The Portland daily press., 1866-12-13
The Senate then adjourned.
unTTaJF


Unanimous consent was asked for the in
PRODUCTION OF resolutions assigning to the loyal
States the right to tax National Banks in lieu
OF State claims for war expenses; calling for
information as to the withdrawal of the nation
al currency, and declaring that the withdrawal
of more than $4c00000 month would not add
to the general welfare that the constitutional
amendment IS the most concillatory offer that
the rebel States could expect, and that the the
ory OF universal amnesty ought to be discour-
aged by every loyal patriot Objections being
made none OF the resolutions We're introduced.
The bill to repeal the statute of limitation SO
far as relates to treason and capital Offences
which was reported yesterday from the Jddici-
ary Committee bv Mr. Lawrence of Ohio, came
up in regular order in the afternoon hour
Mr.. jerks maile a speech against it, arguing
that the statute of 1890 should be regarded as
the statute of peace and repose.
Mr.. Rogers followed, on the same side of the
question. He declared his position to be in op-
position to in1iicting on the South on the
North citizenship by virtue of any Congress
sional Legislation or constitutional amendment,
He was in favor of liberty, but not in favor of
negro, suffrage The radicals were morally
guilty of treason against the Constitution Just
as much as the rebels were who took up arms
to defend their rights against what he consid-
cred to be the prescription or tyrrany of the
Government He declared he would stand by
the President from one end of his reconstruc-
tion policy to the other. He believed the Pres.
. HltliI WOulu go uOWll To pOSIerlUy as one OF Une
brightest jtlrists that ever ilumined the coun-
try. Iaughter). Although the President
might be scoffed at might be ridiculed, might
be abused, might be trampled upon by traitors
to the Constitution of their country and by dis
unionists, Almighty God, at least, would have
his name in letters of gold upon the altar of
christianity. loud laughter, which the Speak
er yainly strove to suppress). He believed that
one pure man at least loved his country and
would stand by the Constitution and laws at
all hazards. He knew that this Congress would
like TO be able to resort to the ostracism Of an
cent Greece, or the despotsms Of modern Rus
sia. He knew that no sense of right would ar
rest the reckless clouds of despotism and tyr
rany that hung over their heads. But never
theless, SO long as he could be here, and it
would be but lor short time, (renewed laugh
teri, he Knew that the Almighty had not given
him power to divine the future, but he had Civ
en- him heart, and that heart was welded to
the Constitution. All that he would ask when
he died was that the legacy of the Constitution
might be handed down to his posterity as the
brightest casket of civil liberty ever given to
the Western or Eastern Continent, to the de-
generate sons of noble sires. (Renewed laugh
teri. Although he was a young man, although
his warning voice might not be heard or might
be scoifed at by millions who might see his
words in print, yet he felt it his duty toiwarn
the people that they must preserve that inval-
uable instrument the Constitution and must
be governed by it as landmark of civil liber-
ty, under which the Democratic party had led
the country to greatness and glory for seventy
years. l" -4 7t4
Mr.. Rogers resumed his seat notwithstanding
he was invited to go on a
On motion of Mr.. Lawrence the bill was re-
committed to the Judiciary COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Blaine, from the Military Committee, re-
ported bill authorizing the President to con-
fer breyet rank on officers of the United States
army on account of gallant conduct in the vol
unteer service. The bill was read three times
and passed.
The bill to regulate the appointments to and
amendments Offered, and disposedsof without
conclusive action. The bill was postponed till
tomorrow and ordered to be printed with all
the pending amendments.
Mr.. Cooper presented the credentials of Mr.
Epperson, Representative electirom the second
district of Texas. Referred to the Reconstruc-
ton Committee.
The House at 335 adjourned.