Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1867-03-02
ASHTABULA, OHIO, SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 1867
thority of the Union, and taking their
places Loyalty in the family circle of the

thority of the Union, and taking theil
places Loyalty in the family circle of the
States.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, I am aware that
this is severe and stringent measure.
do not hesitate to say that 1 give my as
sent to its main features with many mis-
givings. / am not unmindful of the grave
suggestions of the gentlemen from New
York (Mr. Raymond in reference to the
history of such legislation in other coun,
tries and other ages. remember, too.
that upon the wall of Imperial Rome, a
Pratorean guard announced that the
world was for sale to the highest bidder,
and the legions knocked down the Imper-
ial purple to Nero the highest bidder.
beg to remind the gentleman that this is
not a proposition to commit the liberties
OF the Republic into hands of the militia
ry. 1t is new article of war command
ing the army to return to its work of put
ting down the rebellion-by maintaining
the honor and keeping the peace of the
nation. If the officers of our army should
need such suggestion, let them remem-
Der that no people on the face Of the earth
have shown themselves so able to pull
down their idols as the American people.
However much honored and beloved a
man may be, if the day ever comes when
he shows himself untrue to liberty they
will pluck him out of their very hearts
and trample him indignantly under
their feet We have seen this in the his
tory, of the last five years, and in the po-
litical history of the last campaign.
Now, we propose for short time to
assign our Army to this duty for specific
and benefcent purposes, namely to keep
the peace until we can exercise the high
functions enjoined upon us in the Con
stitu tion, OF giving to these States re-
publican governments based upon the
will of the whole loyal people. The
Generals of our Army enjoy in Won
derful degree the confidence of the ma
ton, but if for any cause the most honor
ed among them should lay his hands
unlawfully upon the liberty of the hum
blest citizen he would be trampled un-
der the feet of millions of indignant free
man. We are not, as some gentleman
seem to suppose, stretching out helpless
hands to the Army for aid, but we are
commanding them, as public servants
to do this work in the history of liberty.
| have spoken only of the general pur-
pose of this BILL / now desire to say
that am not satisfied with the manner
in which it is proposed to pass it through
this House. demand that it be OPEN
ed for amendment as well as discussion.
| will not consent that any one man or
committee in this House shall frame
bill of this Importance and compel me to
vote'for or against it without an oppor.
tunity to suggest amendments to its
provisions. However unimportant my
own opinions may be, other men shall
not do my thinking for me- There are
some words which want stricken out of
this bill and some limitations | want adj
ded. | at least shall ask that they be
considered. thrust the gentleman who
has the bill in charge will allow full
trial of proposals for change, and the bill,
properly guarded, may become a law.