American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-05-30
BUTLER BUTLER COUNTY PA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 80 1866

league to say noighbor of mine. Sir.
Beecher lives about a hundred miles
from me.
Mr.. Steyens-Well, that is in the
neighborhood in this country, three thou
sand miles in extent. Eaughter.1
MIR. Thayer-The gentleman himself
is about as near and much nearer to him
in many things than 1 am. Laughter. ]
Mr.. Stevsns--How near does my friend
live to Cherry HillH
Mr.. Thayer-About ten miles.
Mr.. Stevens-Well, let him walk ten
miles, instead of going two or three thous-
and South, and he will find, as said.
three or four hundred inmates, whom, il
he wishes to forgive and enfranchise, be
will find at present restrained of their
rights. They have done nothing but err.
There is no blood upon their hands; they
only erred in committing such little acts
as arson and larceny. Let him go into
one Of those corridors and cause it to be
opened and they will flock around him,
and he will see men that are not half as
bloody and have not committed half as
many crimes as the rebels whom he wish
es to see Immediately admitted here.
Now, sir, for my part am willing they
shall come in when they are ready. Do
not, | pray you, admit those who have
slaughtered half million of our country
men until their clothes are dried, until
they are re-clad. I do not wish to sit
side by side with men whose garments
smell Of the blood of my kindred. Gen
tlemen seem to forget the scenes that
were enacted here years ago. Many of
you were not here. But my friend romf
Ohio (Mr. Garfeld) ought to have kept
up his reading enough to have been fa-
miliar with the history of those days,
when the men you propose to admit oc-
cupied the other side of the House; when
the mighty Toombs, with his shaggy
locks, headed gang who, with shouts of
defiance on this floor, rendered this hell
of legislation.
All, Sir, it was but six years ago when
they were here, just before they went
out to join the armies of Cataline, just
before they left this Hall. Those of you
who were here then will remember the
scene in which every Southern member,
encouraged by their allies, came forth in
one yelling body, because a speech for
freedom was being made here, when
weapons we're drawn, and BarksdaLes s
bowie-knite cleaned before our eyes.
Would you have those men back again
SO soon to re-enact these scenes Wait
till l am gone, pray you. | want not
to go through it again. 1t will be but a
short time for my colleague to wait |
hope he will not put US to that test.
Mr.. Thayer-Will the gentleman
yield2
Mr.. Stevens-Yes, sir.
Mr.. Thayer-This amendment does
not affect the eligibility of the people to
whom he refers. That portion to which
l directed my remarks excludes them
from voting; and 1 wish to ask my col
league in this connection whether he
thinks he can build penitentiary big
enough to hold eight millions of people.
Mr.. Stevens-Yes, Sir, penitentiary
which is built at the point of the bayonet
down below, and if they undertake to
come here zoe WM shoot them. That is
the way to take care of these people.
They deserve it, at least for time. Now,
Sir, if the gentleman had remembered
the scenes twenty years ago, when no man
dared to speak without risking his life,
when but few men did do it-for there
were towards in those days as there are
in these-you would not have found them
asking to bring these men in, and / only
wonder that my friend from Ohio Mr..
Bingham) should initiate desire to
bring them back here.
Mr.. Bingham beg the gentlemsn's
attention one moment. l have not by
one word or vote of mine ever justified
him in saying that I consent ever to bring
them in.
Mr. Stevens-Never; but the gentle
man wished to strike ost section and
kill this amendment, the most popular
before the people of any that can be pres
ented
Mr.. Bingham-I ask the gentleman to
indulge me a moment. The third sec
tion does not touch the question of their
coming in.
Mr.. Stevens-Then why is it you op-
pose it? If it is going to hurt nobody,
in Gods name let it remain. IF it is GO
ing to hnrt anybody, it will be the men
that deserve it.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, I withdraw my mo-
tion to recommit, and move the previous
question.
Mr.. Nasty in the Anguish Of His
coul TTftapath a Wall