Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-03-02
The Chief Clerk read as follows
Rooms GRANT AND CoLFAX ASS NJ.

Sir: At meeting OF this association, held |
this evening the following resolutions were
unanimously adopted;
ReSolred That this association earnestly
protest against the removal of disabilities from
Office holders who have, in violation OF the
constitutional amendment held and used their
positions against proper reconstruction OF
this State; and especially would this ASSOCIATION
| protest against such removal from Juuge
| John A. Meredith, William A. Charters. Asa
| Rogers and William +. Taylor being convinced
that they are not fit subjects for such clemency'
Int that il would be dangerous and tend TO In
courage disloyaty. 49,,
Peso7ycl, That copy Of the above resolution
he forwarded to prominent Republican Senators
| and REPRESENTATIVES in Congress anu TO inc
| Reconstruction Committee.
President.
@. l.. RICHARDS,
Hon z CHANDLER. Secretary.
Mr.. Couuess. The Senator from Connect
cut undertakes to render the testimony pre-
scntcd in regard to the disoyalty OF this man
inapplicable to the ease by throwing SUSPICION
upon it because this party holds civil ONCE
/ Now. sir. | take it there are men In those
States whose testimony we should accept with
out aspersing it and them by attrlbuting mo-
tiyes of that kind If the honorable Senator
knows 4 case where q man is governed BY
motives of that character 1t Is well to state II.
[ might az well say that the honorable Senator
| opposition TO this amendment comes from ms
known position he being In favor OF relieving
| all rebels from all disability whatever. But |
did not bring that into the argument OF this
case. There is positive testimony that this Is
an unfit man to whom to extend again at THIS
| time the privileges OF citizenship which ne
once possessed and threw Oft, making himself
an enemy OF the country and OF society," AS L
| before observed there can nc no motive on the
part of Senators here opposing the removal OF
disabilities from any particular person. hold
in my hand letter touching this man. / do
not see fit TO occupy the time by reading 1t, but
| know the writer and believe his statement.
| know him well. | believe him to be q man
without guile, of good character, q patriot; and
| thnk we can afford to let MIR. Rogers remain
in his present position for some little time to
come.
Mr.. Trumbull | am exceedingly glad that
the Senator from Michigan has sent this paper
to the desk to be read. 1t shows, and wish
Senators to see, the position that the Senate oil
the United States and the Congress OF the
United States, are TO be placed IN according to
the theory OF my friend from Michigan Ii the
Congress of the United States is to be made
the mere registrar OF Grant and Colfax club
ia the city of Richmond think Congress had
best adjouro. will read this paper aud will
show upon what the objection is made to the
removal OF the disabilities of this Individual.
It i simply a political club in the city OF Rich
| mOnd, and they state not one TACT against the
person whose disabilities they modesLly ask
| Congress not to remove because the Grant and
Colfax club of the city OF Richmond advise
that it should not be done. Now, let US see
what they say
'ROoMs GRANT AMP CoLFAX Assn,
RICHMOND, VA, FEB. q, 1869
AT Il meeting of this association, held this
evening, the following resolutions were unanl-
mously adopted
This is signed by George Rye, president,
and C.. l.. Richards, secretary. Who was at
the meeting whom they represented, how ex
tensiye the meeting was, we have no informa-
ton whatever. What was their resolution
"Resoicel, That this association earnestly
protest agains. the remova! OF disabilities from
o1iccholderS.
/ suppose they want the Offices themselves.
Mr.. Upton. They have right to have
them
Mr.. Trumbul Suppose the people 60 not
thiak proper TO elect them; suppose the PEG
pie Of Virginia think proper to elect somebody
else has the Grant and Colfax club right to
have them? Does the Senator from Nebraska
| mean to say that they have right to have
them in defiance Of the people?
Mr.. Howard. They have undoubtedly.
Mr. 1rumbull. They have undoubtedly, the
Senator from Michigan thinks Ii the people
think proper t. elect man who does not be-
long to the Grant and Cofax club in the State
of Nebraska, does the Senator from Nebraska
rise here and say they shall not be permitted
to do it? Is that the doctrine?
Mr. Upton Will the gentleman allow me
to answer that now?
Mr. Trumbull. Certainly.
Mir Upton. will say that If the people Of
the State of Nebraska should elect man who
is so far yet stepped in rebellion as that he is
diStlsteul to minority Of the people of the
State OF Nebraska--a very small and insignifi
cant minorty--and if he cannot hold that Office
uotiI he is qualified by the Republican repre-
sentative OF the United States, | as one of
them will never permit that maj GRITTY OF the
people OF Nebraska to be heard In his favor
while | can control it in favor OF minority OF
the loyal people in the Senate OF the United
States.
Mr.. TrumbuIl The Senator would override
a majority Of the people in his State and deny
to them the right to elect, a person to office
whom they think proper to elect, and he would
remove no polite disabilities at all ,as under
stand him. He puts 1t upon the ground that
he will not relieve the political disabilities OF
person whom the people want to serve them
where they know him, are acquainted with
him, ana have thought he was the most proper
| mao.
MIR. Tipton. say that where the opinion
of the minority Of the loyal people Of that
State and the opinion Of the Representatives
of the loyal people in Congress nave to be
united for his exclusion he is excluded by the
viii OF the majority of the people OF this
country.
Mr.. Trumbul Then a minority OF the peo-
pie Of the locality that have right to elect
have right to dictate who the officers shall be,
and the people OF the other States are to come
in from distance and control that majority.
What becomes OF your local organizations?
What becomes of your organization IN the
State of Nebraska when majority of the peo