The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-05-19
.Libsral seasinisnts-vievvs OF ssnators

Lis.ral seasirisnts-view,ss.: Of .,l senators
I Ferry, and Sawyer.
We see some ligh Republican light,
too-in the recent debate In Congress.
The debate sprang up on question re-
lating to the removal OF political disa-
bilities from Southern men. Senators
Ferry, of Connecticut, and Sawyer, of
this State. put themselves upon high
ground. Read the following:
At l o'clock the bill to enforce the
fifteenth amendment was taken up, the
question being on the motion of Mr..
Ferry to strike out that part of Mr..
Stewards amendment providing fines md
Imprisonment for persons holding Office
in violation of the fourteenth umend-
ment Mr.. Ferry then defended his
position from the structures Of Mr..
Morton, and claimed that he spoke for
the Union mon of the South in advo-
eating general removal of political disa-
bilitics. He alluded to the platform of
! the Republicans in several Of the States,
and the utterances Of the Republican
candidates. In support OF this, he said,
i'll reference to tho State of Georgia,
which tho Senator, Mr.. Morton, sis
constantly holding up MS model State
Of crime and disorder" Why was this?
He was sure that if the destinies of
Georgia had been III the hands OF men
of high patriotism, not of men who had
dragged the honor of the Republican
party down to tho dust, and whose only
aim was their own pccuninry advance
ment, tho state Of affairs would hnvo
been very different. But he denied
these stories, those kilograms manufnc-
tured to order, which were sent here to
the press of this city.
Mr.. l.. read from q letter of Thomas
r. Jessup, who he said was we'll known
and eminent merchant of New York, to
the effect that he had Travelled all over
Georgia and saw nothing but an earnest
desire to accept the situation and to let
by-gones be by-gones, and characterizing
as entirely false the evening kilograms
from Brunswick. Turning to the North,
Mr.. +. claimed that in that section also
the majority of the Republican press
were in favor Of the two bills. for the
purpose which he had introduced that
great press of Now York, which eXer.ed
such mighty influence and circulated
from one end OF this country to the
other. He now asserted that to continue
longer these disabilities was in violation
|
lican party. He had been in favor of the
rights of the black man, not because he
was black, but because ho was a man,
and now that the rights Of tho black
man had been secured, he feared that
tho rights of tho man himself were in
danger. Your fifteenth amendment is a
delusiOn aud scare while these disabili-
ties remain on your statute book. The
black man is not enfranchised when
he is not permitted to vote for at least
onc-hnlf of his friends and neighbors
He wanted these disabilities removed,
and rs measure of conciliation; but, as
n measure of justice, he asserted that the
fourteenth amendment and tho test-oath
were uot designed rs measures OF pun
ishment, but as measures Of great public
policy. Ireland tells the story to-day of
the effect of disabilities and test-oaths.
Has 500 years of this system raised up
loyal generation III Ireland? No, sir
What did Austria do with her disal,ili-
ties and her tcstoaths in Hungary? ?
Wero tho effects of rebellion ever
quenchcd? Now, when sho has given
her il free Constitution aud the right to
representation, peace everywhere pre-
walls
Morton, replying, sail Ferris was Il
seat on that side. He said Ferris pro-
position was TO sweep away all political
disabilities, place rebels in power, and
give them an opportunity to renew past
mischieis, without nflording any protcc-
ton to loyal men.
Sawyer cnlogized Ferris speech as
sound Republican doctrine, und thought
really that Senator ont of tho Republ-
can party, would require moro than
mere assertion and denunciation. He
added that under the political disability
scheme, two innocent suffered for one
guilty. He adds: No moro laundering
scheme than the test oath could have
been devised in the South under its ope-
ration.
TIE GREAT FEE.-Thc editor Of tho
Roanoke Times has been on visit to
Fjncastlo since tho great fro, aud gives
Il gloomy picture of the scene. He
says:
Arriving in town on Roanoke street,
we were astonishcd at the sccno that met