The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-01-24

understand how ono may say rat noa any o
common sense Or eommon oald ever sSpp o.
y possible Tor tho people OF the 500 To- III not bot
franchise men esteemed by thsu equA athsy them
tci tpan Shemseives Tor an offence OF whts omprrhep
serves were equally guilty, "a beyond my the me,
sion. You ask the Southern people to betras tbos
whom they trust. You ask them TO disnon@ from
whom they honor 10 uproos the Affection OF years ~
their hearts You ask them strike With serpsA
tooth the bosom Of friend But until human nssos>
able men, 10 ave themselves, to oven their
lives, would not incur tho guilt OF such unnatural
reachery oy voting TOR such provision When y was
pending before tho Senate, June 8, 1868 urged and
mplored senators 10 allow tho several provisions OF
that amendment to DO separately submitted and voted
upon and warned friends OF the measure that this
provision would inevitably defeat its adoption BY overy
Southern state Bat sir tho majority were deaf TO all
Appeals Tho caucus had resolved the deed was 20 be
donoi and Il was dona On account, mainly. Of thai
provision. the amendment rejected almost unani-
mDnsiy by every Southern State Again. whom exam
med closely ws ind that provision required
them TO vote % disranchse thousands who had
reserved pardon aad amnesty, and restoration to
all their rights IS citizens under tbs proclamsuons
OF President Lincoln and President johnson. by
virtue Of law OF Congress. which y0u yourselves on
acted, which expressly authorized them TO grant such
pardon and amnesty upon just such terms they
thought proper. An amendment offered by me In the
senate the sst OF May 1860. to except those men who
had duly receigo cd pardon ana amnesty under the con-
stlution add laws voted down by an UNFOLDING
majority can never WOW this provision IN any other
hight than most palpablc VIOLATION OF tho pighted
a'tn OF this government gwen 90 those persons the
most soomn iorm II the Emperor OF Russia by proc
Mmal,on wero 70 grant fun pardon to such Poles a.
would take an oath OF allegiance to his crown and
4 ho should Afterwards deliberately break his
word, what denunciations would DO and ought
TO be heaped upon his head by the civil
izcd worlis rhs perndy Of such an action would
only be equalod by its folly measure Of pacica
ton to Poland Congress authorized the President 10
give pardon and amnesty to thousands whom Congress
now Gala upon tho people Of tho south to vote TO dis
provson Witch no sentiment Of justice should tolerate
or excuse. 10 that sweeping Acknowledgement dis
tncsion whatever IS made betvoen those who volun-
md IN QtfoA
tho rebellion no distinction Whatever between the
innocent and the guilty Pho senate will remember that
amendment restrict that Acknowledgement TO those
who had voluntarily engaged in the rebellion;
orlty. Partisan zcai and party necessity may account
for many things But when tho history OF these times
shall he written Il will incredible to poserty
that learned mon and able Senators could for
moment bring themselves to believe it possible that the
people of the South should vote for such
1t contains still another Objectionable feature IN viola
ton OF important principle in every good govern
ment c0nounding executive with legislative duties II
there DO any prcrogative which than por
tains to the executive in all governments ancient and
modern, that prerogatye is the power Of pardon This
amendment proposes TO change tho constitution 20
confer il upon the two houses Congress It is
revolutionary. and worse than that. IL vetoes the
power Of ciomency ia advance II not only takes
that power from the President, but takes IL away
from majority Of Congress, and requires twothirds OF
both houses In order to exercise the power pardon
the majority which necessary to pass law over
the Presidential veto. In what civilized government
upon Garth there such restriction upon the
power OF pardon Can II DO found even among tho
savage tribcs' SIR this amendment makes it mpossi-
he for majority Of tho people of the United states
by the choice Of President or by the election Of the
houses OF Congress, TO grant patdon and amnesty. l
speak with all becoming respect for ths opinions OF
Others aud for tho sincerity Of their motives know
provision by its words standing in Its light
seems TO DO born OF distrust tho ntelligen and
magnan'my Of the people; tho offspring OF COW.
ardcO and revenge. OF unforgiving hate and
iust for political power And because the Iogisla.
OF the South rejected such q proposition that
Congress should enforce this policy establish
combined negro and military despotsm all the states
of the South and under it, iron heel tranple the
and kindred and people Mr. President
Congress has proposed from time TO time schemes
but they may all be resolved INTO two distinct policies
radically opposed 70 zach other first, by
the constitutional amendment the white basis sec.
ond reconstruction by negro suffrage and military force
The rsv assumed that peace had come that the states
were IN the Union with governmenss organized with
Legislatures having power to retfy to reject contu
tional amendments; and Furthermore, that those gov.
ernments were in the hands OF white men, with
power as in all the other States to admit exclude
negroes from suffrage. And, in the anne ami
adopted ny tnrcefourths Of the States tho only
oect OF admitting excluding negroes The ballot
in ANY state would be change ia number Of votes i,
the other House Ok Congress and !. isA Electoral Col
NY. 20 second assumes that still NJ war
the Southern S!atcs arc not states in the Union at
4 all, but conquered provinces, with no Legislatures
which either rafy reject constitutional amend
ment; that tho white people OF those states shall no
Congress shy y the bayonst viii the
and enfrsnchse the blacks ana tns military power
and negro votes compel The adoption Of :
80 rejected the constitutional apeqdmen. Con
s-oy. now escorts TO tho bayolst aRd QsgIo SUI
a ssss to =. as.p,0n f.s sd nsy
ua ~ XIV Tho volss Of toir Leg sIatures They could
rseci !. Il no other way for only their legss
that rssc, 'ns , qS lion 81: how
lures al ain II tisy baa legislatures which could reject
i they had legislatures Sn,o, could lyi{is TO do
other is the highest act o. s'se segsaiufe for IL
then acts upon the fundamental law h6t 6ny Of s
state and people but OF all the States and all the people
OF tho Unilsd states. Concedng they had powor
q right do you deny 70 those legislatures power to
choose senators in this body AS we'll deny
to living body the right 70 breathe; But
smendmeuI then they had legislatures which
had the right TO vote. But %. they voted 10 reject
other words il they voted With you they had right 10
vote &c they voted against you they had no right TO
vote at ALL
Tho PRECEDENT announced the SPECIAL business the
resolution admit Dir. Thomas. Senator elect from
Mr. HrsDRIcxs (dem) Of Ind, moved TO postpone
the special order and allow the senator to conclude bis
remarks.
stances would have objections but Of the
traodnary OF tho senator in she floor
in thu morning hour TO make political speech he would
call for tho regular order of business
Mr. TsunsULr, lrCpl OF III, had no objection 10 the
continuation Of this partisan speech the subject was
contiuued he ready NJ time she abomi
nabio doctrines set up aud donouncc them in fitting
terms.
Mr Doorrrrx preferred to continue. but asked no
ravors He willing to wait until tho morning bus
ness wag disposed OF.
Mr HsxDRcxs said thsre was no occasion for the sx-
element shown by Mr.. TruDbuii because these quss-
lions would sssuredly discussed here and elsewhere
Mr. TRraBuLI disciaimed any excitement, and said
he was only little astonshed et tho erontsry Of the
gsntiepnn who always assumed that the constitution
was invaded and yet claimed that those who bad at
tempted 10 overthrow II the proper persons 10
care for the negro. II the Senator from Indiana Mr
HendrcksI would waive his motion 10 continue this
question after Mr. Dooitts concluded 10 would vote
for IL.
Mr. CoxK!sye, trep) OF n r., condemned the course
OF Mr. DooIte az violating the rules in exploding
prepared speech Offensive the sense Of majority Of
the Senate 10 tho morning hour. On motion for refer
encs he had objection " opportunity was given Tor
reply which under the present circumstances was not
afforded.
Mr. cosvsss, (repl OF Cal, said the Judiciary Ccm-
mttee had already considered the subject fully and he
would support motion 10 sko up and decide tnis ques
s,on now without referring TO the committee.
Mr. NusoS, trep) Of Mass, had no objection, IL Mr.
Johnson who had offered the resolution In Mr. Thomas
r1,a tn INF