Year: 1876

The following is the reply of Sena-
tor Bayard, of Delaware, to Senator
Boutwell,, of Massachusetts, ia the de-
bate on the resolution submitted by
Mr.. Morton in reference to the Missis-
sippi election, in the Senate on the
3Cth ultimo. Mr.. Bayard said:


In portion of the remarks submit
ted to the Senate this morning l made
a statement in respect of the cost in
money to the people OF this country as
a result of the enforcement acts. the
cnnstitutionality of which has been so
questioned by late decisions of the Su-
preme Court of the United States. |
stated at the time that had not the
figures before me, but | believed that
millions upon millions had been spent
was interrupted by the Senator from
Massachusetts with a question in re-
gard to ny authority for this statement
having previously stated that made
this rcnia < upon an estimate and
and wlth"At having the figures before
me. UnGer the preteXt of the question
the Senator proceeded in very rapid,
in very angry, and, as | consider,
very improper manner to avail himself
OF my having yielded to him the floor
as matter of courtesy to ask me a
question, to make wnat l called Pc
litical TRADE; and think upon exami-
nation it will be found that my de-
scription was exceedingly accurate.
am not at all disposed to Withdraw the
designation which l then gave to his
language. since that time he has in
dulged in another. He has cleared his
heart of good deal of that black bile
that seemed to rest upon it toward the
people of the Southern country, and


toward those of us here, of me in par.
ticular, whom he considers their asso-
ciatcs. / leave him as l left the Sena.
tor from Indiana, to be answered by


the honest heart of the people of the
North, who do not hate the Southern
people rs he does, who do net long for
their hghilation, and crow and laugh
over th6ir distress as he does, who de


not stand here in this council chamber


of the States to insult and affront every
man by declarations of impeachment
of his honesty and integrity when he
processes to love the Union and the
Government of his country. l leave


him to be answered by his own people.
There has been, thank heaven, a spirit
abroad; it has been exhibited, and it


was exhibited not many weeks ago in
the city of Boston, as described to me,


in a way that drew tears both from
men of the North and men of the
South when they met in the presence


of the common glory of their country
and resolved that the past with all its
animositles should be forgotten and
should be forgiven. But he it seems
still is to raise the cry of hate. He is
still to pour out walls of indignation


and wrath against every man who has
differed with him in opinion. The


Senator has suggested that in some


way have been ii party to some act or
deed unfaithful to The integrity of the


Government Of this country. | will


simply say that every drop of blood in


my body comes from men and from


women who, since this Government


was established, never harbored a


thought or did an act unfaithful or


unpatrietic. No man can assert the
! contrary. The Senator dare not do SO,


He might attempt it by an innuendo,
by classifying me with those whom he


terms the enemies of the country; but
! he knows as well US l that the man
I who says ever did an act or uttered q


word uniaithful to the integrity of my
country's Government has lied in his
throat. Manifestations of applause in


the gallaries. He bids me beware of
November, In November the pe0ple
of this country will submit their can
didates for the popular verdict, and
then the Senator may repeat his speech


where he pleases. Then he may assault
men as he pleases. II it shall please a
merclful heaven to give this country a
feeling of fraternity and union, then


he and those who think and act with


him will be consigned to private life
and to an absence from political power
We will go before the people of this
country. | expect to go with all the


rest as private citizen, and submit
the doctrines of the party with which


| act, to submit the measures that we
propose for the government of this
country to the Intelligence, to the can
dor, to the patriotic sense of the people


of this country. If the verdict shall be


against us, it will still be our country,


and we shall obey the men whom you


have elected just as fully as if we had


elected our own candidates. Minori-
ties have no terror for me; none at all.
| have aot finched from declaring on
any occasion an opinion that might
have seemed unpopular at the time. Is
it to be held up to me as source of
reproach that l have tried to make my
brethren of the South feel that this
was their country, that this was their
Government and that they were bound
to come and support it. and find pro-
lection as they gave it allegiance? If
it be a crime, then am the greatest
sinner on earth. If such feelings, such
professions, and such principles shall
consign me morever to minority then
welcome the shades fprivate life with
the unstained conscience that / shall
carry there with it, | would rather
have it than all your power, than all
the power the people of this country
can give for have something they |
did not give and which they cannot |
deprive me of and that is my own self |
respect. Applause in the galleries.


nh, DPsSJDEN'r o,ro tam n1,o,,, M