The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-05-15
Old Thad on a Ugh Horse.
Mr.. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, deliv-
cred himself as follows IN the House of
Representatives on the 10Th inst:

Mr. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, deliv-
cred himself as follows IN the House of
Representatives on the 10Th inst:
He said he was very glad to see the great
unanimity existing among all the true
friends Of the Union in the House upon all
the provisions OF the proposed amendment
except the third sect on-but he was grieved
n see any division among them On what he
considered the vital proposition of the whole
amendment. Without it, it amounted to
nothing. Without il he would not give the
snap OF his finger whether the joint resolu-
ton 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 measures of the Government. He
should be sorry ii the third section were
stricken out, because then, before any por
ton of the amendment could be PIT into
operation, the other side Of the House would
| be filled with yelling Seeessionist and APP
proving q pperheads. Give us, therefore,
| he continued, the third section or give us
nothing. Do not mock us with the pre-
tense Of an amendment which throws the
/ Union into the hands Of its enemies. Cen
| tlemen soy we are striving for party. [ do
seek to sustain my party whom that party
is necessary 90 save the Union. / say rally
| TO your party and save that party, or you
| lose the Union. l do not hesitate to soy
that that section is there 81 save or destroy
| the Union. Gentlemen tell US that it is too
! strong. Too strong for what2 Too
strong for their stomachs, but not for the
people. Some say it Is too lenient. rs too
| ienient for my hard heart. Would to God
that the exclusion Of rebels might not only
run to the year 1876, but 70 the year nine
teen thousand and seveniy-six. IL would
be then but too mild a punishment. But
hear it said you musJ not humble these
people. Humble them, why not? Do they
no deserve humiliation? Do they not de-
serve DEGRADATION? IL they do not, who
does? What animal or ieion deserves it.
more. They have not yet confessed their
sins, why should they be forgiven He,
who administers justice aud mercy, never
| forgives until the sinner confssses at the
/ iGotstool of power. Why should we for
give, any more than he If they are to
come bacs, let them come back in ssckeloth
ard ashes. Let them come back and ask
| forgiveuess, and then let US consider whom
we shall forg We and whom we shall ex-
cludc. T az is my principle. All I regret
| Is, that this is not sufficiently stringent. Let
not these friends Of secession and secession
lists sing to me their haley0n songs of peace
a d good viii un il they can stop my esrs
to the shrieks and groans o. the dying vic
Tins at Memphis, a scene more horrible in
atrocities, though not 10 the same extent,
than the terrible TRACED Of Jamaica.
While / am willing that these r.bel
States shall be represented here, ! pray
you rot to admit those who have caused
the slaughter Of millions Of our country
men. While their clothes are stll wet with
blood Wait until they are differently clad.
/ do not wish % sit side by side with men
whose garments smell Of toe blood Of my
kindred. Gentlemen forget the scenes that
TOOK place here twenty years ago, when the
mighty Toombs, with his shaggy locks,
headed Southern 6re-eater5 with shouts Of
defiance and dered this House a hell OF
legislation. They seem 10 rget the scenes
enacted here SIX years ago, before Southern.
members Left the Hal % Join the armies o.
Caiaiine; and when, encouraged by iheir
allies, they came on here IN one yelling
body, because a speech for freedom was be-
ing made on this side, and when the rufian
Craig, OF North Carolina, drew pistol, and
the assassin Barksdale drew . bowie
knife
Mr.. ThayeF reminded Mr. Stevens that
the third section did not affect the eligib.l-
ity OF these persons as representative, but
merely excluded them from voting, and he
asked him il he thought he could build
penitentiary big enough TO hold eight mil
lions Of people
Mr. Stevens: Yes, sir, that psnitentiary /
which is guarded ~ bayonet down below /
aud IL they undertake 10 come back we will |
shoot them. The penitentiary Of hell is the |
Penitentiary that they deserve to have til /
then.