Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-12-13

A synopsis Of STEyEss's indemnity Dill Anc
the vote on Ito pasesge 10 the House are g'Ver
In another place. To say nothing Of the merit
OF the bill, Ii was by the msjority hurried
through the House, under calls fos the pfeyou.
question, In a most indecent and reckless haste
This would be sufficient TO raise suspicion that
the banding measure Is not, IL anything OF the
sort Il necessary or proper, such one as II
should be. ts ls
Mr.. srEvEss himself, after the first reading
Of hia bill, proposed to postpone its further con-
Alteration until the following Thursday, and
make 1t the special order after the morning
hour, and to continue 1t as such until disposed
of. Bat because Mr.. vAILANploHAM objected
TO making Il the special oIder, STEVENS and
CoIBAx, OF Indiana, pressed lite immediate con-
sideration and passage, and aided by an Oh
sequious majority, succeeded.
Mr.. ous, of New York, though of sTEvrss's
own party IN politics, and though be voted for
the bill, protested against this hot haste in
pressing IL to FINAL vote on the day of its in
trodnctiaa- -Ha said It was mode Of legisla-
tion dlscreditable TO the cCuntry and to the
House, and said he would feel ashamed to re.
surn to any sensible constituency and say that
Congress had a bill thrust before Ii OF the
grsvest importance, with no word Of explans-
tlon, no word of dissent heard In reference to
i,, and the Honse called upon, on mere casual
reading of the bill, to vote yea or nay, without
any possible opportunity Of becoming familiar
with its provisions.
ME. Cox thought Il would be proper for the
gentleman [Mr. sTEvEEsl to withdraw the call
Tor the previous question on the passage Of the
bill, and, instead Of passing it 10 that indecen!
haste, have It sent to the Judiciary committee,
and have judicial exposition Of the principles
contained In IT, Mr.. STEVENS said he thanked
Mr.. Cox for his advice, TO which the latter re-
sponded that he did not pretend TO advise the
gentleman. But STEVENS, like Q reckless par
Nssn as be ia, said that he had been sopEovoked
By gentlemen on the other side that he did not
take their advice with any great kindness. To
bnls uss OV4 EotUEtcu suos 0EA'ANS "eo pfVua-
ably provoked BY the action of the people OF the
last fall elections. STEVENS thus svowed that,
Tor the sake of gratifying some petty personal
or party malice, he was ready and determined
not only to lower the respect due to Congress,
but to sacrifice the interests Of the country.
Mr.. STEVENS declared that In drawing the
bill he had used the language of the bills Of
indemnity passed by the English Parliament,
except. that in the English bills, and the ex-
csptioD 10 important, the Illegally of the acts
done was confessed. The affirmation of this
Illegally Of the acts against which indemnity
vas provided in the English bills, was to af-
nrm the law and to prevent the breach from
having the force Of precedent. Wanting this
feature, the STLvENs bill Ia devoid of force or
meaning, for If the acts referred to were not
illegal, there was no call under any circumstan-
ces for indemnifying the President or any body
else against such acts.
But STEVENS appears to take it for granted
that because tho British Parliament has, as some
remote period when arbitrary proceedings we're
In fashion, passed such bills, an American Con-
gress may do the same. The cases are not,
however, parallel. The Briish Parliament IL
omnIpoteni and sovereign In its legislation or
.his and similar subjects. The powers Of Con
aress on the other hand are limited by writer
Constitution, and their acts are subject to b.
reviewed and declared void by coordinate
branch Of the Government, the Judiciary. Un
iess the Abolisionists succeed in fastening upor
the country arbitrary and absolute Legislative
power above and beyond the Constitution, suci
measures as this indemnity bill, depTiving cisi
Gems Of all redress for most outrageous wrong
and injuries committed without provocsiior
and without cause, will hardly stand the tes
either In our COurta, or before the tribunal o.
an enlightened people who know their rights
and knowing, DARE nAIHrAn TEEN. II 10 I
measure which tends directly to place ever
mans life, property and liberty, at the mercy o.
. sst Of dssposs, who viii feel safe in comni.
ting the moss oppressive and tyrannicAl acts
because they fancy they have under their con
trol reckless Congress who will give then
total sbsoluilon fos ell crimes committed an
all they intend to commit.
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