Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-05-22
Mr.. Thadeus Stevens Speech.

Perhaps the most vindictive, and vitupe-
.rative speech on record, is that delivered in
the House of Representatives recently, by the
redoubtable Stevens. The following report
of his remarks is from the New York Tribune
Gle should be sorry if the third section
were struck out, because then before any por-
ton of the amendment could be put into oper
alton the other side of the House would be
hlied with yelling SecessiOnists and approving
Copperheads. Give US therefore, he contin
ued. the third section or give us nothing. Do
not mock us with an amendment which throws
the Union into the hands of its enemies
Gentlemen say we are striving for party.
do seek to sustain my party when that par
ty is necessary to save the Union. yrallv
to your party and save that party, or you lose
the Union. l donot hesitate to say that that
section is there to save or destroy the Union.
Gentlemen tell US that it is too strong. Too
strong for what? Too strong for their stoIn-
achs but not for the people, Some say it is
too lenient. 1t is too Ienient for nv hard
heart. Would to God that the exclusion of
Rebels might not only run to the year 1876.
but to the year 1876. 1t would be then
too mild punishment. But [ hear it said
you must not humble these people. Humble
them, why not ! Do they not deserve humil;a>
ton DO they not deserve degradation :?
If they do not, who does What animal or
telon deserves it more They have not yet
confessed their sins; why should they be
forgiven? He who administers Justice and
mercy never fOrgives until the sinner confess
es his sin and humbles himself at the foot
stool OF power. Why should we forgive any
more than he! If they are to come back. let
them come in sack cloth and ashes. Let
them come back and ask forgiveness, aud then
let us consider whom We shall forgive and
whom we shall exclude. This is my Driuci
pie. All IreSret IS this is not Efficiently strin-
gent. Let not these friends Of Secession aud
SecesslonIsts sing to me their halcyon songs
Of peace and goodwill, until they stop nv
ears to the shrieks and groans of dying vic
tins ut Memphis, scene more horrible in its
atrocities, though not to the same extent,
than the terrible tragedy Of jamaica While
l am willing that these Rebel States should
be representa- here, pray you not to admit
those who have caused the slaughter Of mil
lions OF our country-mou, while their clothes
are still wet with their blood. Wait until
they are differently clad. do not want to
SIT side by side with men whose garments
smell Of the blood of my kindred. Gentle
men forget the scenes that took place here
20 years ago, when the mighty TUonbs, with
his sllaggy locks headed Southern Ere caters
with shouts of defiance, and rendered this
House hell of legislation. They seem 10
forget the scenes enacted here six years ago.
before Southern members left the hall to ION
the armies of Cataline; and when, encouraged
by their allies, they came over here in one
yelling body, because a speech for freedom
was made ON this side and when the rulfan
Craig Of North Carolina drew pistol, and
the assassin Barksdae Of Mississippi drew Il
bowi4-knifc
Mr.. Thayer reminded Mr.. Stevens that the
third section did not affect the eligibility of
those persons as representatives, but merely
excluded them from voting, and he asked
him if he thought he could build peniten-
tlary big enough to hold s, 200, 900 of people.
MIR. Steveus-Yes, Sir That pcnitcntiary
which is guarded by bayonets, down below.
and if they undertake to come back We will
shoot them. The penitentiary of hell is the
Penitcntiary that they deserve to have till
then.
After some further remarks in the same
strain,
Mr. Stevens withdrew the motion to recon-
NIT, and moTed the prcvions question"