The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-05-23
RECONSTRUCTION.
Tie Debate on tle Reconstruction Com
nittee's Report.
Excitement IN the Houss- S.cvcns
Excited AID Insulting.

,Ss
Elsewhere we give an abstract of the
sneech of General Banks In the House of
REPRESENTATIVES. on the 10th. on the report
of the Reconstruction Committee. In
Memphis naners of Monday We find the fol-
lowing additional report of the debate on
that day:
Mr. Stevens closed the debate. He said
he was very clad To see great nnapimity
existing among all the friends of the Union
in the House urnn all the provisions If the
proposed amendment. except the third Sec
ticn But he was grieved to see anv dis
sension among them on what he considered
the vital proposition of the whole amend
ment, without it, it amounted to NOTHING.
Without it he would not give the snap Of
his finger whether the Joint resolution was
passed or not If it failed there would he
no power left among the friends of the I'M.
on IN the next Congress to carry out the
measures of tho Government. Here en-
sued q scene of confusion in the hall arisinc
from members crowdine around and draw
ING near to Stevens.
The Sneaker directed the Fmembers to
take their seats. 5..
Mr.. Stevens, rcsumipg, said he should biz
sorry If the third section we're struck ont,
because then, before any rortipn of the
amendment could be put into oneratinn.
the side OF the house would be filled with
Yelling secessionists and approving rnpper-
heads. Give us, therefore, he continued.
the third section, or give us nothing. Do
not mock ns with the pretence Of an
amendment which throws the Union info
the hands of it's enemies. Gentlemen say
we are striving for party. dn not seek TO
gain my party when that party is necessa-
ry to save the Union. / say rally To ynur
| narty and save that party or Won lose the
Union. | do not hesitate to say that that
section is there to save or destroy the Uni.
OH. Gentlemcn tell lis it is too stormy
Too sto- my for what 2 Too stormy for
their st' machs, but not the people. Some
say IT is TOO lenient. IT is too lenient for
my hard heart. Wcnld to God that the ,ex-
clnsion ofrebels might mt ONLY run to tho
| year OF 1876 bnt to TIE year 1876. Itwould
he then too mild a punishment. But hear
fit said; you must mt humble these people,
Humble them? WHY rnt2 Do they not
deserve humiliation Do they not deserve
degradation Ifthey do not. who does
What animal or felon deserves il. more -
They have not confessed their sins WHY
should they be forgiven9 He who admin.
listers Justice and mercy never foro;ves nm.
til the sinner confessess his sin and brrn,.
bles himself at the footstool of nower. VIZ
should not forgive any more than He. Il
they are to come hack, let them come
back and ask forgiveness. and then lot II,
consider whom we shall forgive and whom
we shall exclude. That is nv nr;ncinle.-
All ! regret is that this is not sufficient,
stringent. Let not these friends of spces
sion and sscessionists sing me their halcyo,
| songs OF sood will, Until tfey ston my par.
TO the shreEs and groans Of the dyirr viz
tins at Memphis, a scene more horrible j,
its atrocities, though not the same extent
than the terrible tragedy of .Tamaica.-
While / am willing those rebel State
should be represented here, pray ron Il.
not adFnit these who have eansed IN,
slaughter of m;lliors of our cnnntrr,ne,
wlilc their clothes are still red with h]ond
| Wait til! they are differently clad. / d,
not want to sit side by side with me,
whose garments smell of the blood of m,
kindred. Gentlemen forget the scene
that took place here twenty wears acc
when the mighty Toolnbs, with his shagg,
locks, heade,t the Southern fire eaters Will
,iioa..s 81 defiance; and rendered This hous,
a hell OF legislation. They seem to forge
the scenes enacted here six wears ago. be-
fore the Southern members left the hall t.
Join the armies ofCataline, and when. en-
co,lraged by their. allies, they came Owe
here in one yelling body because n speecl
for freedom was being made M This side
and when the rnffian Craig, Of North Care
Ira, drew pistol. and the assassin Banks
dale, of Mississippi, drew bowic-knife.
Mr.. Thayer reminded Mr. Stevens tha-
the third section did not affect the eligi
hility of those persons MS Representatives
but merely excluded them from VOTING
and he asked him ifhe thought he cou'f
build a nenitentiary big enough to hole
eight millions of neople2
Mr.. Steyens-Yes, sir; that nenitentiar,
which is guarded by bayonets down below
and if they undertake to come bark W.
will shoot them. The penitentiary oi hel
is the nnnitentiory that they deserve r.
have till then. ~ -,
IAlttI SOLVE lUFtiieT F"TllarkS IN the same
strain Mr. Stevens withdrew his motion i,
ecomnlit, and moved the previous cues
ton.
Mr.. Garfield inquired of the speake,
whether, in case the previous questio,
was not seconded, it would be- in order fo1
him to move to amend. by striking mt til,
third section and ntfering the amendment
suggested by Mr.. Mckee, preventing thos,
who had voluntarily taken part in sth,
rebellion from holding office under the Uni
ted States Governments
i The sneaker replied that motions anf
amendments would be- in order if the nre
vions question should not be seconded
The house divided and the sneaker count
ed the yeas 81, the nays 50, the democrat
falmost all voting yea in order IL pfeyen
any amendment Of the Joint resolution
Tellers were demanded and ordered; tn,
result being tho same, so the previou
question was seconded. On the question
Shall the main question be now pnt tn,
honse*oted by yeas and nays The result
being yeas "a, nays 49,
AT this time the galleries were crowded
and as the vote progressed the greatest in
tereSt and excitement was manifested h,
In. i''ei'pe's, o'ih' VI mi'olii s.ooa ooss.n