Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-10
Judge sener's Views of the Federal EIec-
tion-Iaw.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va, /
AupuSt l. 1890
III n = II u III ~
August 1, 1890.

w
August 1, 1890.
To Colonel John ". Volt, Editor Free Lance !:
Nv aversion to appearing IN print touch
ing matters Of political character will ex-
cuse this communication, but since you
and myself were devoted followers OF that
successful man, General Grant, IN his cam
paign of 1872. the Republican party OF the
country seems to have lost sight OF the bat
tle-cry of that campaign, Let us have
peace.n and to DO devotiug its time and its
energies TO ascertaining in what way STRIFE
between the sections can best be fomented.
The election bill recently passed by the
House of Representatives and now pend
ing in the Senate is. in my opinion, fatal
error, whether viewed from tho stand
point of party success or statesmansnlp.
II is demanded by no great political neces-
sity. 1t is put forward at a time when,
but for the southern Republican contln-
gent in the House, Mr.. Reed would not be
successor of Andrew Stevenson, Henry
Clay, and other great men in the speaker
ship, and but for southern senators. Ma
hone and Riddleberger, and Higgins, of
Delaware, the Republicans, until the re-
cent admission of new States, would not
have controlled the American. House Of
Peers-the United States Senate.
AIMED AT THE SOUTH.
The South at which the bill is aimed IS
fairly ablaZe with industrial development.
Capital is seeking investment and labor 10
finding profitable employment and remu-
neratiye returns from countless industries
in the southern land. which tell at once Of
contentment and prosperity. forgetful-
ness of the past and looking to the dawn
of the new day rather than return to the
night of Bourbon hates and now almost
forgotten theories of governmental poll
cies.
Fifteen years ago | spoke and voted in
the National House of Representatives
against force bill. At that time such con-
spicuous statesmen as Garfield, Hoar OF
Massachusetts,, Dawes, Hale OF Maine,
Kasson. and Charles Foster voted likewise.
Then specie payments had not been re-
sumed. and financial distress brooded like
a hideous nightmare over the whole land; ;
but since then on every hand new indus
tries are springing into life and generous
returns to northern capital are pouring
forth from southern FORCES and furnaces
The colored men in the South IN the
main are happy. They are acquiring pro-
perty and knowledge mainly by taxation
levied on the whites. They are living
peaoeably and neighborly with the whites.
WHY introduce this experimental yet GER
tain-to-be destructive fre-brand? Who
dare tell the good it will accomplish? Who
NAV not anticipate the evils that Will fol-
low!
THEORY AND PRACTICE.
The South is back in the Union, theoreti-
cally with her equality restored, but prac-
ticaly laid under heavy tribute by the
taxation of her staple product-tobacco--
to pay northern pensioners, whilst south
ern claims are almost entirely ignored and
repudiated. Aye, more! In this year of
peace. twenty-five years after the
cessation of hosti.ities between the
sections, the President of the
United States is surrounded by
Cabinet no member of which 10 in any
sense representative southern man, and
that same President, when recently called
| on 90 select Democrats for appraisers or
general merchandise-an Office IN TACT con-
trolling the entire import trade OF the
country-not only selected no southern
Republican for such place, but absolute
! ly took three Democrats from the land
which, it is claimed by the Presidents
supporters, is ruled by fraudulent ballot.
The truth is, as you and | have talked 1t
over. they have no use up North for south
ern Republicans except occasionally and
when ia deep despair "to point q moral
and adorn tale" by which elections may
be carried and the Republican party be re-
| tanned in power.
And now, at time when General Hamp-
| Ton Is aDOub DtllH uOMu III pOulA
| Carolina and Gordon is imperilled in his
prospect for future honors in Georgia,
| there is no need of statutory laws OF a
| Federal nature to teach these States their
| duty.
| The Republican party may be in jeopar-
| DIV, and am not prepared TO gainssy 1t or
TO wish otherwise If its policy IS to be one
! of hate.
| The Democratic party is seeing IN the
| South some of its best leaders stricken
| down. At such time the sober. second
much better than Federal overseers."
| And now, when England stands menacing
her best developed child, there is need OF
unity and harmony in this broad republic,
rather than legislation that will produce
| irritation and division among the arms
bearing people.
EwABr AND COLEMAN SHOULD BE STRENGTH
ENID.
Fwart end Coleman, who with the
courage # manly hearts and boldness of
speech opposed the Federal election bill.
should be strengthened by those who
through good report and evil report since
the war have followed the Republican flag,
and who bore it, AS you and have done,
1 at the cost Of sacrifices that are well
known.
There are southern men, il may be, either
from this kind of legislation openly, or
else with the opportunity of opposing it
from high perch, who failed Of their duty
at supreme moment; but if it be true that
scratching Russian you find a Cos
sack" it may be equally affirmed as true, /
think, that among those of southern birth
who favor such legislation are some, at
least, who are hardly yet weaned in the
Republican nursery or tull grown in that
faith.
The alien and sedition laws are remem-
bered only TO be mathematical. Let every
| patriot pray that come what may the cup
Il 81 E.lo Il L. Il n l.