The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-19

ou uf1AuxSOhy 1aSb, Inc OlH repOrEGu ny
the Reconstruction Committee hay
ing come mp in due order, Mr.. Har-
ris, Of Maryland, made bold and
eloquent speech on the bill We hsve
not the full report, but give that of
the New York Herald, which gives
the gist of his argument. His re-
marks W ere listened to with profound
attention, the members gathering
around him .as he proceeded, and
many points In his argument made o
profound impression on tho audience
present: -
Mr.. Harris, Democrat, OF Mary
land, addressed the House in oppo-
sition, He declared that, in principle,
he now stood as he had stood after
the war was declared; as he had stood
in the last Congress, when he received
its crown of -censure; ashe had stood
in. prison and before the Internal IN
strument Of tyranny court-mar-
tial; and, as he stood in principle, 80
would he stand in practice whenever
occasion might require He declared
himself an Old Line Democrat, be-
lieving ia the doctrine of secession,
believing that the several States Of
the Union have the right 10 separate
from it, each acting for itself. He
declared his belief that abuses and
nsnrpations had boen practiced and
threatened to SO great an extent by
their associates and partners In this
Governmental compact, that the
Southern States were justified in
going out; and his further belief,
that, by their ordinances of seces-
sion, they did go out, and thereby
became to this Union foreign States.
These convictions he could not
change, and ho did not expect they
would ever be removed. He would,
most assurediy, proclaim them and
stand by them as long as single citi-
zen al the Confederate States was in
chains, or subject t. penalty for as
sorting them. There was no political
or personal consideration Which could
prompt him to such Il dcsertion.
"What, sir" said he, 81, that believe
them right; I, that would have joined
them, If the sovereign State of Mary
land had said so, to desert them now,
III their utmost need, when I can, le-
ultimately, give them such protection
ls is III my power honestly 20 give?
Never. The House would readily
conceive, he continued, that he was
adverse TO the reconstruction policy
Of the President: and Andrew John
son had been con Sistcnt with tie
views OF the late President, with those.
OF the Republican, party, and with his
own declarations from the time he
abandoned the Democratic party. He
concurrc1. however, in the Prcsi-
dents vetoes, and with one para
graph i'll lbs speech Of the 22d Of
February that wherein he pro-
claimed: 'No TAXATION withou. yep
rescntation y In his view, the South
etn secede't States had no right 70
representatives on this floor, or in the
Senate. Neither had they right to
furnish the country with President
or a NiccErcsident. He, when nc
could not avoid it. acquicsced in de
Iro Governments and 0eJ'acto Pres
dents; hut if he 'n,,ld he expected to
cast his vote. at tliy ..ext election. for
Andrew Johnson. of Tennessee, the
status Of Tennessee herself must be
changed completely. She must be ad-
.nittea into the Union by Act Of Con
gress upon her application to become
II member of it. But no Congressional
bill for that purpose could receive
his vote, SO long .ls the test oath dis
sraccd the statute book. He would
do all he conld to remove it. and res
cue the noble citiZcns of the South
from tn" slavery and deSra,ls alton it
ImpoScd, eNc:i though that led to n
continuance Of the dissolution 81 !he
Union. ndsr the test oath, outv
Southern men. VINO IniSr,pre>entr.!
their constituencies, would be au-
mltt"d. When vice prevails and i'm
piou, men bear sway. H., post Of
honor is a privat, station.
He replied Mt some length to n
speech made some time since by Mr..
Donncllv, of Minnesota. referring
to th" assassination of Mr.. Lincoln.
he sai,l Mary Surrat WAS convicted, of
course. She was tried by q court
martial; her immediate execution was
ordered: she vntrcated for four davs.
to enable her TO ">rrcolne the shock,
an! the better to prepare her soul to
meet her God Not nm hour,''
thundered forth the voice from the
War Department. ''On with the gal
lows the coffin and th.. grave. tba