Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-03-09

Mr.. Rogers, resuming his denuncation Of tn
Reconstruction Committee, declared that NOR
fatal and bloody tyranny did not insult hu
manity.
Mr.. Randall Dem, Pa inquired whether
the gentleman was at liberty to communicate tC
the House the character Of the tyranny OF that
committee, and what the dangers were with
which it threatened the country.
Mr.. Rogers replied that he was not privileged
to speak Of anything except what had taken
| place publicly in the House, but if the gentle
man would look at the constitutional amend
ments proposed by that committee, he would
see that they were the embodiment Of tyranny.
And what were they all designed fcrl They
were designed for the purpose of keeping eleven
States out OF the Union. He referred the gen
tlemsn from Pennsylvania to the constitutional
amendment prohibiting State from paying It's
own debt. There was as much right to prevent
New Jersey paying hers; TO the constitutional
amendments, declaring that no State shall
retain or pass laws maxi ng any distinction Of
race or color, and the constitutional amendment
stripping the people Of the Southern States Of
millions Of dollars worth Of property invested
under the Constitution Of the United States
He hoped that no Southern State would ever
subscribe to such conditions
Mr.. Kelley inquired what debt the States
were prevented from paying.
Mr.. Rogers-It is proposed to-day to prohibit
the payment Of the rebel debt. Such a measure
is the very emblem and quintessence Of desp0t-
ism and tyranny.
Mr.. Kelley-I beg leave to ask whether New
Jersey contracted any debt in support Of the
late Coafederacy.
Mr.. Rogers-I suppose the gentleman does
not want to insult me.
Mr.. Kelley-I only ask the question because
the gentleman insists that we have no right to
prevent New Jersey from paying her debts.
Mr.. Rogers used that as argument to
show that New Jersey stood in the same position
as South Carolina "a laugh.) And | tay
that South Carolina has as much right to come
into the halls Of Congress in the persons of her
Senators and Representatives as Pennsylvania
has.
Nr. Kelley am satisfied. a laugh.)
Nr. Rogers then went on to argue the uneon-
stitutionality Of the test oath.
Mr.. Mckee (Ky.) inquired whether the gen.
tleman from New Jersey was in favor Of null
liiying law Of Congress before the consttu-
tonality Of that law had been passed upon by
the proper tribunal
Mr.. Rogers-No, sir, I am not for nulliiying |
a law Of Congress; but have a right to stand /
here and protest against a law which l believe I
TO be unconstitutional
Mr.. McKee-How could YOU have representa- |
tives from South Carolina before the test oath /
is decided TO be constitutional
Mr.. Rogers-The way to get them into the I
House Is to repeal that law; to recognize in the /
spirit OF Christianity the people Of the South as
our brethren; to remember that their fathers .
and ours fought side by side by on the fields Of /
the revolution. Repeal this obnoxious and un-
just law. and let every one OF the States Of the
Union be represented here.
Mr.. Schenck (Ohlo)-Are You opposed TO
every alteration Of the Constitution, on the
ground that it has a tendency to change that
instrument? (Laughter.)
Mr.. Rogers-That is one Of the grounds
Lsughter.) Another ground j. that it is dan
gerous 10 interfere with the landmarks that cur
athers have set; another ground is that all
hese amendments have tendency TO keep
,leven States out Of the Union, and prevent the
.onsummation Of the great object for which our
ol1iers offered their lives.
Mr.. Rogers spoke for an hour and a half. his
ime having been extended.