
the State Government and the people of
the South from throwing around a free
ballot such restrictions as wise states
manship would suggest as best for the
local self government of the South. But
we do insist that in electing members of
Congress the colored mans ballot shall
express his sentiments. member of
Congress elected from the South legis-
lates not for his section but for the nation;
and lie he holds his seat by fraud and
violence the outrage is not local but
national, and is felt in Ohio as we'll as in
South Carolina. Gentlemen object to
the bill because its provisions have
tendency to centralize the Government of
the people in the hands of the United
States officials. / admit that such is the
fact. I believe in strong National Gov
eminent. One Of the lessons of the late
war taught the people of the South was
that this Union Ia not rope of sand, held
together ct the will of the States, but
that it ig an adamantine chain, held to-
gether by the voice and vote Of the citi-
zens Of @ nation. by people who are
determined, If it is necessary, to preserve
one country and one flag, to wipe out
every vestige Of State rights and relegate
the doctrine of State sovereignty to the
traditions Of the past.
"The Republican party is bold, pro-
gressivs party; it takes no step backward;
its march is always forward. We believe
that taxation and representation 60 hand
in hand; that taxation without representa-
ton 10 the creed of tyrants and the
gospel of absolute monarchy.
"We believe in q strong Government,
one able to protect its citizens from wrong
and oppression in foreign land, and also
in the humble cabin Of the negro of the
South. We believe In law that is 50
4bE=T0hCuluR bAdb bhO AAOot RVWSLAuA hAu
proudest citizen is not above it's infu-
ence, and that the poorest, feehlest citi-
zen in the nation can safely rest beneath
its protecting power. There core, in an
swer to the inquiry of the gentleman
from North Caroline (Mr. Skinner) as to
what would consider stronger bill, I
answer, national election law, plain,
explicit, and we'll guarded, with heavy
penalties for violation incorporated
therein, for the election of President,
Vice President, and members of Con-
gress.
"The loyal people of the nation de-
mand that the certificates held by mem
bers of Congress shall be untainted by
fraud and violence, and be an honest ex-
preston of the majority of the voters of
each Congressional district. They have
waited patiently for the evidence of hon
est elections in the South, their hearts
have grown sick and tired of the continu-
GUS tale of fraud and violence that meets
each succeeding Congress on the thresh-
old of the Capitol, and state it as my
deliberate judgment that unless we have
an honest ballot and an honest count the
day is not far distant when Federal
election law and not an extension of the
supervisory system already on the statute
book, will be enacted and enforced"