The morning call., 1890-06-27
THE HOUSE.
Spirited Debate on the National Election
Bill

Bill
WASHINGTON, June &c. - The House
agreed to consider the National Election
Bill until o'clock, July %, when the
previous question will be ordered.
There was considerable confusion and the
debate became somewhat personal, The Ser
geant-at- Arms having to restore order.
The bill passed granting fifteen days
leave TO clerks in first and second class
postoffiees.
The regular order being demanded, Lodge
of Massachusetts began the debate upon
the National Election Bill.
Lodge made an eloquent speech in favor
Of the bill, and at its close was warmly con-
graduated by the Republicans.
Hemphill of South Carolina argued that
the bill was unconstitutional; it was not
national but sectional, and there was no
more iniQuitous provision in the bill than
the one providing for the appointment of
an unnumbered number of men, absolutely
under the direction of the Supervisor. He
examined in detail the provisions relating
to Supervisors, and said the whole bill
seemed framed against their votes and In
favor of the Supervisors. A good deal had
been said about the new South, but what the
country needed was new Norti-a North
that will take view suggested by facts,
and not by preconceived preJudlceS; that
does not believe that it has all the virtue,
and the rest OF the country none; that
would not think the Anglo-Saxon in the
South always in the wrong when trouble
occurred with the African. What was the
use OF talking about freedom In Kansas
when the State had been so gerrymandered
that 147, coo Democrats of Kansas had never
been represented on this floor?
Kelly of Kansas asked: How do you ex-
pect to get Democrat here when there are
,ntf fan IN, pnr 10 MT tias int tha St,tn
Hemphill-lt does not matter about how
many Democratic counties there are Demo
Gratis have never been represented here. If
there were fair representation on this
floor, the proportion would be 163 Demo-
Gratis 154 Republicans 5 Prohibitionists and
Labor men. When the Republicans of
the North had taken the beam out of their
own eyes and fixed the laws so that the peo-
pies wish might be honestly expressed
when they practiced what they preached
Southern Democrats would receive them
with open arms. Under this system what
was it proposed to revive? The people of
the South had been robbed some years ago
by picked villains of the North. backed up
by the United States Army. The South did
not want to be put in that position again.
We" Mr.. Hemphill continued, ''know we
must either rule that country or leave it.
Now for myself before the people of the
United States and before God, in all rever-
ence. | swear We will not leave. Ap-
plause.l l do not hesitate to say that The
cOlOred man has as many rights as have,
but he cannot have his rights and mine too,
and this law is intended to put him again in
control of the South intended to awaken
that lace prejudice which is fast dying out;
intended to bring about that constant irri-
tation and clash between the two col0rs in
the South which will retard its growth, and
be destructive to every principle of human
government"
Hemphll was loudly applauded by the
Democrats as he sat down, and nearly all
of them pressed forward to congratulate
him.
Rowell of Illinois addressed the House in
favor of the bill. He said the number was
not few of those who believed that six
years ago Cleveland was counted into the
Presidential chair by corrupt officials at the
polls in his own State, to say nothing of the
suppression of votes III all the South, aud
the number was increasing every day of
those who believed it. Ii that belief hon
estly existed, ought it not to be the wish Of
every representative of the people to SO
conduct elections as to make chance I'M
possible of such belief in the future? Itwas
everywhere in Northern circles believed
that the black vote of the Southern States
was suppressed and the seventeenth amend
ment annulled.
Oates of Alabama, Crisp of Georgia, Lewis
OF Mississippi and others took occasion at
this point to state that the elections in
their districts we're perfectly fair
Rowell declared that in some districts of
the South bodies of armed men went from
poll to poll and destroyed ballo,-boxes. In
others boxes were stuffed and true ballots
thrown aside, and in others military COM
paDieS were organized to fire cannon morn
ing and night ITO let darkies know there is
going to be a fair election" The cabins Of
negroes were fired into, and if that were