The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-06-27
.HEFLIN R0USES HOUSE.
Reply To Cannon On Civil War
Brings Wild Cheers.
SAYS SOUTH WAS PROSECUTED

In the debate in the House OF rep
resentatiyes Wednesday on the Bits
tow amendment to the resolution
providing for the election OF United
States Senators by direct vote. the
remarks OF Representative Thomas )
Heflin. OF Alabama. aroused the
Democrats to a pitch OF enthusiasm
not attained during any previous dis
cussion
Mr.. Heflin addressed the House In
reply TO ex-Speaker Cannon, who FER
vently favored the BristOw amend
ment. I'm the course OF his remarks,
Mr.. Cannon feeling referred TO the
war between the States. charging
that the South. because defeated.
had been slow TO forget and TO Tor
give. Mr. Heflin resented the as
pensions thus cast upon the south
in a speech of about three minutes
length. but which stirred the Demo
Gratis as no speech during this Con
gress has ELECTED enthusiastic re-
sponse. Mr.. Heflin said.
The war Is over. DR.. Ellis in his
history OF our country-an he Is
Northern man-says that secession
was never authOritatiyely settled un-
Ill settled by the sword. Charles
Francis Adams.O Massachusetts satd
that prior to the war the universal
opinion was that sovereignty resided
with the state. and that to It allegi-
ance was due
Our people accepted the arbitra-
ment Of the sword. andwe have sup
ported the flag loyalty; but. Mr..
Speaker. the South was humiliated
and prosecuted after that struggle
between the States. The former
Speaker OF this House, who has re-
ferred to the war between the States
has contributed TO that humiliation
and persecution. He voted FOR the
force bill and he voted TO reduce
the South's representation In Con-
gress, and he has also voted against
the election of United States Sen
ators by direct vote of the people.
He has been repudiated by the
American people. humiliated by his
own party that refused to make him
minority leader. and now he invites
upon his head the contempt OF that
section. the Southland that gave hiTa
birth
Talk Of the war and OF our fail
ure to forgive and forget. Mr.. Speak
er. when saw my country EN-
broiled in war with Spain. and / saw
fighting Joe" Wheeler stand side
by side with Gen. Shafter and Fitz-
hugh Lee. by the side OF President
Grants son. Gen Fred Grant, and
then when I saw Worth Bagley.
Southern boy. spill the first blood
In that struggle at Cuba. and the
stars and Stripes wrapped about his
lifeless form and buried with him I'm
North Carolina. said. thank God
we have a reunited country. the war
Is over
Mr.. Speaker i wish TO say that
gentlemen who represent the trusts,
who do not want Senators elected by
the people, can no longer deceive
the North and East, the West nor
South by trying to stir up strife be
tween these sections Gentlemen.
you can no longer deceive the people
with that kind OF stuff.
Stand up and show your hand
DO not dodge behind a struggle dead
and gone. The South will follow
faithfully wherever old glory bares
her beauty to the breeze. And let
us strike hands about a common Geo
tre for the good OF the republic and
bury this section feeling forever"
At the conclusion OF his speech.
Mr.. Heflin was surrounded by the
Democrats eager to impress him with
their appreciation and approval. the
Northern Democrats being especially
effusive in their expressions.