The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-06-18
RECONSTRUCTION.

States lately in insurrection to their
full political rights, thus delivered
himself:
Mr.. Harris, of Maryland, next took
the floor, but spoke so low that It was
almost impossible to hear him in the
gallery. He said that having been, up
10 this period of the session, silent
member from choice, he deemed 1t his
duty to declare his views upon some OF
the political questions. He should con-
slider it a most ignoble act to win the
support or endorsement of any man
by the least concealment or deception.
He declared that in principle, he stood
now as he stood before the war-as he
stood after war was declared-aS he
stood in the last Congress when he re-
ceived its crown of censure-as he stood
in prison and before that Internal in
strument of tyranny, court-martlal.
As he stood in principle SO, would he
stand in practice whenever occasion re-
Quired. When he indicated that there
has been no change in his principles,
this country and the House could infer
what his position now was. He was an
old line democrat and believed in the
doctrine of secession. He believed that
the several States of this Union had the
right to separate from it, each acting
for Itself. He believed that abuses and
usurpations had been practiced and
threatened 10 50 SISdI III SAtShA ~
their associates and partners IN this
Governmental compact, that the South
ern States were justified in going out;
and he further declared that by their
ordinance of secession they did go out
and thereby became foreign States.
These convictions he could not change,
nor did he think they could be re-
moved. He would stand by them and
proclaim them as long as citizen OF
the Confederate States was in chains,
or subject to penalty for asserting those
convictions. There was no political or
personal considerations which would
prompt him to such a desertlOn. Tie
right of secession is the only thing that
preserves them from the charge oftrea-
son. His voice would ever accord with
his convictions.
Mr.. Harris proceeded to state that
there were some things in the speech OF
the President on the 22d of February
which he approved. The sentiment
that there should be no taxation with
out representation came to him like the
voice of John the Baptist. 1t was the
true doctrine. But it would be seen
that he was ayerse to the Presidents
reconstruction policy, that Andrew
johnson had been consistent in his pol
lev in following Lincoln and the party
that elected him. In his (AIr. Harris
view the Southern seeded States had
no right to representation on this floor
or in the Senate, and in his vote here
tofore he had invariably voted against
every application which has been made
by any person claiming any such right,
He thought those States had no right TO
furnish a President or Vice President.
Andrew johnson being citizen of a
seeded State, is, in his Mr.. H's) opin-
ion, only President de fIctO, forced upon
the country by their votes, attended by
that very effective implement-the bay
onet-
He contended that Tennessee would
have to be admitted into the Union by
act of Congress, and he elaborated this
view. Looking to the laws which the
Republican party might enact, MIR.
Harris said, there is something in the
spirit of the southern people that will
thwart your designs. II they have
lowered the standard of their COnfed-
eracy they have not lowered the stand
ard of their pride-a becoming pride in
the estimation of their enemy. The
Southron has around him, without
speaking of the merits of the late con-
test, tokens of the endurance, courage,
and prowess of his people-sad spec
tacIe, though it be, it will not diminish
his tone that he can on his own soil
walk over the graves of nearly three
hundred thousand ofhis courageous en-
emies, and
"standIng on the Yankees grave,
He will not deem himself a slave"
TSensation,1 at this point the entire
House gathered around Mr.. Harris, and
listened attentively. The aisles and
spaces were all filled. Mr.. Harris con-
tinued:-There were, he said, thank
God, Southern States enough to make
the Constitutional amendment passed
Yesterday intellectual. Hethen referred
10 all of isms which originated in what
he called the Christian North, and said
that the contrast could be carried fur
ther. Booth, the assassin, was not
caught, but ,,6rGUeLy shot, by soldiers.
He was brought to this city dead, in
order that the reward for his arrest
might be secured by proving his idenIi-
ty. After that his entrails were torn
out and thrown to the hogs, his head
adorns some chronological museum,
his heart is preserved in spirits, his
spinal column can be seen, by which the
learned will see how he must have suf-
fered by the near approach of the bullet
to the marrow of the spinal. The rest
of his remains were deposited God and
our Northern Secretary of war only
know where. We know they were not
handed over to his poor broken hearted
mother, that she might exclain, would
to God L had died for thee, Absalom,
my son, my sonp
Mary SurraLt was convicted, ofcourse.
She was tried by court martial Her
immediate execution was ordered She
entreated for four days to enable her to
overcome the shock, and be better pre-
pared to meet her God. ''Not an hour!"
Numbered forth the voice from the War
Department! son with the gallows,
the coffin and the graveW The angels
of Heaven shall not rejoice over one re-
pentant sinner. Angels of mercy
sought the higher authority, and proba-
bly, more merciful heart, but Preston
King was janitor that day, and they
Echo answers, wherel She was then
executed speedily, and Notwithstanding
her heart-broken daughter has made
application for her remains, so that she
might pour forth her sorrows, they are
still in the keeping of the War Depart
ment. Pontius Pilate delivered the
body of Jesus to Joseph, but worse
than Pontius PLATE is herel Is this a
specimen of Northern civilization and
christianity T?
These things were done by Northern
men, without any denunciation from
the great Northern, enlightened, civil
lied Republican party! Not one word
have 1 heard from your Greedy, your
Beecher, your Cheevers, and your
strong-minded Massachusetts women
in rebuke of these demoralizing acts,
Mr.. Harris then reviewed what he
called the Southern picture of the trial
and execution of John Brown, whose
crime was kindred to that of Booth
He then argued that secession had been
justified in the North, and declared
that IL was time 10 throw away the
words that these Southern people were
traitors and murderers. In conclusion
he said: These words of murderers and
traitors only spring from a depraved
spirit of revenge, and with wise and
considerate statesmen and patriots
should never be allowed to interpose
| obstacles to the renninn. which all snci