The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-18
The Disabilities Bill.

The Disabilities Bill.
Az the main points developed in the pro-
.oed;nrs in Congress on tho bill removing
the political disabilities of certain persons
!. .hc southern States will be interesting
here, we copy them below:
In the House on Tuesday the bill reno
r;nc the legal and political disabilities from
9 large number Of persons in the southern
states was taken up, the question being on
Ar. McKEH's amendment to strike out the
namcs of D. II. Smith, Philip Lee, ]. X.
guey. David 0. Harris, and James w.
Schooling, oil Of Kentucky.
Mr.. MCKEE argued to show that his
amendment should be adopted !, and
MIR. BECK took the opposite side Of the
onest;on. and argued to show that the
amendment should be rejected, and those
persons relieved of their disabilities.
The discussion of the bill was continued
nv Messrs. PAINE, BOUTWELL,, NOR
his. BOYDEN, and RAUM, in advocacy
If il, and by Messrs. SYpHER, SHBLLA-
BARGER, and SHANKS, in opposition to it.
Mr., SHANkS protested against the re-
fussl of o proposition made by him to let
members from the districts where the per-
sons proposed to be relieved reside be heard
MIR. FARNSWORTH said that not sim
ole member from the South protested
against relieving the persons in his district
whom the bill named.
The debate being closed, the first ques-
t;ou WAS taken on the amendment offered
Yesterday by Mr.. BUTLER, Of Massaohu-
setts. to strike out the name of John w.
Wright, sheriff of Richmond, Va.
The amendment was rejected-yeas, As ;
nays, IS.
Mr.. BUTLER inquired whether the
amendment was not carried, as the negative
vote WAS not two-thirds majority.
The SPEAKER replied that the ruling
was uniformly the other way. All inter
veping questions, till the final vote requir-
inc two-thirds majority, were decided by
6 simple majority.
The question was on Mr.. MCKEE's motion
10 strike cut the names from the State of
Kentucky. Rejected-yeas, SIS; nays, lO9.
The next question wac on the passage Of
the bill.
Cir. BUTLER, of Massachusetts,, inquired
Of the SPEAKER whether the House was not
entitled to vote on each name separately,
There were some men named in the bill
whom he was willing to yote for, and others
whom he desired to vote against and he
could not, therefore, exercise his judgment
as to the one without giving up his judg-
ment rs to the other.
The SPEAKER ruled that the gentleman
from Massachusetts had no right to demand
separate vote on individual names. The
lii must be taken as whole; and if it
was so laden down that more than one-third
Of the members we're opposed to it, the bill
would be defeated.
The bill was then passed by the requisite
two-;birds majority-yeas, 100; nays, As.
The SPEAKER voted in the affirmative.
In the SENATE, at the night session, the
same bill which had been received from the
House was taken tip.
MIR. BUCKALEW objected to the bill be-
cause no ground had been shown for the
removal Of disabilities from the persons
named in it that would net be an equally
good reason for removing ell the political
disabilities in those States. He did not
know why these persons we're selected, un-
less il was because they were persons who
could he used to serve the purposes of the
dominant party. lie thought that legisla-
lion removing political disabilities ought,
So a rule, to apply, not to individuals, but
10 classes.
Mr.. STEWART regretted there was not
a more systematic way Of removing disa-
biiIics, hut the rule should be TO relieve
only persons who would respect the law and
sustain the Government OF the United
S,atcs in the communities in which they
i've,
Mr.. ROBERTSON said that the gentle
men in South Carolina relieved by the bill
we're all Democrats.
Mr.. BUCKALEW moved to strike out
the name Of Foster HlodgCtt--a man who
had held Federal Office tor n time after
she war, until suspended, bat who now ap-
reared in this bill as G rebel, resting TN
Qer the political disabilities imposed by the
rebellion.
Air. PQMEROY said that Mr.. Blodgett
had never been suspended from ofhce by
any officer having authority to suspend him
and that the indictment for perjury which
had been assigned AZ The reason for his sus-
pension from office had not been and would
not &C prosecuted.
MIR. TRuMBULL inquired whether
Biodgctt had not sworn in the test-oath
that he had never given aid or comfort to
the rebellion; aud if so, how he came to
need this relief!
Nir. STEWART explained that Mr.
Blodgeit had merely sworn that nc had not
siu,7 the rebellion uONatary aid, but du-
ring the war he had been ccGrccd into doing
something which he feared might disqualify
him under the fourteenth constitutional
amendment. This was Mr.. Blodgetts own
explanation Of the matter.
Mr. BUCKALEW did not believe word
Of MIR, Blodgett's explanation.
Mr. TRUMBULL said that the persons
#ho were relieved by this bill had been
recommended for such relief by the Legis-
Ietures Of their respective States and by the
representatives of those States in Congress
the best possible evidence that they were
deserving persons. He, too. was in favor
Of relieving the DISTINGUISHED people IL
classes so far rs possible, but he hoped i
would be long before the Davises, ant
MaBons, and Slidellg, would be relieved
men who had gone from the Senate Cham
Der to organize rebellion.
MIR. BUCKALEw's amendment was lost.
The bill was then passed by unanimou:
80, Mr.. BUCKALEW remarlling that a!
opposition would merely delay, not change
the result, he thought il useless to make
any.
GENERAL GRANT A RAD1cAL.--The Gin