The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-03-26
The Bi1l for the Protectiop OF Union

az Men. ~
The bill amending the habeas corpus
act, so as to protect federal officers and
soldiers and all acting under military
authority, for acts done under orders du-
ring thewar, had the entire Union vote
of the House. The democrats opposed it
because it protects the Secretary OF
War and his agents for suppressing
some of the most viru1ent copperheads
of the North during the war, for which
they We're hoping to obtain '.satisfac-
ton" through the courts. Messrs. Nc
Kee, Smith and Rosseau, of Kentucky,
voted for the bill, although the two lat
ter go with the opposition on most par
ty questions. The following passage
from the debate shows the reasons loyal
Kentuckians have for supporting the
bill:- a--,
Mr.. Mckee, of Kentucky, in the
course of a brief and eloquent speech
in support of the msasure, alluded to
the difference of feeling manifested by
the opponents towards the late rebels
and loyal men. The opponents of the
bill, he said, were quick to declare their
readiness to forgive and forget all that
had been done during the war by the
enemies OF the country in their effortsto
overthrow the government and destroy
the nation, while they We're not willing
to protect loyal men from persecution
for acts of loyalty. This was the state
of affairs in Kentucky at the present
time, and the speaker asked that the
bill should pass as u protection for the
men of the border states who had per-
lied their all in defence of the Union.-
t. Gnt nj " N
confined in kentucky for offenses du-
ring the war were two Union officers,
and that three thousand suits against
Union soldiers were pending in the
courts.
Mr.. Harding, of Kentucky, asked Mr..
Mckee if he had not heard of the i'm
prisonmento of Coils. Jacobs and Wolford
Mr.. McKeereplied that he was famil-
lar with those cases and knew that
those officers were IA rested for directVio-
lution of the articles of war. Col. VOL
ford was arrested for speaking diSre-
spectfully of the President of the Uni
ted States.
Mr.. Harding asked how it happened
that Col. Wolford was not brought to
trial on that charge. Mr.. Mckee re-
piled that it was because President
Lincoln, in the Kindness of his heart,
released him. Mr.. Mckee, continuing,
said that while Col. Wolford was in
prison he visited him, and Col. Vol
ford- admitted that he had done wrong,
and expressed regret for his error.
Mr.. Garfield, of Ohio, mentioned a
case in point, now! pending in Mr.
McKee's own district, stating that a
Union soldier, who, during the war, as
sisted in capturing party of guerril-
las and in gdepriviDg them of their
horses, was now under indictment for
taking the property of those rebels.
Mr.. Harding, of Kentucky-Willt the
pentleman from Ohio give us the name
of the man under Indictment
Mr.. .Garfield-I will give no informa-
ton which will place the bloodhounds
of secession on his track.
Mr., Harding-In what court is he in
dicted?
Mr.. Garfield--I will give no clue
which will endanger the life and pro-
perty of my friend. .,..,.,-...
few remarks in support OF the bill,
and alluded to other instances OF per
secution of Union men. l"1f, said he,
s'Kentucky prefers TO give protection
to rebels, the government should pre-,
fer to give projection to Union men,"
His heart, he said, was full of forgive
ness, and he would extend 1.-The largest
leniency to rebels if they would here
after behave themselves. But when he
found them raising the stiletto against
Union men, he would let them know
that he was in the ranks again with the
red, white and blue, ready to whip
them until they behave themselves.