The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-12-28
Remarks -,
30 q ecoh q of ,'s 81
Hon. George w. Morgan,

l
Hon, George W. Morgan,
! In the House of Representatives, Dec
/ 10Th 1870, on the House Bill for FIJI
and general grace, amnesty and obIiDi-
on Of az tcrongttl acts, doinQs OF
omissions Of all persons engaged IN tie
late aoar Of tho rebellion. - i,ss''' Z
Mr.. Morgan said, II regret Mr..
Speaker, that the chairman OF the SCI
7 lect Committee on Reconstruction
(air. Butler) who has reported this
measure, which he styles an amnesty
bill. has not learned the true meaning
of the word as lately taught by the
people of Missouri and West Virginia
at the ballot box II do not refer to
those elections in spirit of partisan
triumph, but to cause gentlemen to
realize the great change which has ta-
ken place in public sentiment during
the past few years. Sir, the people,
always patriotic even when in error,
are tired and weary of discord, and
long for the return of peace, good will
and prosperity. They look with, alarm
at the constant use or the bayonet, on
any and every pretext, to control the
elections and enforce the collection of
unequal and oppressive taxes, Fhey
are tired Of military necessity9in time
of peace, and ask thatthe Constitution
and the laws may be re established and
roonacfn.i =
The angry passions which exis, ed
at the close ct the war have subsidized,
and the people. Irrespective of party
desi,e to see proclaimed amnesty in
fact. the restoration of political rights
to our oountrymen. and to enter upon
new career of good will among ali,
prosperity and happiness for the whole
people, with one flag, one country,
and one destiny.
There is very little in this bill to
commend it tothis House, or which
will commend it to the country. =
Under the fourteenth amendment
political disabilities can only be re-
moved by vote of tMo thirds of each
House No such provision Is in this
bill, On the contrary, it provides In
the 6rst section THAT no damage,
loss, harm, wrong, or injury shall
hereafter come, or any right or claim
accrue, to any persons against any
other perosn not hereinafter excepted,
OF, from, or because o. any act done
by him, or omitted to be done, in aid
of. or in the suppression of, or because
of the late rebellion" The worst of
traitors--the northern man who, for
the sake of blood stained gain, secret
ly furnished the Confederates, with
munitions Of wal, willie prating loyalty
at home-is not only glanted ''full
and general grace, amnesty, and OBJ
livion of all wrongful acts aud doiAgs
in the war Of the late rebellion" bat
by being pardoned he would be ena-
bled to collect and receive payment
upon the supplies made BY him to aid
in the overthrow of the Union.
In disregard of the wishes of the
people, the bill ingenious y provides
against the removal et political disa
billties; the very thing our constitu-
ents demand, a demand made signlfi-
cant by the late elections. The bill
refuses pardon for political offenses,
but grants full and general amnesty.
grace, and oblivion for the thief, the
burglar, the arsoner, and assassin,
whether the criminal be of the South
or of the North. Fr my own part,
hold that the man who cdnniitted
robbery, murder, arson, or any other
felony, under the pretense of making
war, is worse mao than he who be-
comes an outlaw against society and
commits crimes at his OWE risk. Sue I.
criminals, whether they be Of the
North or of the South should be ar
raigned and tried for their otfenses as
u warning to desperadoas, should our
country again be involved in war
On the other hand, acts, done accord
ing to the laws of war need no am
nesty. Tor the simple reason taat acts
so committed by one helligerent with
another are lawful. Hence, no one
even dreams ot putting on trial any
soldier OF the confederacy for the mill
tary acts done during the late civil
war. A great deal was said rs to try,
ing Jefferson Davis but he was not
put on trial, although during q long.
time he was he'd prisoner. Then.
sir, the granting OF this. pretended
amnesty, without the restoration! of
political rights would be- a mere
cheat s. - yab .h-T .9eO!3 % O. 81,
Mr.. Speaker, I wish to cali the at
tention of the House to a point which
has not vet been referred to during
lie debate e, and which might be over
looked. The third see; ion OF this bill
excerpts from its provisions ''whoev2r,
having been educated ut the Military
Academy at West Point, or the Nav
al School at Annapolis, shall have
engaged in the rebellion aud insurrec-
tion against the Uai,ed States, or
given aid and comfort to the euem les
ttlereoi.. .'Ilz - aaH' iAfg al
% What, sir, is meant by ''gigins aid
and comfprt to the enemies of the
United Suites :" Furnishing muni
tions of war. giving troops, doing any
act calculot:d to adytlce the Gu se of
the enemy Well. si,, [ hold in my
hand the. Army r ieist-r Of the United
States Tor the year1Sbl-a documen'
to which l briefly referred in last
December, when the reconstruction
question was untler discussion in this
House. 1 ask the particular attention
of gentlemen to this document. |
charge (a,id this Army Register prov
es The charg, in suclia a manner as to
challeng. Contradiction that from Il
few DAYS before until six weeks after
Fort Sumpier had been captured by
the conirderatcs, and blood had been