Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-05-24
FAYETTEVILLE, TENN:
Thursday Morning, May "a. 1866.
The Reconstruction Bill.

Hlo JILL pooSSo viz ~
the 10th, by over two-thirds ma
jority, and has gone to the Sen
ate, where it will be taken up this
week and probably amended
Thad. Stevens, of Pa, opened and
closed the debate on the bill in
the House. 1t is right for our
people to be informed of what is
said and done by such leaders as
Stevens. Therefore we give a
sketch of his most bitter and ma
lignant remarks:
Mr.. Stevens closed the debate.
He said he was very glad to see
the great unanimity among the
friends of the Union in the House
upon all the provisions of fhe pro-
posed amendment except the third
section; but he was grieved to see
any division among them on what
he considered the vital PROPOSE
ton of the whole amendment;
without it, it amounted tonothing;
without it he would not give a
snapof his finger whether the joint
resolutions passed or not. 1t 1t
failed there would not be power
left among the friends of the I'm
ion in the next Congress to carry
the measures of the Government.
There ensued a scene of con-
fusion in the hall arising from
members crowding around and
drawing near Mr.. Stevens. The
Speaker directed the members to
take their seats.
Mr.. Stevens resuming said he
should be sorry if the third sec
ton was struck out, because then,
before any portion of the amend
ment could be put into operation,
the other side of the House would
be filled with yelling secessionists
and approving copperheads. Give
us, therefore, he continued, the 3rd
section, or give us nothing. Do
not mock US with the pretense OF
an amendment which throws the
Union into the hands of its enc
mics.
Gentlemen say we are striving
for party. l do seek to gain
power for my party, when that
party is necessary to save the
the Union. 1 say, rally to your
party or you lose the Union. l
/ do not hesitate to say that that
section is there to save Or destroy
the Union. Gentlemen tell us it
is too strong. For what too
strong? For the stomach, but
not too strong for the people
Would to God that the exclusion
of rebels might not only run to the
year 1870, but to the year 1876.
It would be then but too mild a
punishment.
But / hear that you must not
humble these people. Humble
them, why? Do not they deserve
humiliation? Do not they deserve
degradation? If they don't who
does? What animal or felon de-
serves it more? They have not
yet confessed their sins. Why
should they be forgiven? He who
administers justice never forgives
until the sinner confesses his sin
and humbles himself at the foot
stool of power, which we should
not forgive any more than he
If they come back, let them come
and ask forgiveness, and then let
US consider whom we shall forgive
and whom we shall exclude.
This is my principle. All /
regret is that this is not sufficient
lystringent. Let not these friends
of secession and secessionists sing
to me their songs of peace and
good will until they can stop my
ears to the shrieks and groans of
the dying victims at Memphis
A scene more horrible in its atroci-
ties, though not to the same extent,
than the terrible tragedy of jana
lea. While [ am willing those
rebel States shall be represented,
here, l hope you will not admit
those who caused the slaughter of
millions of our countrymen while
their clothes are still wet with
blood. Wait till they are differ
emily clad.
/ do not want to sit side by side
with men whose garments smell
of the blood of my kindred. Gen
tlemen forget the scenes that took !
place here twenty years ago, when |
the niohtv Toombs. with his shar /