New-York tribune., 1870-12-16
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Mr.. DAWES (Rep., Mass.) from the Commit
tee on Appropriations, reported bill approprating
100000 fos the construction Of steam revenue cutter
Passed
Mr.. WELLS CDcm, Mo- introduced a bill requiring
railroad companies to receive and deliver the mails.
Referred.
che Secretary of the Treasury to refund penalties and
costs illegally assessed and collected under the Direct
Tux law.-Referred.
The House then resumed the consideration OF
THE AMNESTY BILL.
Mr.. BARRY Rep, Miss argued against the exceptions
contained in the BILL and IN favor OF general ana uncoh
Mr.. MORGAN Dem, Ohio, argued on the same side.
purpose Of refusing political rights TO the people OF the
South it could not have done more effectualy while
the burglar the incendary, and the thief He alluded
TO the fact that before gun had been fired in the Rebel
lion the resignation Of $50 officers OF the army graduates
OF West Point had been accepted by the constituted au-
thotes Of the United States and he asked what greater
aid and comfort could have been given TO the enemy than
the furnishing them with great captains and men skilled
S R mao TeSN would
been fired outside OF the limits OF South Carolina.
to pass general amnesty b without any exceptions,
and let the country have peace W,
that the b reported not unanimous report Of the
Committee on Reconstruction nor did 1t have the ap-
only permitted to be reported to the House He declared
that the provision Of the Fourteenth Amendment to the
only Gte.Sed & to n s 70 long as o s Tss
secured He did not hhd that any person had asked
Congress TO make any exceptions In the matter Of re-
State in the SOUTH from any other qasrter and
remOnsrance against redeeming all the people Of the
paper from Georgia and found that It's motto was Uni
versal Amnesty" The colored people Of the South
asked for It, Having obtained their rights, they,
liberal and more just than members Of Con-
asking Congress relieve their white brethren
the disabilities imposed upon them, The leading
papers Of all political parties In the country, edited by
m e % fdas Vesv y &cepens e se Rn
can party outside Of Congress in favor Of Universal
making exceptions by classes. Gen. Longstreet. who
held high position by appointment OF the President,
to be excepted should be mentioned by nane not
grouped In classes. The bill very singular mix
law, II adopted by majority vote and 1t contained
other matters which could not become law unless uni
grouped together in the same hil 1t was cheat and
thirds vote. 1t would be in political b and
would have nothing to do with political disabilities 1t
and should have come from the judiciary Committee.
He read from Lord Mahons history show the barbara
ties that had followed the Scotch rebellion Of li and to
show that the Congress Of the United States should
resort to that period TO find precedent for this b He
declared himself very positive that there was something
behind the b-somethng "cOvered up in the meal
tub" While the people ell over the country were look
aud Congress offered tbem In this b stone. Instead
OF being bill to quiet suits In the South 1t bill to
foster and revive suits that dead Referring
10 the English act OF amnesty OF l he remarked that
peace the oSsst historian whom he quoted ord
MahoD) characterized the exceptions In II "oOgs"
war, in a Republic where amnesty from all the
people and not from the crown 10 clog with exceptions
ferson Davis would COngress The exclusion Of
by classes would exclude the best brains and best
hearts in the South. The Republican party would gain
nothing by it. AS had been said by Democrat yester
day Mungen), the Republican party had lost by the
ii had pursued little generosity, exercised in
| proper time, made friends and not enemies II
everywhere and with all people. BY excluding the
classes proposed to be excepted Congress only made the
men composing them the deeper enemies. The Of
those men would be presented by them as candidates for
hnf fhAyN tn In
much more bitter than the fathers ,
IN FORM ia as wrong in SOME Of It's pRrpeses 'e and If it be
came law as perniciOus IN some OF Its consequences
know in which way characterize itthan the bill itself
serious objection 10 the bill was that II contained mat
and matter which he did not possess 1t. The
moment that Congress- by twO-thrds vote, removed
action 0, signature Of the President Other
provisions Of the ,np pending bill Mould require
ity he regarded as fatally defective to the bill
II seemed clear TO him that the bill was unconstitutional
in the attempt made 10 snnihate the Judgments made
in favor OF loyal citizens TO anDhilate the rights OF
civil action Of loyal citizens for wrongs committed by
into the In time OF peace the adnisra
ton OF criminal justice In all these respects the bill
unconstitutional. He opposed 10 1t because 1t
robbers, ravishers and inoendiaries. One great
punish its leaders for SHiS treason hundred ' rscla.s
red amnesty bills He believed that the Ii time had
come when was expedeDt 10 relieve all classes
VI fHDt is who did not choose 10 seek IT, and who as
sueta rule denied that they guilty Of anything
hH lie believed II still necessary that the State Leg
stues should be IN the hands OF loyal men who would
70 pay the National debt, protect the interests
n.,,t .Tn soldiers, their widows and orphans and 10
~ ~, ne lights Of the enfranchised cOlOred men
| von,d nnp 1cnCk c Dem, Ind) asked II Mr.. Lawrence
snd msritorions In the south we're ~
| aI LAWkENCE admitted that but said that no msri.
bities had been refused reliet A0"0'0u nom hS uSS
hBAGk Of ,6s inquired further whether the continued
~ ~ MI e a tseh Old not really give them more
cynse9nsnGs sna influence In their own commnnties
hI LAWkEsCE replied that he did moi bclieve that
sls influence or power He in favor Of amnesty W
" wa saL1 70 sraht but before granting Il
oenes had not yet been presented the HOUSE ' o'
/ hT. bYPBER (Itep.. LaD advocated unive,asii 49,
declaring that tho Republican party Of Inssis asei
squaIeiy that platform. The worst men o. ah stooa
were those who al present relieved frou, ,,,,
dlsaAiileA Dec1nso they who xsra ..i,i