The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-02-29

HOUSE.

Washington, Feb. 27.
HOUSE.
Not more than fifty members were
present, it having been agreed yesterday
that nothing should Be- done to-day ex-
cepting making speeches.
Davis occupied the chair and the Presi-
dents annual message was announced as
the theme for discussion.
Harding, Of Kentucky, referred to !
former declaration of the President that
the Union 10 unbroken and al secession
ordinances are null, and said in this view
he concurred, and therefore whenever the
rebellion shall be suppressed, either BY
force of arms or voluntary submission,
the revolving States are thereby restored
with oil their rights and privileges in the
Union. This view was sound and was
acquiesced in by conservatives and demo-
Gratis, but the President had changed. -
He had presented scheme for recon
struction more destructive than the old
doctrine of State Rights. The scheme
was mapped by the master builder with a
pencil dipped in blood. Persons are to
nod just Is the President may direct
The effect was the iron-hand of deapo-
tism was crushing ont the last vestige OF
constitutional liberty, leaving nothing but
desolation. 1t would establish the most
odpus oligarchy Of a savage and cruel
character. and il was enough to freeze
any mans veins in which runs . drop Of
revolutionary blood.
Dir. Deming, of Connecticut, said the
Presidents scheme of reconstruction
seeks to create order from anarchy, and
paralyzing influences TO prevent innocence
from being compounded with guilt, to
separate loyalty from the unhealthy con-
tact of disuniooism, which would subject
it in the eye of the law to punishment.
For some the task vas one of great en-
barrassment and difficulty, because Of the
imperfection Of human wisdom, and be-
cause the plan was designed by the Pres
ident to be transitory in its character to
bridge the chasm between State anarchy
and State restoration. Commencing the
great deliverance in attempting to solve
this difficult problem, no statesman would
adopt any different plan. While the
Presidents plan may be incomplete, it
was as comprehensive as the insricacies Of
the subject would permit. 1t possessed
the rare merit Of being Just to the gov
eminent, just to the insurgsnt States and
to the slave. Mr.. Deming defended the
amnesty proclamation as being justifable
from the fact that in the loyal sense every
citizen in the insurrectionary States is a
public enemy.
Blair, Of Missouri, discuss ed the Affairs
of that State, defending biz nself from at
tacks which had been made. Having
sought to discharge his whole duty he
might challenge a comparisp n ofrecords
with his ASSISTANTS. The tadicols had
kindled the smouldering rds, and from 9
spirit of retaliation had u undertaken to
build up ; party. , For himself he was
always willing to accept gradual emanci-
patton, and when the people of that State
desired immediate emancipation he would
be more than ready to accept it. He
entered on a discussion of this subject,
charging that these radicals had sought
4
vor Of immediate emancipa ton, having
refused to vote for it in Cony eniion where
they bad the power to carry it.
AS to the recent Convention in Balti-
more, it was compelled to nominate Mr..
Lincoln, As the people of the State were
for him, but dark lantern associations still
exist in Maryland, and hence some dele.
gates were elected professedy for Mr.
Lincoln, but to betray him, one of Sec
rotary Chase assessors declaring he would
vote for what be pleased.
| Blair expressed bis surprise that the
Representatives OF Iowa and other States
had been caught in trap by signing a
paper asking for the rejection by the SEN
ate Of Schoheld as Maj. General.
Wilson, of Iowa. denied that the dele
cation Of that State was caught in any
trap. He knew what the paper was and
that it told the truth.
Grinnell, of Iowa, said the Missouri
militia came from northern Missouri into
the southern portion Of his district, steal
ing horses and plundering all roosts they
came to, blowed up the courthouse and
united themselves with theknights of the
Golden Circle.
Blair replied that it was not sufficient
grounds against Gen Scho6eld, that .
few such men may have crossed over
while the attention Of the commanding
officer was directed to another quarter
He said the enemy sought to rely on mis-
representation to injare Gen. Schofeld,
and then made issue against the Presi
dent. The Navy Department courted
investigation, but not so with the Treasu-
ry Department. A more profigate ad-
ministration than that Of the latter new
er existed. Recently in Baltimore a
permit was given to notorious blockade
runner whose vessels had more than
once been seized. In abiding to Pome-
roy's recent circular, he speaks Of its
designs as intended against the man who
had confided to Mr.. Chase port folio,
but the President was doubtless satisfied
every day Mr.. Chase remained in the
Cabinet for him to sink deeper into the
contempt of every honorable man. Blair