Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-10-17
TINsLEY & MORTON, Proprietors.
FRIDAY MORNING. OCT. II, 1890.
A PARALLEL FOR SPEAKER REED.

A PARALLEL FOR SPEAKER REED.
1t has been stated by several Democratic
speakers in Virginia notably by Congress
men who spoke from the experience of the
past session-that there had been no parallel
to Speaker Reed in any legislative body IN
this country at any period of its existence.
This is an error. In the History OF Re
construction in the State of Georgia by
Hon. H. G. Turner, NJ. c., of that State,
in ''Noted Men on the South" on pages 49,
1873 will be found a counterpart of Speaker
Reed both in birth place. girth and parlia-
mentary proceedings. The occasion was
the reassembling of the Georgia legislature
by proclamation of Gen. Meade under an
act approved by President Grant, December
22d, 1870, ''tO promote the reconstruction
of the State of Georgia. and on proclama-
tionof r. B. Bullock, then Republican Gov
ernor Of the State, and later fugi-
tive from the State. The reorganization
was made in order to apply the test oath
and turn out Democratic members Of the
legislature who could not take that oath,
fill their places with negroes, aud thereby
secure Republican majority to pass force
bills and rob the Treasury of Georgia, all
of which was done in due form and order.
The following is the extract:
Gin the House the organization proceeded
under the auspices of A. l.. Harris, who was
detailed by the Governor for that purpose.
Harris was a man from New England, of
enormous girth, who recognized only such
motions as he desiiel, and directed the pro-
ceedings according to his own taste. His will
was the only parliamentary law. A member
insisted that the House had right to choose
its presiding officer even for the purpose of
organization. Harris suppressed him. The
incident did not appear in the Journal, be-
cause he also took control of the minutes
(Senate Election Cases, p. 29s.) He had the
rolI-call made by General Meade, called, and
as each member appeared, Harris directed
him to be sworn alone When he grew wea-
ry, or for other reason wished to terminate the
session for the day, he announced that the
House would take recess until time
named by him.
1t is worthy of mention that the legisa-
ton of the legislature thus organized by
such man, and by such methods, had pre-
cisely similar object as the legislation of
the last Congress directed by Reed. When
the organization Of the Georgia Senate was
made-at the same time Harris was ''organ-
izing" the House-a person named COnley
was chosen it's President, and in his speech
on taking his seat he said: 1.-The Govern
ment has determined that in this Republic,
which is not, never was, and never can be a
democracy; that in this Republic, Repubh-
ca rs shall rule" 1t may also be worthy of
mention, that this remark was made on
January 10th, 1870, and that on Christmas
eve Of that same year this same "democra-
Cyl carried the State by an overwhelming
majority and that Harris and Conley, and
all the rest were instantly dismissed from
the scenes through which clothed in little
brief authority, they had strutted, some
Fastening off in the character Of fugitives
from justice, flying from misgoverned
overtaxed and plundered State.