Year: 1875

mar Of Mississippi was chosen presiding
officer, and on motion Of Mr.. Holman
Mr.. Boding of Ohio was made Secretary


Mr.. Lamar, on taking the chair SAID :
Gentlemen, in calling me to this position
of responsibility and distinction you have
conferred an honor which | appreciate
most highly and for which | thank you
most cordially. We here are confronted
with crisis in the history OF the Demo-
cratic party and Of the country which
brings to our party grand opportunities;
but It is ut the same time frcighted for us
with solemn responsibilities, and ii
we do not improve these opportuni-
ties and rise to the measure of
these responsibilities, the fruits of the
great political revolution which has
brought us here to-day will be for us
like the fruit which grows upon the ac-
cursed sea. The people ofthis country,
by overwhelming majorities of States,
have placed the Democratic party, after
long period of exclusion from power,


in possession Of the most important de-
partment OF tho Federal government


When say important, do not mean
that individual members are invest
cd with imposing prerogatives or great
personal distinction. The depart
ments of patronage, those
which hold and command
ghttering prizes of Government emolu.
ments and honors are the coordinate
branches ofthe Government which are
still under the control of our political op.
ponents. The members of the House of
Representatives have no patronage what


ever beyond that of the appointment OF
II military or naval cadet, and their com
pensation is barely adequate to life of
republican simplicity and prudential
economy. There are many Offices in the
gilt oithe Executive far more profitable
and, IN public esteem, far more dIstln-
guishcd than that of u seat in the Honsc
of Representatives. But this branch is
nevertheless under our matchless system
of government, the cornerstone of our
fabric of liberty, because it Is the only
department Of the Federal government
directly responsible to the people of the
country, and receiving its powers direct
from their hands. All other branches of
government are two or three degrees re-.
moved from the people in the mode of
their selection or in the nature of their
responsibilities; but while the House OF
Representatives is Immediately re.
sponsble to the people, all the other
branches of government are responsible
to this body. The people of the coun-
try have charged the Democratic party
in the House of Representatives with the
important duty OF bringing these co-or.
dlnatc branches of the government to
their just responsibility. The people
demand at our hands a sweeping ard
thorough reform in the civil service,
which shall be conducted in Il spirit
that will secure the appointment to
places of trust and responsibility
the honest, the experienced and the
capable There Is also an imperative de-
maud that Il avigilant examination be
made into the administration of the pub.
lie revenues OF the country and that al
the public accounts shall be, scrutInizcd
by US So that corruption may be icrreted
out and wrong doers, no matter how
high or how low, shall be fearlessly ar.
raigned and fully exposed and punished.


One OF the most pressing demands upon
us is to perfect and adopt such Il system
of taxation as will bring in the required
revenue, with the fewcSt restrictions
upon commerce and with the least burden
to the people, and that burden equally
distributed and skillfully adjusted


Owing to the cxigencics OF these two
great internercne conflicts, incident to
The life OF almost every country, and
also to a pernicious system of legislation.
our people are suffering from the evils of
an irredeemable currency. In meeting
and graphing with the difficulties of this
vital and perpleXing question it will be
our duty TO take care that nothing is done
which would impair the good faith
of the country, or tarnish the pub
lie honor, or lower or disturb
the credit OF our government, but we are
To remove those distractions which tear
the progress and check the prosperity Of
the American republic. 1t is our duty
as Democrats. 1t is tho duty, and is to
be the glory of the Democratic party,
while it controls this House, to see that
the National debt is paid, and that the
currency of this Democratic republic Is
made equal with that of any other ma
ton on the earth. The grandest aspira-
ton of the Democratic party Is, and its
crowning glory will be, to restore the
Constitution to its primitive strength
and authority, and to make 1t the protec-
ton of every section and of every State
in the Union, and of every
human being of every race, color and
condition in the land Apprehension
and distrust on one part Of the nation, Of
that portion Of the Southern people array
ed against the authority OF the Federal
Government in the late war, would be
An element OF disturbance 10 the Amcrl-
can Union, but this has mainly disappear
ed, as is evinced by your election, and in
It's stead has grown moro traternal
feeling which regards US of the Southern
States, aS fcluw.c citizens of she same great
nation. On the other hand, the people
ofiwhom | speak and Of whom | am one,
are here to day, by their chosen represen-
tatives, ready to honor any draft which
the American nation may draw upon
their patriotism or their faith in the glorv
and benefit of American institutions
I Applause The experiment which has
been introduced amongst us, based on con-
fdence in the workings of local
self-government and intended 10
solve the difficulties connected
with recent social and political trans
formations shall have an open field and
fair play and no ordinance shall be pac-
ed in the way of its vigorous develop
ment and its amplest success. Applause


We want a government that we can
love and revere and serve from the mo-
tive of reverence and love. We hunger
for patriotism which shall knit al the
people together in generous and loving
brotherhood. Let us not forget that the
great victory of last fall which brought us
here was achieved not alone by Demo.
cratic votes, but with the cooperating et-
forts ofindependent patriots OF all parties,
alarmed by the increasing evils resulting