St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-07-29
Powell Speech
n y. s. House


ID v. ,. f10uS<
CONTINUED from page ~
from my soul. from my conscience
I hold nothing against the varioul
newspapers. the New York Times
the New York Herald Tribune. tn
Washington Post. the 81. L>ouii
Post-Dispatch, the San Francisco
Chronicle. all across the country
papers which for the past ri,
weeks have been editorialixing a
gainst me. The editorials thai
have been written have been writ.
ten based on ignorance, and there
are some things hope to say In
these minutes granted me under
a special privilege which I hops
win correct than.
Ia II not amazing that the same
papers which praised me at Ban
dung. condemn me for wanting n
fun democratic Army.
My colleagues, I have Just come
from the Prayer Room OF our Con-
gress. There. before the picture Of
George Washington praying at
Valley Forge. before the ancient
books Of the Old Testament and
the New Testament. I communed
with my conscience.
I come here knowing that I
am right When one II right. no
ono needs 10 tell him. because
God stiii speaks with the stin
small voice.
come knowing that you have
been placed under tremendous
pressure. because I have. All the
party whips. leaders, White
House. Pentagon. newspaper edi-
toriais. all have descended upon
you. II In an avalanche aimed at
you not being able TO stand up and
think and talk and vote like In
dependent free human beings.
During the past weeks I have
been subjected to terrific abuse
by the public press and to strong
letters from the executive branch
OF the Government. In all fairness.
I would like 10 say that not
single member OF the legislative
branch of the Government has
spoken to me or written me and
told mo that I was wrong.
Not even our distinguished
chairman Of the Armed Services
Committee. Mr.. vinson. Of
Georgia. In conversations with
him has told me that I was
wrong.
cern-du r-uWs
want TO publicly say that Mr..
vinson did his best TO bring before
us a bill which would meet the
great traditions OF our American
way OF life and meet the wishes
of this body. happen 10 be the
only Member OF tho Congress
present the morning that the
hearing was held on the vlnson
bill. ! think that you ladies' and
gentlemen should know that Mr..
vinson with absolute sincerity
tried to uphold his bill which was
called a compromise bill. but was
not. II was an American bin Ia
bill TO minimize M much ms pos
sible a Pr,isianixing of our Ameri-
can way OF life.
Tho most shocking thing is the
relcvation to me today that In
divdually you have been APP
preached by various leaders In
Congress and outside with the fol-
lowing proposal:
II you cannot vote against the
Powell amendment. 10 you can
not vote against democracy, fair
play, civil liberties. and the rights
OF man. then when the time comes
to vote, just walk off the floor or
mt least do not rise.
do not believe that the voice
Of conscience can he stified by
the hand OF man. And I do not
believe today that you my col
leagues arc going TO let your.
selves become nothing but rub
berstamps and puppets.
! have faith in you moro than
that. The American people have
faith In you; the American people
who have sent us here. the people
from your districts, And you know