The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-12-22
AMNESTY.
ben Butler and Sam Cox

Sam Cox on the Amnesty bill OF q a
eral Ben Butler Mr.. Cox's speech va
lengthy, but the extracts we give vii
show its style and sentiment RSa
What business has an amnes' 5 bill
with exceptions? Where is the Grace O
rendering redemption to fallen world
and excepting even the chief Of sinners
the Sauls of the rebellion of sin. Th
offer of salvation should copy tn,
eternal plan. Let all who believe, re
pent, and.would be saved, come and par
take Of the waters Of life freely. lie
its refrain ever end with the inspiring
chant of free grace Hence infer
from the exceptions Of this bill that THU
is an act to perpetuate confiscation, tc
continue reprisals after the enemy ha:
surrendered, and to eternize the spirit
of persecution. 1t has no balm, nc
healing. 1t opens the wound afresh
! did not expect this after the kindly
speech OF the gentleman from Massa
chusetts (Mr. Butler)
Mr.. Speaker, | am not given to lay
stress on dreams; but / dreamed a
dream last night, superinduced by the
persual OF the Scriptures laughter
searching for texts appropriate to this
theme. Laughter. Perhaps 1t va.
also induced by associating the gentle
man from Massachusetts with this
measure OF meager mercy. Laugh
ter. | thought l had accepted the
invitation, which was once rendered, to
attend one Of the grand campmeetings
upon the coast of Massachusetts, held
By tkrongs of the disciples of John
Wesley. thought l saw the gentle.
man from Massachusetts upon his
knees at the Methodist altar. Laugh
ter. He had come at last to the throne
OF free grace, and as he arose a new
light seemed to beam from his counte
mace. Laughter. He was .aluted as
he arose BY the old Methodist refrain
"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound"
Laughter And it seemed to me that
the conversion OF the gentleman was sc
thorough that he was translated to a
new and better sphere see him now,
standing, not on the golden pavements,
but on the walls OF the New Jerusalem.
He has a white robe upon his form.
[ Laughter. He has harp in his
hand. Laughter. He joins the cho-
rus Of the angels aud of just men made
perfect:
"Mercy's free! Mercys free"
Then awoke; and 10, presto he be,
comes the pumed warrior at the head
of his brave Massachusetts, militia,
Tlaughterl to whose camp had also
been invited by him last summer.
thought then my dream was one of the
Irish contraries, and that the Christian
had paled before the martial element
| saw his long red plume. 1t was
moved, as the poet sings, by the gentle
breath of kindness Indeed there is q
parable in my dream, whatever may be
the application. The soldiers of oul
war have been more clement and mag
unanimous than the Gospelers.
perceive the Speaker has resumed
the chair. implore him to go to his
chief, General Grant, and speak the same
manly and Christian sentiments which
the Speaker of Parliament addressed tc
James on a memorable occasion:
II will put you in mind Of story
which Tully relates out OF Thucydides
The Thebans, having overcome the
Lacedemonians. in memory thereof
erected brazen trophy. A complaint
was made before the Amphictyonc
Council that by that trophy the mem
orv OF their civil disesrd was made eter
nal. Their judgment was that it should
be abolished, because it was not fitting
that any record should remain Of dis
cord between Greek and Greek.
When the Roman Senate begged Ii
berius to erect an altar Of vengeance
commemorative the death of Piso, who
fell in civil strife, that monarch re
piled:
Monuments should commemorate
foreign conquests, not domestic calaml
ties.
When Cesar, over element, because
great, came from the overthrow OF Cato
at Utica, he celebrated four triumphs
but avoided all refereLce TO his chic
achievement; for in Spain and Thes
salv he had routed Roman legions!
Ii is the mark Of Christian nation
to forgive injuries. When l recur &c
the vindictive speech just made by my
friend from Ohio (Mr. Lawence) | am
utterly astounded He called, in loud
vindictive, cruel tones and spirit, for "a
first class funeral of hundred rebel
corpses after the war And this 81,
wears after civil strife Where was he
educated Did he ever attend Sunday
School? Laughter Did he ever at
tend or belong TO Christian church
Did he ever understand the distinguish
ing features OF our Christian system
Where did he learn these lessons of thu
I Ler tdlionis? 1t is not Christian, He
bra;c or Pagan. He il neither, judgin:
bv his spirit and language. / would
/ like his attention while read to him {
homily from the kind and quain
Christian teacher, Sir Thomas Browne
/ The gentleman gives me his attention
to this lesson on Christian morals
Answer not on the spur of fury, anC
be not -prodigal or prodigiors in revenge
Supererogate not in the worst sense
and overdo not the necessities Of evil
Humor not the injustice OF revenge -
To this sentence l call the attention o
my friend who Yearns for funerals,
"For many there be to whom a dea,
enemy smells well, and who find mqsI
and amber in revenge Laughter
The ferity Of such minds holds nc
rule IN retaliations, requiring too Otter
head for a tooth But patient meek
ness takes injuries like pills, not chew
ing, but swallowing them down, lacon
ically suffering, while angered prld
makes a noise like Homerian Mars
~ tho gentleman from 0hio 1lsuuhter