The Portland daily press., 1870-12-16
i}Y TELEGRAPH.
TO THE DAILY PRESS.
XLIst OONGRESS---Thi,d Session.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec 15.-The Joint resolution
allowing the detail of supernumerary army Of
ficers to professorships in certain colleges and
universities was passed. The bill leaves the
officers still subject to be transferred to the
war department..
Mr.. Revels presented bill to aid in the re-
pair and construction of the levees on the Mis-
sissippi, and announced his intention to adj
dress the Senate on it at an early day.
LIST, 1871, the time within which army officers
may be mustered out at their own request, was
passed.
Mr.. Chandler, from the Committee on Com
merce, reported favorably on the bill authoriz-
ing the President in his discretion to suspend
by proclamation the operation of all laws al
lowing the privilege of bonded transportation
to foreign merchandise consigned to Canada
and Mexico, and also the privilege of navgat-
ing the waters of the United States accorded
to Canadian vessels.
The Senate took up the resolution offered
yesterday by Mr.. Schurz, declaring in favor of
the removal of all political disqualification as
soon as the imperative public necessity which
dictated their imposition closed. Mr.. Schurz
then delivered an address of unusual length, to
which the Senate listened with marked atten
ton.
He reviewed the history of party divisions,
for which he said he and those who acted with
him had been denounced as uait0rs to the Re.
puDllCauS, tu0 lutcIlcIcuC0 dt LILO SOLICITATION
OF his colleague (Drake) of the national execu-
tive, by which the State contest had acquired
a more than local interest, and subsequently
of the President with all his patronage by
triumph of the very principles upon which he
had been elected. The probabilities of the for
nation of a new party nucleus, and the pros
pect of the reforms in the civil service and rev.
enue were also referred to, commencing with
an allusion to the resolution as an expression OF
the sentiment which received an emphatic en-.
Al IL
and to the existing agreement between his col
league and himself that his own speech should
be made before the withdrawal of the latter
from the Senate. Mr. Schurz proceeded to
show tina; the distranchisement of persons en-.
gagged in the rebellion was temporary expe-
riment,a measure of safety rendered necessary
by the new social condition of the South con-
sequent on the close of the war. He held that
the removal by the parry which imposed them
and which is still in its ascendancy in the gov
eminent, of all disqualification, and especial.
" the exclusion of a large number Of people
from the ballot box, was essential to the restO-
ration of a fraternal feeling and as proving that
such measures had not resulted from vindic
tiveness but necessity, and as bringing the late
rebels to full realization of their share with
ourselves in the institutions and greatness of
common country. Such were among the reas-
Ons governing his course in the late movement.
Quoting from late resolution offered by him
self in the National Republican Convention in
1868, declaring the Republican party to be in
favor ofthe removal of political disabilities as
soon as compatible with public safety, and
welcoming back to the Union the loyal people
among the late rebels who would accept the
new order of things he said this was part OF
the platform on which Grant was made Presi-
dent. How had that promise been carried out
in Missouri? Only by victory over the Re
publican party instead of upon its good faith
and by its assistance. When therefore the
party had resisted Acknowledgement after party
honor had commanded them to grant it, what
hope could Republicans have of winning or er
| to their ranks the disfranchised?
The principal opponents of the movement
within the republican ranks were those whose
political stock in trade consisted of battle cries
Of the civil war, who would forever roll the
| rebel as sweet mOrsel under their tongue,
and that class of politicians whose whole end
in political life was to monopoze local affairs.
Mr.. Schurz denied, as not in accordance with
| the facts, the assertions of his colleagues in q
private speech, circulated in the Senate, that
the opposition was not so much to enfranchlse-
ment itself as against the constitutional
amendment as method of effecting it. He re-
fcrred to some 80 or GO newspapers, which, led
| by the central organ at st. Louis directly pro-
tested against the thing ITSELF In order ia
prevent the endorsement of the enfranchlsiDg
amendment to the constitution, the republican
state convention manipulated it in advance
by giving to tie colored voters in the State
representation double that allowed to the
white people, and so disciplining them that
that race, against whom SO many preiudicea
were still alive, should, in Missouri cast their
virgin franchise to continue the enfranchise'
ment of others.
The speakers unsuccessful efforts in the
behalf of the enfranchise amendment, unit
he and his friend: went out from the conven'
ton carrying with them, as he claims, the hor'
or, principle and banner of the republican
party were successfully referred to, as al
SO the sweeping character of the pol
itical disqualifcations in Missouri, where, by
the provisions of the State and constitution
persons could be disfranchsed not only for dis
loyal acts, but for sympathy expressed or i'm
piled, even Of the remotest kind; consisten
union men of life long devotion to the govern
ment, for merely expressing hope that thei
relatives in the rebel army would return HON!
! those engaged in the rebellion.