The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-07-04
Reconstruction BIZ

Tie House thas-pssceeded to the con
sidefatidn Of the bill for restoring On,
States lately in iusurrection to thcira full
political rights.
Mr.. Window addressed the House il
support Of the BILL He said that tile rea
Issue between Congress and the rebels was
shall traitors rule the nation they Tough
four years to destroy? 1t was not a cues
ton whether the South shall be represen
ted; for all agreed that she must be, and al
desired that she shall be at the earliest DOS
siMe moment consistent with safety; bu
the question was, shall her representatives
be admitted here at once, without the inn
position Of any conditions whatever? The
President and his supporters insist upor
iMmedlate and unconditional admission
tie faith OF the government has been pledged
without any change in the basis of repre-
+sentation, whereby the gross irregularity Of
making the vote OF a Southern rebel equal
to the votes of two Union soldiers shall
be remedied; with any Acknowledgement Of
leading. petjured and dangerous traitors
and without ally prohibition against the
assumption and payment Of the rebel debt
or Of rebel claims for loss Of slaves.
Mr.. Window proceeded to argue from
these premises in support of the bill. He
concluded by saying that the power of the
nations is yet in the hands of the loyal peo-
Pile. They have purchased 1t at a fearful
cost. They will keep ii until equal and
exact justice is secured to every citizen, and
until the republic, free, united, and pros
porous, shall have achieved it's elo,ious
mission among the nations Of the earth.
Mr. Harris addressed the House in OBJ
position. He declared that ii, 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; as he had stood in prison before
the internal instrument offyranny-a court
martial-and as estood Id principle sd ne
would stand in Practice whenever occasion
might require. He declared himself
an old line Democrat, believing that tba
several States Of The Union have THE rioht
to separate from it. each acting for itself
He declared his belief that abuses and
asurpations had been practiced and threat
ened to so great an extent by their partners
and associates in the government that the
southern States were Justified ID goiDy ont.
and his further belief that by the ordinan-
ces Of secession they did go out, and thereby
became to this Union foreign States
these convictions he should not CHANGE,
and he did not expect they would ever he
removed. He would most assuredly nro.
claim them and stand by them as long as d
single citizen Of the Confederate States was
in chains, or subject to penalty for asserting
them.
Referring to the base assassination Of
Mr.. Lincoln, he said Mary Surratt was con-
victed, Of coura. Shewas tried by a court
martial; but her immediate execution was
ordered. She entreated for four DAYS to
enable her TO overcome the shock, and the
better to prepare her soul to meet her God.
"Not an hotri" thundered forth me
voice from the var department. "Oh with
the gallows. thecodin and the grave! The
angels Of heaven shall not rejoice over this
sinner" Agents Of mercy sought
the ear ofa hiehfr authority and probably
a more merciful heart, but Prestoi, King?
Echo answers "wlnre?" She was thus ex-
ecuted speedily, md Notwithstanding ap-
plication had beer made in behalf Of her
heart-broken daughter for her remains are
still in the keepingpfth the war department
Pontius PLATE deferred the body Of Jesus
to Joseph Of ArimShea, but aworse than
Pontius Plate is here. q He continued at
some length. and sid so long as the test
oath remained on NE statute books he
would do all be cpulato remove it, and res.
cue the noble citizas of the South from
the slavery and DEGRADATION it imposed. |
He claimed secession as ruling principle
Of the Democratic pity from 1898 to the
late war. III.