Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-05-18
CONGRESSIONAL.


L An11ANOAONs may OaAACANA
| presented memorial for the general abo
lition of taxation on products. He spoke
in favor of the substitution of external fol-
internal taxes, and, above all, the abolition
of income tax.
marshaII to SAN Diego.
Mr.. Howard, from the Committee on the
Pacific Railroad, reported substitute for
the Marshall and San Diego Railroad bill.
II grants twenty alternate sections of land
on each side of the line in the territories,
and ten sections in any State through which
the road may pass. Ordered printed and
placed on the calendar.
Fifteenth Amcndment-Ferr Res
POnse TO Morton.
After the transaction of some minor
business the fifteenth amendment bill came
up at the expiration of the morning hour.
Mr.. Ferry proposed a modification of his
amendment which prevents any further pc
Iitical disabilities than now exist. He then
replied to Mr.. Morton's remarks yesterday
denying the right of that Senator to foist
his own opinions upon the South and as
sumo to make them embodiment of views
of the whole Union party South and the
Republican party North. He denied the
existence of any rebellious state of affairs
in the South and asserted that the Republi-
can party of the North were in favor of the
removal of political disabilities.
sIOrton's ReJoindcr.
Mr.. Morton replied at length 10 the argu-
ment Of MIR. Ferry, whose views, he said,
entitled him to q seat on the Democratic
side of the chamber, and whose argument
should lead him next to move the repeal of
all pensions to Union soldiers, or else to
pension Rebels. He also defended the
Georgia officials from the charge of corrup-
ton, and argued that when admitted TO
participate in the Government, the Rebels
of the South would turn upon and defy
those whom they were now cajoling and
fattering.
Morton Gets Another Rap.
Mr.. Sawyer culogized the speech of Mr..
Ferry as sound Republican doctrine. He
thought the attempt to read that Senator
out of the Republican party would require
more than mere assertion and denuncia-
ton for its accomplishment. 1t was aimed at
one half at least of the Republican Sena-
tors. and four-ffths of the Republican
voters in the United States. For himself
he would recognize no mans right to read
ullu Jul VI party uLtA oAON lIdI
the ground on which he stood was not Re-
publican. He went on to argue that
actual reconstruction could only be
achieved by extending 10 citizens of one
State all the rights enjoyed by citizens of
any other, and that under the political
disability scheme innocent men suffered
for every one guilty.
Mr.. Drake believed that the only class
under disabilities in the South at the pres
ent time were those who, after holding
Office under the United States Government
and owing allegiance to it, engaged in the
rebellion. Their number, he thought,
would not exceed 10000.
A Republican DenOunces Southern
Radicals as SsIncOmpetent Ras-
CaIs.o
Mr.. Sawyer said not only members of
Congress, Governors and Judges were in
cluded but the act took in sheriffs, deputy
sheriffs, notaries public, justices of the
peace and so on ad infinitum 1t reached
men who had no more to do with raising
the flag of secession than had the Senator
from Maine.
No more laundering or stupid scheme
than that of the test oath could have been
conceived. In the South they were now
reduced to the necessity of selecting pub
lie officials from among incompetent
rascals. He hoped to have some
expression of opinion from the Re-
publicans in the Senate, of that race which
is largely the makeup of the loyal element
of the South, upon the wisdom of keeping
the intelligence, wealth and virtue of the
South in a condition of political slavery for
~ les ,,arioI hanar1ca mn Who
was not the equal of another, in his polit-
ical rights, was in some sense a slave. He
thought the Senatar from Mississippi,
for the past, as the best protection for his
race.
ReVeIs Defines His Position.
Revels having been called upon proceeded
to define his position and that of the Re-
publican party In Mississippi upon the
question of general amnesty-he was in
favor of removing the disabilities IN the
South just as fast as the people gave evil
dence of loyalty. Wherever a man gave
this evidence by ceasing to denounce and
oppose the laws Of Congress, by respecting
them and laboring to carry them out, he
was in favor of removing his disabilities.
If this could be truly said of whole State
he would be in favor of removal of the
disabilities of that State.
In the State of Mississippi the Republican
party pledged itself to universal amnesty,
and the Legislature has redeemed that
pledge by the passage of resolution ask
ing Congress to remove the disabilities of
citizens of the State, and which he had
presented. The condition of things in
Mississippi was exceptional The lawless-
ness and violence prevailing in other re-
constructed States did not exist there, but
the people were harmonious and prosper
GUS He was in favor of amnesty in Mis-
sissippi, as the party had given its pledge
TO that effect and the State was fl for it.
The Radical SimOn-pure.
Mr.. Cameron expressed his conviction
as the result of personal observations du-
ring his recent visit to the South, that
the rebellious spirit of the people was
still alive as shown by their contemptuous
reference to Northern men. When they
appreciate their guilt it would be time
enough to bestow clemency.
Mr.. Drake made an argument against
the general removal of disabilities.
During the discussion, it was proposed
to take up the House bill on the subject.
which had been received from that body,
but objection was made on the ground that
the pending bill had been carefully matured
by the Judiciary Committee, while the
House bill was defective.
At five O'Clock, after q short executive
session, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
hi nI
The consideration of the bill to re-