Speech #510170350

The South was again "in the saddle." With the exception of one or two States in the South. the constitutions and laws conferring the right of suffrage on colored citizens were openly and defiantly nullified. Nowherewas the colored citizen allowed to vote or allowed to have his vote counted when it would elect a Republican. The Republican party in national convention met the question squarely in its platform. reaffirming its devotion to the national Constitution. the Union of the States. the autonomy reserved to the States under the Constitution. the preservation of the personal rights and liberties of all citizens in all the States and Territories. asserting that it is "the supreme and sovereign right of every lawful citizen. rich or poor. native or foreign born. white or black. to cast one free ballot in public elections and to have that ballot duly counted." and demanding "effective legislation to secure the integrity and purity of elections." I believe this Southern question had quite as much to do with the result of the last Presidential election as the tariff question. Thepeople of this country. alarmed at the condition of affairs in the South. by the fact that the old ruling element of the South controlled the administration and the House and largely the patronage of the Government and shockedto see the Government largely representedin foreign countries by men who bore a distinguished part in the effort to destroy the Union. determined to take the Republican party at its word and give it an opportunity to enact effective legislation to secure the "integrity and purity of elections." The House of Representatives.faithful to their constituents and mindful of their pledges. has passed such a measure. and it remains to be seen whether the majority uf theSenate will be equally faithful and redeem the promise contained in the national platform at the last Presidential election. Senators on the other side of the Chamber have on several occasions during this discussion reminded us of the result of the recent Congressional elections. referring to it as a popular verdict against the bill under consideration.