Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-01-15
THAN. sTEyENs, LAST SPEECH.
no aoes for the supreme Court


10 n Coordination Of everything
mean IN man and fiendish in devil, ad
$500 the House last Thursday. His
S;anSs sunpressed a full report Of the
afgort with a view Of inducing its mode.
ras;on by lss author. The following is o
more mi synopsis Of it than has as yet
an y, 49, -,
rfhe House hayiugunder consideration
,he Mn reported by Mr.. Stevens, April
qo,h from the Joint Select Committee on
Decentralization. 10 provide for restoring
~ the States lately In insurrection their
S,ll nol;tical rights.
M Stevens said: am very anxious
that this bill should be proceeded with
until the final action. lidesire, II posi-
bic. this should come TO a conclusion. as
to what is 10 be done with the rebel
States. This becomes more and more
necessary every day; and the decision
of the Supreme Court of the United
States has rendered immediate action
on the mart Of Congress upon the ques-
ten Of establishing governments in the
rebel States absolutely indispensable.
That decision, although in terms not so
infamous as the bred Scott decision, is
| vet far more dangerous and disastrous
| In its operation upon the lives and lib
critics Of the loyal mem Of this country.
That decision has taken away even pro-
lection in every one Of the rebel States
from every loyal man, black and white,
who resides there. That decision has
unsheathed the dagger OF the rebel
assassin and put il into the throat OF
every man who dares TO proclaim him
self now and heretofore a Union man.
1.-THE doctrine of that decision be true,
then never were any men in such terri
BILE perils as our loyal brethren In the
South, white and black, whether origin
ally resident there or having gone from
the North.
Mr.. Speaker, unless Congress proceed
at once to do something to protect peo-
pile from the barbarian horde who are
daily numbering them (the whites, and
pulling to secret graves hundreds and
of colored people, unless
Congress proceed 81 once 70 take means
for their protection, | ask you, and any
man who loves liberty, whether we are
not liable to the just censure OF the |
world for our negligence, for our cow
ardice, for our seeming want of ability
to do IT'D 1t is for these reasons, sir,
that insist upon going on with the con-
sideration of the bill. This is an act TO |
enable loyal men in those States, as
far as | could discriminate them, to
form governments and put them in loyal
hands, that they may protect themselves
from the outrages | speak Of Not one
of our Generals commanding depart
ments in the States lately in rebellion
dare, under this decision, order his Off |
GERS to enforce the laws of the country. 1
Ono Of the most atrocious murderers
that was ever let loose upon a community,
Dr. Watson, has been released under
this decision. Therefore, for these rea-
sons it becomes all the more me-
cessary that we should promptly
take means to reorganize the South
Mr.. Stevens proceeded to- read q
written argument in support of the bill.
He gave the condition Of affairs in the
South, and said oatrages we're commit
tod by the late rebels upon loyal per-
sons, white and black and that the
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