The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-06-09
RATE OF SUBSCRIPTIONS.
LATEs or ADVFRTIsING.
Remarks of Senator Van WInEIe in
Offering nm .AmendmentIO 10 the Con.
stiIutiOn OF lhe United States ON
From me Congressional Globe.

OuefIaR an .AmenuIneut-lo the SOh'
stIIution OF the United States on
Monday Last.
From dte Congressional Globe.
offer the following amendment to
come in as new section:
SEC. Every person not mentioned
or described in section three of this ar
ticle who shall have engaged In insur-
rectiou or rebellion against the United
States and against whom no prosecu-
tion for treason has been Instituted be-
fore the expiration of-years from the
termination or suppression OF such in
surrection or rebellion, VINO shall there
after before court of record make
oath to support the Constitution of the
United States, shall thereupon be for
ever acquitted and discharged of and
from all pains. penalties. Liabilities,
disabilities, and disqualitications in
CURED under the Constitution or laws
of the United States, or of any State,
by participation in such insurrection or
rebellion, and If previously a citizen of
the United States shall be thereby re-
stored to all rights, privileges, and i'm
munities of citizenship. But nothing
in this section contained shall prevent
the Congress passing a general or spe-
ciHl act of amnesty as to any or all per-
sons included in its provisions before
the expiration ofthe said years.
do not propose, Mr.. President, to
OetAln tne SenaIe lot Ii LlOllGuL DS dGl-
vocating the provisions of this amend
ment.- If they do not commend them
selves to Senators am sure that moth
ing could say would help the case.
The object is easily perceived. II is, If
we can, to make u tinality of this mat
ter; that while we have excluded GER
tain persons from representation and
from participation in the Government,
the large class OF persons who will still
remain shall at some time-and have
left the number of years blank-be re-
leased from the pains and penalties
they have incurred, or are supposed TO
have incurred, for it is exceedingly
doubtful, presume, what disabilities
the mere fact of having engaged in the
rebellion imposed upon them without
trial and conviction of treason.
have framed the amendment with
view, of course, as it is proposed to go
into the Constitution, of applying TO
the future as we'll as to the present
case: and think if our attention could
be drawn to this point, and all the
amendments that are proposed here
were considered in that light, we should
be more able to, separate ourselves
from the feelings and prejudiceS OF The
moment, and to act understandingly
upon the subject.
+ Dropose bv this amendment that all
those persons who are not embraced in
the third section, which section, take
it, will include the most of those who
were the instigators and fomentors of
the rebellion, and all against whom no
prosecution for treason shall be COM
menced within n certain number OF
wears, shall, upon the expiration of that
time, by taking an oath thereafter to
support the constitution, in the usual
form. be exonerated from all pains and
penalties in consequence OF their aC-
ton. need not say that there Is some
thing due to these people, even when
their delinquency is fully admitted.
They are now in a situation where they
know not what will be their future, and
1 think il is due 10 the business of the
country and to the more early resump-
ton of the former friendly relations
that existed between AS and the people
of those States, that something of this
nature should at this time and in this
connection, be ingrafted upon the con-
stitution. or should accompany the Sec
ton which excludes certain descrip
tions OF persons.
/ trust, sir, at any rate, that this
amendment, or the spirit OF lt-ior
am not anxious about the words-may
receive such consideration from the
Senators in the majority as will induce
them to give IL fair hearing. It Is
offered in good faith. 1 have not shown
il or named it TO single person. Ii
there is any responsibility attending il,
III Wholly ONls nhl
from my own knowledge and from he
interviews I have had with many OF
the southern people since have been
here, and from my knowledge and in
terviews with such persons in my own
State, that il is more important to them
that some time should be fixed when
their disabilities shall terminate, than
that the time should be either early or
late. 1 have left in blank the time to
be fixed, II it was an open question;
If it related only to The future, should
be inclined TO fix the time at not ex-
ceeding three years; but taking into
consideration the circumstances under
which we are placed it may be fixed at
a longer period ii such be the judg-
ment of the Senate. do not know, ut
this moment, at what time this rebel
lion terminuted or was suppressed in
legal point of view. know that IN
case of foreign war peace is generally
made by treaty, and that treaty is not
in force until it is proclaimed to be in
force by the President, and by that
treaty notice Is generally given where
and when hoStilities Shall cease; that Is
to say, in reference TO vessels that are
in foreign seas and in different
parts of the world. There has oeen,
/ believe, a proclamation by the
President, in which he stated that
the rebellion was at an end, but
the State of Texas WAS omitted from
that category Whether that would be
Ihe proper time to fix as the time when
the war or rebellion terminated or was
suppressed cannot say, but think
that this is an endeavor, at least, to
afford a means by which the constitu-
tionaI amendments now pending may
be made tinulity. You exclude by
section already adopted certain per-
sons from being members of this body
and from holding other offices. In the
next place il is Left open TO you by the
amendment have proposed until the
eXpiration of whatever number OF
wears may be fixed, TO oinstitute proceed
inEs against any others whom you
think ought to be proceeded against.
Having made the election, then, 10 eX-
clude one class entirely, and TO prose-
cute another class, the residue are those
whom propose to declare freed from
the pains and penalties and disabilities
aud disqualitications they have incur
| red. II is TO meet that case, to make, II
can, tinaIity of this matter, that
| have proposed the amendment, and my
| own Judgment is that the requisite
number of States are more likely to
adont the amendment in gross with
SOME provision of this character, at
| least. accompanying it that is TO say,
| that the mass of the people South, IN
| cluCiing a great many VINO were mlsled
bv! tht,s,. upon whom they usually de-
| panded for information as to the proper
| conduct they should pursue, and who
/ who were forced into the service under
other circumstances, wherein they can
/ not be said to have been morally
| blameable. should be relieved and re
| Inuanfl Mt Ourp At present they do not