Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-08-03
Gen. Cameron on the KecOnst-uc
lion B1ll.

Our Senator indulged in few remarks on
the Reconstruction bill before it's passage in
the Senate, which we find reported in the
Congressional Globe. 1t will be observed
that Gen. Cameron takes the right view of
this important question, and represents his
constituents in the fullest sense. If the
South had not followed the advice of Andy
johnson, Jerry Black, and similar rebels,
their restoration would hayo Seen accom-
plished ere this. The General said:
Mr.. President, did not intend to say a
word on this subject, and l shall only say
one or two words now. l regret very much
that my colleague is not able to vote for
this report. | am glad to arrive at any
decision here which will bring this Union
together again and have thought that
was the desire of my colleague also. In my
judgement if the executive officer of the
Government had let well enough alone, we
should not have been called here now, and
there would have been no necessity for an
other bill on this subject want the Union
restored, but want those people who have
been in rebellion, and who have brought ali
this trouble upon the country, to know that
they have done wrong. If they had been
let alone after the surrender of Lee, am
sure it would not have been necessary for US
to pass any of these bills that are called re-
construction bills. think, too, that if their
ofiicious friends, their unwise friends, had
let we'll enough alone since the last adjourn
mcnt of Congress, it would have been better
for them, and perhaps better for the country.
Now, sir, l vote for this measure with the
desire that it shall be the end of our legisla-
~. Il. I.,,t 81, Ia Of Ia
South are not content with the clemency OF
Congress, then say hope we shall come
back again and give them something else
They have been rebels to the Government
they have tried to destroy it, and they had
no right to expect the clemency with which
Congress has treated them.
When look back to the history of ott r:
countries find that from the time of the
Stuarts it was the Parliament which saved
the liberties of the people; and am salts
fed now that it is the representatives OF thu
people who are going to save the liberties
of this couatry. / dislike all this mawkish
ness which we hear about constitutions
questions, What mockery to hear pratinf
about the Constitution from the mouths o
those who have disregarded the Constitu
tion; who sought not only to destroy tn
Constitution, but to destroy the who'll
country, and who, when they were in rebel
lion, did all they could to make thcmselve
shameless before the world; who were no
only disgraceful in their conduct, in thei
injuries to their fellow citizens, but to th
whole world. And these people have n
claim TO governmental rights except wha
the people of the North are willing to ex
tend to them. think one of the granoes
spectacles which ever read of in histor
has been that justice which has lately bee
meted out to a man who went down int
Mexico to subvert the liberties of tina
country. believe that if we had been
little more positive in our acts of justic
at the close of this war we should not hav
had the trouble We now have. .-
have only got to say, Mr. President, tina
approve of this bill of the Senate, or
would have taken the bill of the Hous
Either of them was strong enough for m,
Either of them, think, would save us fror
and further trouble. And repeat again,
this does not satisfy the people who were
rebellion, shall be willing to como bac
and try to !egislste them into the Union.