The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-05-06
xxx1x CoHenEss--rrnsr SESSION.

HOUSE.
WAsHIxorox, May s.
The Houss met for general debate on the
Presidents annual message as if in commit
tee Of the whole.
Nj Phelps addressed the House on the sab
ject of reconstruction. and supporting the
position assumed by the President.
Mr.. Ingersoll spoke for abont two hours.
His speech excited much interest and amuse-
ment. -
Mr.. Eldridge sent to the clerks desk and
had an article read from the weekly National
Democrat, stating that ct the trst battle OF
Bull Run, Mr.. lngersoll ventured as far as
Fairfax Court House, and then made the ac-
quaintsuce of sone If his secesh friends,
aud that on his return to Peoria, he declared,
in substance, that the people of Virginia
were the noblest Of Gods creation. and that
the Government might as well attempt to
pluck the stars from the heavens as to attempt
to crush the South. Also, that about three
weeks before the last nomination of Mr..
Lovejoy to Congress, Mr.. Ingersoll said that
Mr.. Lovejoy's defeat by a conservative man,
(meaning himself), was worth thirty thousand
men to the cause Of the Union.
Mr.. Ingersoll asked If that was the copper.
head paper OF Peoria.
Mr. Eldridge replied that it was the paper
which supported the Union party, which had
gone for the Union, and still did.
Mr. Ingersoll said he was used to being
villifed and slandered by that dirty, little, dis
picable, contemplate, slanderous paper. The
statement was false from beginning to end.
Never since treason broke out had his lips
uttered any words except in encouragement
to the loyal North, and in denunciation Of
treason.
NJ. pu.Jnu &c Do,r,xJ,o,,o ea,d bo bo 4
listened with some interest TO the vehement
declamations against the p resident, of the
gentleman from Illinois. He had drawn his
sword against the President never to be
sheathed, perhaps, until the political death
of either. He, Randall, was not the defender
of the President, indeed, the President
needed no defender; he was quite able and
ready to defend himself, but to show that
there was nothing inconsistent in the Presi-
dent s proposition, he referred to the Chicago
platform OF 1860. in which, he said, the prin,
ciples Of State Rights was clearly laid down
and insisted upon.
Mr.. Ingersoll asked Mr. Randall if he
claimed to be a supporter Of the President 8
policy.
Mr.. Randall replied that be claimed moth !
ing of the kind.
Mr. Ingersoll supposed tn at Mr.. Randall
was trying to show that thepatty was changed,
ard not Andrew johnson.
Mr.. Ingersoll replied that the Republican
party had changed and were showing than the
cloven foot and there would be no peace till
that party was overthrown,8 and until the
principles embodied in the Presidents veto
Of the Freedmen Bureau bal, and the Civil
Rights bill became the question of the
country.
Mr.. Lawrence, Of Pennsylvania, took the
floor to make speech on the subject of the
tariff, but before doing so he wished to ask
his colleague, Randall, whether, to day, be
supported the Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor, Mr.. Hester Clymer.
Mr.. Randall replied that ne did, and be-
heyed his election would aid ia the restoration
of the Union.
Mr.. Lawrence said he asked the question
in order to show by q speech made by the
same Mr.. Clymer in the Senate Of Pennsylva
MIA what he thought Of Nj. johnson two
years ago, when he denounced him as . ruff
fan and q hireling, and un nverthy the conf
dence Of the democratic party. The speech
was then sent to the Speakers desk ana
read, but it did not contain any of the ex-
pressions explained by Mr.. Lawrence, wht
said the Objectionable parts had been sup
pressed by Mr.. Clymer.
| Mr.. Randall denied the responsibility o.
| the Democratic party for any thing Mr. ely
| mer said in his individual capacity.
! Mr.. Lawrence did not intend to say any
| thing offensive to the President, but he die
not like to see him surrounded by Democrat:
who had opposed and denounced him. no.
| did he like to turn the shadow of the Rlai
| family thrown upon him every time he pait
| the President visit. No family in all thu
! land had done SO much to ALLEVIATE the Presi
! dent from the people as that family. and HI
| would apply to it the spirit of remark made
/ by the old Blair in reference to the President
/ mentions that he did not wish him any harm
but could not have any objection if the AL
| mighty should take a strong fancy to him
| Laughter Some times the Blair famil
i was on one side and sometimes on another
1t was found, whenever thrift might folos
/ fawnng, among other proof of democrati
I and Blair influence upon the President, h.
mentioned the fact Of the removal of the L
s. Marshal for the western district of Penn
sylvania, and the appointment, in his place
of man who had been tried by court mar
tial and dismissed the service for frauds com
mitted on the Government.
/ Mr. Lawrence said he believed the Com
mittee on Ways and Means had agreed to re
port just what the wool growers wanted.
Mr. Rogers next addressed the House, de
Tending the President with much warmth
against the attack made upon him bS Nh
IngersolL He was subjected to considerabl
badgering by Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, in regar
to his views on legal Constitutional an
practical questions arising out Of the recon
struction policy. In answer to Mr.. Wilso
he admitted the right of appointing militar
: Governors in time Of war admitted the goo
q effect of President johnson compelling th
Southern States to ratify the Constitutions
amendment abolishing slavery, and expresse
his qualification that slavery was abolished.
At Ave O clock the House adjourned.