The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-16
Congress Ycsterday-Amncsty In Both


The question of wiping out all political dis
abilities imposed on certain classes of men in
the South, on account of their participation in
the rebellion, occupied the attention Of both
houses of Congress yesterday. In the Senate,
however, it was merely made the pretence for
washing in public the soiled linen Of the repub-
lican politicians Of Missouri. Senator Schurz
occupied the entire session in review of
the recent election in that State, taking the
ground that the result was the triumph Of
President Grants great principle, ''Lst us have
peace" over the Presidents patronage. Gene
raj Schurz's colleague (Mr. Drake), who was
the leader Of the opposition and defeated fac
ton in the State, and who is so soon to transfer
himself from the Senate chamber to the bench
of the Court Of Claims, has got the floor to-
day in order to reply to Schurz and present
the other side Of the question.
In the House, however, the proceedings
were of q more practical nature. There they
had something to hang upon besides personal
rivalry and ambition. The bill reported by
General Butler, professingto be one of general
pardon, amnesty and oblivion, but in reality
very partial and unsatisfactory affair, was up
for discussion, and received q pretty severe
handling from all sides Of the House. The
debate yesterday did not indicate that the
Butler proposition had single friend. Some
of the most pronounced among the radicals
opposed it as prohering too much grace to unre-
nantout rahaIo Int ho I'd orofa m nm NJ thu
party, and all the democrats, declaim against the
exceptions which the bill makes, and demand
its amendment, in the shape Of universal and
unconditional amnesty. Mr. Sypher, of Louis
lana, declared that to be the platform on
which the republican party of that State
squarely placed itself; and Mr.. Sargent, of
California, himself very pronounced repub-
lican, gave half dozen cogent reasons why
he should support the proposition for universal
amnesty. These were: Because the republi-
can party was pledged to it, and should keep
its pledge; because the exclusion of ex-rebels
from Office was a badge of distinction, instead
of disgrace, in the South because such exclu-
sion was bad policy on the part of the republic
Cuu puity OCOuuSC VAC iuCh uAodUAlitACc
were not generally among the worst Of the
late rebels; and because the people would bet
ter appreciate the purposes of the DEM
ocratic party if it was allowed to
bring forward as its opponents, as it natu-
rally would, the leading rebels. Sunset
Cox took the leading part in the light
comedy portion of the debate, and afforded
much amusement by the shafts which he let
fly at General Butler and at Mr.. Lawrence,
of Ohio, who had expressed the opinion that
hundred respectable funerals ofexecuted rebels,
coming Immediately after the close of the war,
would have been worth hundred amnesty
bills. The bill will come up again for discus
zion and action on Tuesday next. The indi-
cations are that the original bill will be
defeated by large majority. But it is not
so certain that the substitute offered by Farms
worth, for universal amnesty, will secure q
two-thirds majority vote, as required to enact
it into law. We hope, however, that the
good practical common sense which dis
tingushes the American character will dis
play itself in the House when the vote takes
place, and that every remnant of political
disability arising out of the rebellion will be
expunged at once and forever.