Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-17
ESTABLISHED MARCH 80, 1886.

| nant with the runors of foreign interfer-
ence in those dark days of defeat, whose
memories even yet haunt us as an ugly dream,
| from what source did our nation in its
seeming death throes gain additional and
new found power? 1t was the sable sons
! of the South that valiantly rushed to the
rescue. and but for their integrity and ar
| dent daring many Northern Preside would
miss to-day paternal counsel or brothers
| love. Sir, ] repeat the fact that the col
ored race saved to the noble women of
New England ard the Middle States men
on whom they lean to-day for security and
safety. Many of my race, representatives
of these men on the field of battle, Sleep
in the countless graves of the South. If
those quiet resting places of our honored
dead could speak to-day, what a mighty
voice, like the rushing of mighty wind,
would come up from those sepulchral
homes. Who could resist their eloquent
appeal? Alb, sir, think that this question
of immediate and ample protection for
the loyal people of Georgia would lose its
legal technicalities, and we would cease
to hesitate in our provisions for their in
slant relief. Again, regret this delay on
other grounds. The taunt is frequently
flung at us that a Nemesis more
terrible than the Greek personation of the
anger of the gods awaits her hour of dire
ful retribution We are told that at no
distant day a great uprising of the Ameri-
can people will demand that these recon
struction acts of Congress be undone and
blotted forever from the records of
legislative enactment. In inquire sir, if
this delay in affording protection to the
loyalists of the State of Georgia does not
lend an uncomfortable significance to this
Boosting sneer with which we SO often
meet Delay is perilous at best, for it is
true in legislation, as in physic, that the
longer we procrastinate to apply the proper
remedies the more critical becomes the
sores that we seek to heal: The land wants
such as dare with vigor execute the laws
herfestered members must not be lanced, as
bad surgeon that for pity spares the part
corrupted till gangrene spread and all the
body perish too. That mercy unto bad
is cruel to good. Mr.. Revels then re-
viewed the story of affairs in the State of
Georgia, stating that at the election in
November, 1867, for members to the State
Convention $4,000 white and $4,000 col
ored votes were polled. A number of
coIored delegates was elected, consti-
tuition was framed and ratified, and a Leg
islature was elected under it and it was
convened. After all this, supposing
they had passed beyond all Congress
sional control, the Rebel element in
in legislature asserted itself, and many of
those whose disabilities had been removed
by the State convention, which comprised
a number of colored members, joined in
the declaration made by that legisture that
ho1 4hoy,an,,a aiubth of AZ
rican blood in his veins as ineligible to of
fee. These very men to whom the Repub-
lican party extended all the rights and priv
ileges of citizenship of which they deprived
themselves, denied political equality to a
large majority of their fellow-citizens.
Twenty-eight members were expelled on
December %, 1869. An act of Congress
was passed requiring the reassembling of
the persons declared elected by the Mill
tary Governor, the restoration of
expelled members and the rejection
of others, who were disqualified. All the
conditions had now been complied with,
aud having ratified the 14th and 14th
Amendments, Georgia presented herself
for recognition. The Bingham amendment
proposed to legalize the organization of
1868, and would legalize theact of the Leg
islature in appointing Judge who decided
in favor of class distinction and States as
Americans of future protection for loyal
Georgians. He desires these terms should
commence from the date of the present
legislation. He asked this in the name of
100, 600 white and colored Georgians, and
eminded the Senate that he who
permitted opposition should arrest crime
Upon the conclusion of his remarks
Dn,-oig yoaaivaA tho CONGRATULATIONS Of
many Republican Senators and others, and
then the immense crowds in the galleries
which included many persons of color
slowly dispersed.
HOW We Apples swim.
Mr. Morton in complimenting Revels on
his speech expressed the opinion that in
the exchange by which that gentleman
occupied the place of JEFF Davis, the Senate
had lost nothing in intelligence, while it
had gained in patriotism and loyalty.
He proceeded to argue that the govern
ment of Georgia was provisional. and
would SO continue until actually repre-
sented in Congress; that the inference
from the opposite theory was that the State
had been denied representation when she
was entitled to it, and was treated badly by
Congress. He claimed that in reconstruc-
ton legislation Congress simply exercised
the power of guaranteeing republican
form of government, but had neither as
| sumed to give a particular construction to
the constitution Of State as did Mr.. Bing-
hams amendment in declaring the length
| of terms of the present State officers He
also argued that a substantial reason for
the report of the Judiciary Committee in
| 1869 against admission of Mr. Hill as Sena-
tor from Georgia, was that the organization
of the Legislature was void from beginning
Mr.. Thurman inquired whether in that
event the action of the Legislature in rati-
| fying the fourteenth amendment would
hold good.
Mr. Morton replied, he concurred in the
opinions set forth in former report of the
| Judiciary Committee, that the act was not
valid because the defect in the organization
went to violation of the fundamental law.
that created that body. He went on to re-
| view the whole question and to contrOvert
the positions assumed by Mr.. Thurman,
particularly with reference to the validity
| of the composition of the Georgia Legisla-
ture,
He quoted from the laws Of the State to
show that provision was expressly made for
| the admission of minority candidates for
the Legislature, when the person receiving
the highest number of votes was notori-
ously ineligible These ineligible candi-
dates were voted for simply because they
| were Rebels and were excluded from Office
| under the Fourteenth Amendment In re-
| earn &C the tenure of Office, he showed it
was not in the contemplation of the laws
that these terms giiI5Ild begin until the
State took her place in the Ualon; that
Bullock did not become Governor until
then. The whole State government is
now regarded as merely provisional The
proposed Bingham amendment was to-day
a source of exultation to the extreme
Southern wing of the Democratic party,
and he opposed it as a violation Of justice
and of human rights.
The Senate proceeded to take vote on
the bill, but yielded to motion by Mr..
Williams for an Executive session, which,
after an Intellectual effort by Mr.. Trumbul
to prolong the session so as to dispose OF
the bill, was agreed to.
At $50 the Senate went into Executive
session and subsequently adjourned.
HOUSE.
| Expenditures.
Mr.. Bearman, from the Committee OF
Appropriations, addressed the House il