Year: 1872

from all points. The disposition Of
some Of the Senators on that ques-
ton was plainly evidenced yester-
day by the objections which were
made to suspension of the rules
for the purpose of allowing the
Senator from Ouachita (Mr. Ray
to introduce bills bearing directly
upon it.


Mr.. Lynch-As this discussion


has taken a political turn, I was
unwilling to participate in it, but as
my motives, as well as those of
other Senators with whom I am
acting, have been impugned, I deem
it my duty to defend myself. When
the gentleman (Mr. Blackman)


states that those Senators who are
acting in opposition to him on these


political questions are not prepared
to act with him upon measures of
reform, he states that which is not
warranted by the facts. I appeal
to the record of the last and pre-
vious sessions to prove that I, as
well as other Senators now working
with me, were ready to cooperate
with him in the passage of any and
every measure which looked toward
the reform of existing abuses. 1
challenge the Senator (Mr. Black
mani to show from his record that
he ever introduced q measure of
that character; and yet when bills
are introduced by other Senators,
especially those of a political ma
ture, the gentleman gets up and
makes long speeches about the
wrongs of the dear people, "my
people" and denouncing everybody
else in general because they do not
do exactly as he directs. The
gentleman says this revolution COM
menced in 1868, and that the State
administration had been founded
and sustained in revolution. 1 tell
the Senator, in reply, that when
the first shot was fired at the flag
of our country on Fort Sumter,
then and there the revolution COM
menced; then was the first effort
made to overthrow the only govern
ment in the world that recognized
the brotherhood of man. Allusion
has been made to those who have
come from distant portions of the
country, among whom have the
honor to belong. I am not here
blythe permission of the gentleman;
l am not here by his invitation. Il
came here as an humble soldier of
the republic, to-aid in establishing
a government where anarchy and
chaos prevailed, and where there
existed a reign of terror and
tyranny more terrible than that
inaugurated by any of the
cruel Roman emperors. Now,
what is the resolution before
the Senate Simply to provide
for the appointment of a committee
to inform the Governor and House
of Representatives that we are ready
for business. If the Senator Mr..
Blackman] had been in his place
on the first day of the session, and !
had not absented himself, with other
Senators, for the purpose of break
ing the quorum, this resolution
would have been unanimously
adopted, and we would now be
transacting the business of the
State regularly. If the Senator
does not wish to go back to fort
Sumter to trace this revolution, 1
tell him it began on the first day of
the session of the General Assem-
bly,, when his seat and the seats of
bis associates were vacant.


Mr.. Ragan-As we have heard
enough political speeches to-day, 1
would advertise those who wish to
'peak to wait until next summer,
md to expend their wind on the
stump. l now call for the previous
question on the adoption of the re-
olution.


The resolution was adopted.