Year: 1879

ssSeCreI lnFeStiSatlOn,o says BlamFs


When Blaine's resolution was up
for consideration in the Senate on
Monday before Christmas, an
amendment providing that the in
vestigation should be made with
open doors was defeated by a strict


party vote-the radicals voting for
secret, dark lantern investigation,


while the democrats favored full
light of day. Mr.. Blaine even said


there never had been fair election
in the South In reply MIR. Ran


som hoped the Senator from Maine


Mr.. Blaine) would pardon him, but


he did not think the Senator used a
peaceful argument when he declared


there never had been a peaceful
election in the South. IL he (Mr.


Ransom) thought proper he could


take up that glove and persuade
any patriot to retire from such a
position. He would not say that it


was calumny- upon the history of
the Southern people. He would
leave it to the calm judgment of the
Senator from Maine to correct at
his leisure. 1t was too late for the
Senator to declare in discussion, to-
day, that there has never been fair
election in the South. He assured
the Senator that this was not the


way to secure peaceable relations
in this country. When this resolu-
tion came up this morning. a mo-
ton from an eminent Democratic
Senator to lay on the table met
with no response on the Democrat


&c side, so determined were the
Senators that there should be free
and full Investigation. The Demo
cratic Senators from the North and


from the South showed them that
they wanted this investigation. He
(Mr. Ransom) now appealed to the
Senate and the Senator from Maine
was not this opposition to the
amendment mockery? Those who
oppose this amendment must admit
one of two things-that they could
not protect their Witnesses or their
statements were not to be divulged.
The Senator from Maine had called
for the light of Heaven to shine on
these transactions; now, when the
Democratic Senators say, "Turn on
the light" "Oh, no, says the Sena-
tor from Maine, put US in a dark
room; draw the curtains" Contin-
uing his remarks, Mr.. Ransom said
that this light of Heaven, the first
creation of lhe Almighty, is a great
protector of man. 1t is the enemy
of frand and corruption. 1t is the
light which protects our homes.
When the evidence taken by this
committee should come to the Sen
ate, let it come with no suspicion
upon it. Let it be so broad, SO
clear. that all the world will have
to agree that remedy or no RENE
dy was needed, as the case might
be. 1t would not be best for the
Senator from Name or any other
to make an assault upon the South
ern people. If there was any
thought that anything could be said,
which would provoke recrimination
against the North, it was mistake.
The Southern people had no such
purpose. Looking toward Mr..
Blaine, he said: Senators, if you
are to have war with US, it shall be
your war, not ours" He said that
twelve months ago it was in the
power of the Southern men to give
this country great trouble, but they
acted patriotically. They could
have brought on revolution. They |
could have thrown impedimenta after |
impediment in the way of the pres
ent Administration, but they did |
not do it. They never would do it.
The Southern men loved this coun-
its peace, loved its honor,
and they expected to deserve its
blessing; and if they had the power
they would not exercise it over the |
people of the North. The Southern
people desired to be let alone to
buil0 up their fortunes, for they
were as poor as sand on the sea
shore. For seven long years he
had sat here and heard his people
abused, but his duty was to bear it,
Now, when it was proposed to in
dict them, they would meet their
accusers half way and say "Turn on
the lights; see it ALL" God forbid
that they should go out to the ball
ance of mankind and down the
stream of time forever that this
American Senate declared that an
Investigation should not be made in
The light of day.