Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-05-16
Excidng Times i'm Congress.

the House resumed the consideration of
the Constitutional Amendment reported
by the Reconstruction Committee.
Mr.. Stevens closed the debate. He
said he was very glad to see the great
unanimity exhibited among all the true
friends of the Union in the House upon
all the provisions of the proposed amend
ment except the Sd section: but he was
grieved that there was any division
among them on what he considered the
vital portion of the whole amendment
Without it, it amounted to nothing;
without 1t he would not give the snap of
his finger whether the Joint resolution
passed or not. If it failed there would
be no power left among the friends of
the Union in the next Congress to carry
out the Government.
There ensued a scene of confusion in
the hall arising from members crowding
around and drawing near to Mr.. Stevens.
The speaker directed the members to
take their seats.
Mr.. Stevens resuming said he should
be sorry if the third section were struck
out, because then before any portion of
the amendment could be put in opera
ton, the other side of the House would
be filed with yelling secessionists and
approving copperheads; give US there
fore, he continued, the third section or
give us nothing; do not mock us with
the pretence of an amendmnnt which
throws the Union into the hands of its
enemies.
The gentleman says we are striving for
party. lido seek to gain for myparty as a
party, when that party Is necessary TO
to a the Union. l do not hesitate to
say that that section is there to a or
destroy the Union. Gentlemen tell u
that it is too strong. Too strong for
what? Too strong for their stomachs,
but not too strong for the people.
Some say it is too lenient. 1t is too
lenient for my hard heart. Would to
God the exclusion of rebels might not
only run to the year 1876 but the year
1851 1t would be then but too mild
a punishment. But 1 hear it said you
must not humble these people. Humble
them! Why do not they deserve hu-
milistionf Do they not deserve degrade
toni If they do not who does? What
animal or felon deserves it more-they
who have not yet confessed their sins?
Why should they be forgiYen2 He
who administers justice and mercy never
~forgives until the sinner confesses his sin
and humbles himself at the footstool of
power. Why should we forgive any
more than He? If they are to come
back, let them come back in sackcloth
and ashes; let them come back and ask
forgiveness, and then let US consider
whom we shall forgive, and whom we
shall exclude. That is my principle.
All 1 regret is that this is not suh-
GENTLY stringent. Let not these friends
of secession and secessionists sing to me
their hslcyon song of peace and good will,
until they can stop my ears to the shrieks
and groans Of the dying victims at Mem
phis-a.scene more horrible in its attroc-
tiles, though not to the same extent,
than the terrible tragedy of Jamaica.
While I am willing that those rebels
shall be represented here. | pray you not
to admit those who have caused the
slaughter of millions of our countrymen,
while their clothes are still wet with
blood; wait until they are differently
clad-I do not want to sit side by side
with men whose garments smell of the
blood of my kindred.
Gentlemen forget the scenes that took
DldCe u6Ic ~ years hkO, hACA 6AO mASaby
Toombs, with his shaggy locks, headed
the southern f~re-eaters with shouts of de-
fance, and called this House a He'll of
Legislation ! They seem to forget the
scenes enacted here six years ago, before
the southern members left the Hall to
Join the armies of Cataline, and when,
encouraged by their allies, they came
over here in one yelling body because a
speech for freedom was being made on
this side, and when the rufian Or aig of
North Carolina drew a pistol, and the as
sassin Barksdale of Mississippi drew a
bowie-knife.
MI. THAYER reminded Mr.. Stevens
that the Sd section did not affect the ele-
gibility of those persons as Rrepresen=
but merely excluded them from
voting, and he asked him if he thought
he could build a building big enough to
hold eight millions of people.
MI. STEVENS-Yes, sir, that peniten-
tiary which is guarded by bayonets down
below, and if they undertake to come
back we will shoot them.
The SPEAKER replied that motions
and amendments would be in order if the
previous question shouldnot be seconded.
The House divided and the Speaker
counted, yeas 90 nays SO. The Dem
ocFats almost all voting yes, in order to
prevent any amendment of the joint res
olution.
Tellers were demanded and ordered
the result being the same, so the previous
question was seconded.
On the question, shall the question now
be put, the House voted by yeas and
nays, the result being, yeas "a nays 81
At this time the galleries were crowded,
and as the vote progressed the greatest
interest aad excitement was manifested
BY the members, some ofEhom stood to-
gether in groups, discussing the chances,
while some were more actively employed
in arguing the consequences and trying
to enforce their views upon Others.
The Democratic members generally
carry out their policy, which is to pre-
vent spy appointment to the joint resolu-
ton.
Nj. FARNSWORTH wanted to know
whether at this stage of the measure a
motion to recommit it with Instructions
was in order.
The SPEAKER decided that il was not.
The House then voted on the passage.
The name of Mr.. Raymond was called,
and he voted aye. The republican mem
bers clspped their hands and laughedtri-
umphantly.
The SPEAKER directed the Clerk to
call his name as a member of the House,
and the name Of Schuyler Colfax being
called, he responded-aye.
TheSPEAKER, in announcing theVote.
said, "TFo-thirds voting in the affrma-
tive, I declare the JOINT resolution
passed"
The announcement was greeted with
considerable jubilation in the Hall. The
House then proceeded to other business.
Four of the party of six who robbed
the Oadiz Bank are confined in the Jail
in that TOWN and are doublY secured.