The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-03-16

The Admission of GeOrgia-Debate in
the House OF Representatives-But
Ter and Tyranny.
WASHINGTON, March 5, 1870
HOUSE.
The consideration of the Georgia bill
was continued, and Mr. Farnsworth. re-
sumed his argument against the bill re-
ported by General Butler. He contradicted
the statement made yesterday by Mr.
Butler that only two members from Geor-
gia had been admitted to the House, last
Congress, and those through mistake; the
fact being SIX members out Of seven were
admitted. In criticism of the theory
that the government of Georgia was only
provisional, he called attention to the fact
that Gov. Bullock, of Georgia, had not
been signing himself Provisional Cover
nor of Georgia." but Governor of Geor-
gia ;" that his messages to the Legislature
were not addressed to the Provisional
Legislature of Georgia" but to the Legis-
lature of Georgia" and that the test oath,
which all officers of the existing State gov
ernments were required to take, had not
been taken by the officers of the existing
State government. Besides, he also want
ed to know whether provisional govern
ment could ratify an amendment to the
Constitution of the United States. What
became of liberalization of the Fourteenth
Amendment by the Legislature of Georgia,
if the theory was correct that the Legisla-
ture was only Provisional or illegal?
Mr.. LAWRENCE Erepied-A Provision
al legislature is just as lawful and regular,
and has the same power within the scope
of its authority as any other legislature.
Mr.. FARNSWORTH remarked-Ac-
cording to this bill the Georgia Legislature
was not only Provisional, but was illegal,
and the logic of the bill. as well as Of the
speech of Mr. Butler yesterday, was that
everything done by that Legislature in
Guiding the election of United States Sen
ators, was illegal, therefore its ratification
of the Fourteenth Amendment was also
Illegal. Why not declare that Bullock
shall be Governor of Georgia for six years
or for life? Why it was monstrous, and
more monstrous still in the face and eyes
of the fact that the same Governor was
charged by the State Treasurer with steal
ing and appropriating the money of the
State. The only excuse for the bill was
that if not passed the Republican party
would lose the next election in Georgia.
! They were afraid they would also lose the
next election in the State of New York.
Mr.. STEVENSON, of Ohio-How wo'd q
you save it =?
! Mr.. FARNSWORTH(i Ironically why
of course, pass law installing Republican
officers there, and providing their tenure
of Office shall be fore life There is an
easier way of maintaining our ascendency
in the nation than by holding elections
That way is by act of Congress. That is
the way to do it. The gentleman from
Massachusetts,, (Butler) had yesterday
raised the cry of murder IN the House
Whenever he wanted to pass one of his
reconstruction bills, he got up in the House
and cried murder, murder, ,"and by q hue
and cry of that sort got his bill passed
| Whenever one of those bills was passed
the Washington Chronicle published an
account of some great outrages, and I'M
mediately the reconstruction committee
was called together and bill reported tC
the House. He remembered that last yeal
a gentleman, very clever fellow. and {
man whose politics were always those o
the reiguing dynasty, who had sold arm!
to the people of Georgia in the winter o
1860 and 1861, with which to shoot dow
Union soldiers, went to Georgia, and witt
the assistance of Governor Bullock manip
ulated the legislature, and got commit
tee appointed to examine his claim for pay
ment of those arms. The Committee wa
manipulated so as to make favorable re
port, but the Legislature refused to adop
it or pay the claim; thereupon the mai
came to Washington full of sorrow; hi
heart wrung to its depths, with tears in hi
eyes over the troubles and prosecutions c
the negroes and loyal men of Georgis
That man was in favor of the reconstruc
ton of Georgia at once What was hi
! h. - % coz
900 interest for arms he had sold In tn
State of Georgia He (Farnsworth) fel
that the passage of the bill and prOlongin
I the terms of Office OF men who now con
| troll the State, authorizing Governor Bul
lock to commence de glOVo; putting tn
power of the State IN his hands, would b
} the most internal outrage on the taxpayer
of the State. He believed the bill was j
the interest of the people who desired t
perpetuate their reign so they might pu
money in their purse.
, Mr.. BECK, of Kentucky, said-"Dan
: gerous as was the avoWal ofthe gentlema
from Massachusetts, that he intended, b
, this bill, to give new lease ofpower to th
l Governor, the Legislature and the presen
State officers of Georgia; revolutionary q
e was that announcement, it Is as nothin
2 compared with the other aVowal CT a pul
], pose which know the Radical leaders {
e the Republican party are rapidly approach
ing That avowal of the gentleman wa
= in substance, that he wanted to pass tn
= bill as precedent to show to the peopl
! of this country that Congress has the rigf
f to exercise the same power over any Stat
b no matter where, that in its opinio
does not properly protect life, liberty an
property within its borders. That Coz
4 gress claimed the right to seize that Sta
r by the throat and compel it to do VIII;
e Congress chooses to say it should do. Z
6 pointed to the State of Tennessee, and al
: nounced that if his frieuds would stand /
: him he would seize her as he now propo
n ed to seize Georgia knew that the mo,
d radical men of the Republican party we
T rapidly approaching that point but this
the first time that l have ever heard Il
4 purpose deliberately avowed upon th
: floor 1t required bold man, like Il
: gentleman from Massachusetts,, to avow
:, now, and it is well that it has beea avoy
|, ed 1t is well for the country now to u
y derstand it. 1t Is not particularly becau
4 the Republican party want to retain poy
d er in the State Of Georgia that this bill
d to be passed, but because they want
a precenent established which viii autho
d ize Congress to seize any State that do
: any thing that Congress may think
e wrong IN the treatment of the citizens
+ that State within her own boarders. IN T
/, gard either to the persons, liberty or pro
/ erty Of her citizens"