The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-05-26
Mr.. StcDhens ON n HiVh Horse,

Mr.. Stephens on a High Horse.
Mr., Stephens, of Penn, delivered
himself rs follows in the House of
Representatives on the 10th inst.
ale said he was very glad to see the
great unanimity existing among all the
true friends Of the UAion in the House
upon all the provisions Of the proposed
anendment except the third section-
but he was gricved to see any division
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. Ii
it failed there would be no power left
among the friends Of the Union in the
next Congress to carry out the meas
ures of the Government. He should
be sorry if the third section were
stricken out, because then, before any
portion Of the amendment could be put
into operation, the other side Of the
House would be filled with yelling
Sccessionists and approved Copper
heads. Give us, therefore, he contin-
ned, the third section OF give us moth
ING. DO not mock us with the pre-
tense of an amendment which throws
the Union into the hands Of its enc
mics. Gentlemen say we are striving
for party. | do seek to sustain my
party when that party is necessary to
save the Union. | say rally to your
party and saw that party, or you lose
the Union. l do not hesitate to say
that that section is there to save or Gle.
stroy the Union. Gentlemen tell us
that it is too strong. Too strong for
WHAT Too strong for their stomaclls,
but not for the people. Some say it is
too lenient. 1t is too lenient for my
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 q punish
ment. But it is said you must not
humble these people. Humble them,
why not? Do they not deserve humll-
iation? Do they not deserve degrade
ton? If they do not, who does =?
What animal or fclon 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 con
fesses at the foot stool 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 forgive
ness, and then let us consider whom
we shall forgive and whom we shall
exclude. That is my principle. All
| regret is, that this is not sufficiently
stringent. Let not these friends of Sc
ccssion and seccssionists sing to me
their halcyon songs of peace and good
will until they can stop my ears to the
shrieks and groans of the dying vic
tins at Memphis, a scene more horri-
bic in atrocities, though not to the
same extent, than the terrible tragedy
of Jamaica. While | am willing that
these rebel States shall be represented
here, | pray you not to admit those who
have caused the slaughter of millions
of our countrymcn, while their clothes
are still wet with blood. Wait until
they are differently clad. ] do not
wish to sit side by side with men whose
garments smell Of the blood ofmy kin
drcd. Gentlemen forget the scenes
that took place here twenty years ago.
when the mighty Toombs, with his
shaggy locks, headed southern fire
eaters with his shouts Of defiance, and
rendered this House a hell Of lcgisla-
ton. They cem to forget the scenes
enacted here six wears ago, before
Southern members left the Hall to join
the armies of Catalina; and, when en-
c~ouraged by their allies, they came on
here in u yelling body, because a
speech for freedmen was being made
on this side, and when the rutlim Craig,
OF North Carolina, drew Il pistol, and
the assassin Barkesdalc drew a bowie
knife
Mr.. Thayer reminded Mr.. Stevens
that the third section did not affect the
eligibility of those persons as repre-
sentatiyes, but merely excluded them
from voting, and he asked him if he
thought he could build Il p%cnitcntiary
big enough to hold eight millions Of
people?
Mr., Stevens: Yes, sir, that pcnitcn-
tiary 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
they deserve to have till then.