Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-05-11
VOL. XX---NO. ITO.


n have the bill vetoed.
Mr.. BINGHAM replied he was not feal
ful of any veto from the other end Of th
I avenue that could defeat the final trump
Of the constitutional amendment Wbs
was to be gained by retaining this thir
section 1t had been said that it was in
capable Of execution, and that was his owl
: opinion. An amendment to the constitu
# ton which was not to be executed ought no
= to be put into the constitution.
Mr.. STEVENS closed the debate. Ht
said he was very glad to see the great un.
e animity existing among all true friends O
9 | the Union in the House upon all the pro.
visions Of the proposed amendment, except
| the third section, but he was grieved to SEE
t / any division among them on what he con-
, sidered 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 resO-
I luton was passed or not. lift 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.
Hero ensued a scene Of confusion in the
hall, arising from members croWding
around and drawing near to Stevens.
The SPEAKER directed the members TO
take their seats.
Mr.. STEVENS resuming, said he should
be sorry if the third section were struck
out, because then before any portion of the
amendment could be put into operation the
other side Of the House would be filed with
| yelling secessionists and approving Copper
heads. Give US, therefor, he continued, the
/ third section, or give Us nothing. Do not
mock US with the pretence ofan amendment
l which throws the Union into the hands
| of its enemies. Gentlemen say we are
| striving for party. do seek to gan my
party when that party is necessary to save
the UniJn. say, rally to your party, and
save that party, or you lose the Union.
do not hesitate to say that that section is
there to save or destroy the Union. Cen
tlemen tell US that il is too strong. Too
strong for what-too strong for their stom-
'ehs, but not for the people. Some say it is
to lenient. 1t is too lenient for my hard
ueart. Would to God that the exclusion of
rebels might not only run to the year 1875,
but to the year 1876. It would be then
but too mild punishment; but hear it
said you must not humble these people. |
Humble them! why not? Do they
not deserve humiliationf Do they not
deserve degradation If they DO |
not, who does. What animal or felon de- |
serves it more2 They have not yet Con-
fessed their sins and why should they be |
forgiven? He who admin sters justice and |
mercy never forgives until the sinner con-
fesses his sin and humbles himself at the /
ioot-stool Of power. We should not forgive |
any more than He. If they are to come |
back let them come in saekcloth and ashes |
Let them come back and ask forgiveness, |
and then let US consider whom we shall |
forgive and whom we shall exclude. That |
is my principle. All regret is that this is |
not sufficiently stringent. Let not these |
friends of secession and secessionists sing |
to me their halcyon songs of peace and good |
will until they can stop my ears 70 the |
shrieks and groans of the dying victims at
Memphis, a scene more horrible in its
atrocities, although less to some extent, than
the terrible tragedy Of Jamaica.
While 1 am willing that those rel tel States
shall be represented here, pray you not to
admit those who have caused the slaughter
Of millions of our countrymen while their
clothes are still wet with blood. Wait |
until they are differently clad. do not /
want TO sit side by side with men whose |
garments smell of the blood of my kindred. |
Gentlemen forget the scenes that took |
place here twenty years ago, when the |
mighty Toombs with his shaggy locks, and |
the Southern fre-eaters with shouts of
defiance rendered this house hell of leg
islation. They seem to forget the scenes
enacted here six years ago, before the
Southern members left the Hall to join the
armies of Cataline, and when encouraged
by their allies they came over here in one
yelling body because a speech for freedom
was being made on this side, and when the
rufian Craig, of North Carolina, drew
pistol, and the assassin Barksdale, of Miss,
drew bowie knife.
Mr.. THAYER reminded Stevens that the
third section did not effect the eligibility Of
those persons as representatives, but merely
excluded them from voting, and he asked
him if he thought he could build peniten
tiary big enough to hold eight millions of
people?
Mr.. STEVENS sir. That peniten-
tiary which is guarded by bayonets, down
below, and if they undertake to come back
we will shoot them. The penitentiary of
He'll is the penitentiary that they deserve.
After some further remarks in tho same
strain, Mr.. STEVENS withdrew the motion
to reeommit and moved the previous ques-
ton.
Mr.. GARFIELD inquired of the Speaker
whether, in case the previous question was
not seconded, it would be in order for him
to move to amend by striking out the third
section and offering the amendment sug-
gested by Mr.. Mckee, preventing those who
nad voluntarily taken part in the rebellion
from holding Office under the U. S. govern
ment.
The SPEAKER replied that motions and
amendments would be in order if the pre-
vious question should not be seconded.
The House divided and the SPEAKER
counted, yeas 90; nays 81. The Democratic
members almost all voted aye, in order to
prevent any amendment of the isint resolu-
ton.
The tellers were demanded and vote or
dered. The result was the same. So the
previous question was seconded.
On the question: 4" Shall the main ques-
ton be now put?' the House voted by yeas
and nays-the result being yeas s4; nays
70.
At this time the galleries were crowded,
and as the vote progressed the greatest in
] terest and excitement was manifested by
members, some of whom stood together in
| groups, discussing chances; while some
were actively employed in arguing eonse-
quences and trying TO enforce their views
upon others. The Democratic members
generally carried out their policy, which
was to prevent any amendment Of the
joint resolution
Mr.. FARNSW0RTH wanted TO know
whether at this stage of the measure mo-
tion to recoommit with instruction was in
'-de- hut the Speaker informed him that
Il was not.
The HOUSE then voted OF the passage OF
the joint resolution.
The name of Mr.. RAYMOND was called,
and voted aye. The Republican members
clapped their hands and laughed trium-
phantly.
The SPEAKER directed the Clerk to call
his name as a member Of the House, and
the name Of Schuyler Colfax being called he
responded "Aye."
The SPEAKER in announcing the vote
said, ''Two-thirds voting in the Affirmative
declare the joint resolution passed"
The announcement was crested with con-
siderable jubilee in the House.
The House proceeded to other business.
On motion Of Mr.. WASHBURNE, of ILL.,,
the evening sessions were dispensed with
until further orders. The reason for the
motion he stated to be that the business Of
the House was much in advance Of that of
the Senate, and that the reporters were
wearied out with their constant labor.
Subsequently Mr.. Washburne moved, on
similar grounds, that when the House ad-
journ to-day it adjourn until Monday next.
The motion was agreed to, with sort OF
half understanding that the vacation would
extend TO Tuesday.
SENATE.
The House Bill to authorize the Vice Ad-
r,iraT of the Navy to appoint Secretary