The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-03-05

| lONal lQSu VI ICOCiot A1N w 80 hvl III
favor of repeating the test oath
Mr.. Marshall, of Illinois, interrupting
said he would not question the good
taste of his colleague in applying the
sale epithet of copperhead to members
of this House but, for himself, he dis
owned any intention of admitting, as
Representatives from the South, men
who had taken prominent part in the
rebellion.
Mr.. Kuykendall said that when he
spoke of the copperhead persuasion he
did not know that the phrase would
strike any member from lis state. -,
Mr. Marshall said that it was well
known to whom the disunion members
on the republican side applied the epl.
thet, they applied it to men around
whom were clustered the hopes of the
people who desired the immediate resto-
ration of the union,
Mr.. Kuykendall enquired whether his
colleague would vote to repeal the test
oath
Mr.. Marshall replied that he was in.
clined to thisk it unconstitutional and
ought to be repealed, but lie did not
know whether he would be in favor ofre-
pealing all test oaths of the kind at this
time. He thought the time would soon
Eome when it would be stricken from
the statute book so that such men as
Alex n Stephens and others who had
been complicated with the rebellion but
were now true to the constitution were
they elected might be admitted to seats.
Mr.. Rogers asked whether, if Alex. II.
Stephens came here as a Representative,
if he (Marshall would vote for his ad.
mission.
Mr.. Marshall replied that he would if
he was satisfied that Mr.. Stephens was
a true Union man. He took occasion to
refer to the time OF Democratic leader
ship. Many members of the disunion
side of the House were very anxious, he
did not know for what purpose, to de-
nominate the gentleman from New Jer-
sey as the Democratic leader in the
House. If by that it was meant that he
had made more speeches, and longer
speeches, and ableT speeches, than other
members, he was willing to accord all
that He recognized in the gentleman
great ability and eloquence, but in many
Of his views he (MarshalD did not con-
cur, and lie was not willing to admit
that he (ROgers) was the representative
of the principles of the Democratic
party.
Mr.. Rogers said; President johnson
himself, in his last colloquy, said he had
met a gentleman from New York who
had expressly. stated that he believed
the test oath ought to be repealed
Mr. KuykendalI, continuing his speech
and discussing the destiny OF the freed.
men, said; He was in favor of making a
treaty with the Republic of Mexico and
attempting to colonize the American cit
liens of African decent in Mexico he
would enforce the Monroe doctrine, AID
drive Macmillan out of Mexico so ea 80 70
establish a ReDuhliei auu secure Tue
Ionds to ~ -gsroes and give them 4
fair start in the T0rid,
Mr., Fink next addressed the House. He
commenced his speech by denouncing
the Test Oath, arguing that if Congress
had the power to impose the oath, it had
power to change the qualifications pre-
scribed by the Constitution for Senators
and Representatives, The act imposing
the oath, was one of those measures
which grew out of the war The power
of the Union had triumphed its future
security depended not upon Test OathS
the great fact Of the complete and utter
defeat of the late rebellion. The war
had settled more firmly than C0n,titu.
tioual Amendments and Test Oatbs piled
mountains high, the great principle that
no State had the right, under the COnstl-
tuition to withdraw from the Union. He
wanted the people of the South to come
back not degraded but in their full man.
hood, the equal of the people of every
other section Of the Union. They aud
their children, had TO live with us and
our children for generations. 1t was better
that they should live on terms Of equal
ity and friendship. They had claim
on the great nation, which he had al.
ways regarded as hercsy but IL judg
giug of this, the House should recolleCt
how that very heresy was strengthened
by the euunciatiou Of the leaders in the
North at the convention. He quoted a
speech made by Senator Wade IL the
Senate on the 4th of December, 1856, IL
which he said that his party had adopt
ed the base of a declaration Of iudepeHd-
ence; which declared that any people
have the right OF returning ~ tuuda
mental principles and if needs be, Of
destroying the government under which
they live, and they could erect upon its
ruins another more conducive to their
minds that the people of the south had
this right. aud lie Wade would not
blame them for exercising II whenever
they thought the time had come Mr.
Fink continued at considerable length,
arguing in favor of leuieucy and forgive
ness towards the South.
Mr.. Orth obtained the floor when the
House adjourned.