Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-12-27
Reconstruction Debate in the Senate


"Mr SUMNER wish to make one re-
mark with reference to the business be-
fore the Senate. wish to know wheth-
er the report of Major Gen. Carl Schurz
is annexed to the Message of the Presi-
dent
Mr.. Foster Tin the chair)-The Chair
understands tina; it is
Mr.. Snmner-Then | think it had bet
ter be read.
Several Senators---It is TOO long.
Mr.. Sumner--At any rate we can be-
gin it; il is very important document.
The Senate will remember that when the
report was made out on the condition OF
affairs in Kansas, every word was read al
that desk. Now the question involved is
much more important. We have a mes
sage from the President, which is like the
embarrassing message of Franklin Pierce
with regard to the atrocities in Kansas
think the Senate had better listen to the
report of Gen. Schurz on this important
subject.
Mr.. johnson said he was surprised to
hear Senator from Massachusetts charac.
terze the message as an attempt to white
wash. There was no withdrawing about
it. 1t was fair and clear statement OF
facts, called for by t h e Senate. He
thought the report of Gen. Schurz had
better be printed, together with the other
documents.
The reading of Gen. Schurz's report
was commenced, but the Clerk had not
proceeded far when
Mr.. Sherman moved that the further
reading be dispensed with, and that the
report be printed.
Mr.. Sumner-I shall not object to that
if the Senator from Ohio thinks that it is
proper we should, on this important oc-
casion, dispense with the reading. think
the Senate could not listen to anything OF
more importance than that accurate and
authentic report regarding the actual con
ditioH of things in these States. Here is
an eminent citizen, lately Major Gen.
in the Army of the-United States, sent on
a special mission by the President to visit
these States and report upon their con-
dition. He has made his visit, not basty.
like Gen. Grant, for instance, or some
other officers or citizens, but visit occu-
pying time, and extending through the
different States, and he has recorded The
results 10 an elaborate document. Now,
sir, if the question were trivial one, if
it were transitory question, would think
with the Senator from Ohio that it had
better not be read. II the Senator insists
upon his motion shall not object"
Mr.. Sherman objected TO the reading OF
the report as not being in accordance
with custom.
'Mr. Doolittle-The Senator from Mas
sachusetts gave expression TO one remark
which brought, ii seems TO me, injustice 10
himself, and which he ought to qualify, if
not altogether to retract. Speaking of the
message Just received from the President,
he said it was like the whitewashing mes
sage of Franklin Pierce to cover up the
transactions in Kansas; and that the at
fairs in these States sought to be covered
up and whitewashed by the message Of
the President were much worse than those /
affairs in Kansas. Now, Mr.. President
| think the Senator from Massachusetts /
must have let fall that expression without
giving it sufficient thought. cannot be
lieve that that Senator, occupying the high
position be does, representing the great
State he does, wishes to be understood as
stating here in the Senate and to the coun- |
try, that this message just received from
the President is whitewashng message, !
seeking to cover up or conceal certain |
transactions-a state Of things infinitely /
worse than the transactions in Kansas -
That terrible affair, which was the begin
ming of all our troubles, was a civil war
in itself-the prelude to the great war
from which we have just emerged. / be
ieve, sir, that the honorable Senator from
Massachusetts will at least qualify, if he
does not wholly relract, this strong ex-
preston.
Mr.. SUMNER have nothing to qualify.
nothing to modify; nothing to retract.-
In former days there was but one Kansas
to suffer under illegal power, Now there
are eleven Ksnsases suffering only as one
suffered; therefore, sir, as eleven are
more than one, so is the enormity of the
present time more than the enormity Of
the days of Franklin Pierce.
Mr.. Dixon-The Senator from Massa-
chusetts says the enormities in the States
lately in rebellion are greater than those
of Kansas in former days. beg leave to
remind that Senator that that is not pre-
cisely the question raised by the Senator
from Wisconsin. There is no question
here as to the misconduct of anybody in
Kansas, or in the Southern States. The
charge has been directly made in the
Senate that the President of the United
States has sent in whitewsshed report
with regard to these enormities. Now,
sir, connot pass that in silence. What
is a whitewashed 'report' 1t is report
intended to cover up by falsehood and !,
certain facts. That is
report Now, sir, as friend
Of the President, land express no ex-
elusive or peculiar friendship for him. ] !,
,anno. sit quietly and listen in silence to
such charges. sustain the policy of the :,