New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-15

GERMAN BATTERIES COMMAND PARIS
Bombardment on the Nineteenth
PARIS SUMMONED TO SURRENDER
Proposal to Surrender Rejected
WASHINGTON.

tNC A8cuC1CS 10 NV1kCCG 4MORU61l0H-
Amnesty Bnl-SpeeeA Of General Bat
ler-Farnsw0rth's Subsfftnte-Discus-
sion on'the Subject.
WASHINGTON, December H.-Congress.
man Bowen gave $4,000 bail to answer a
charge of bigamy. Bowen asks an early
trial.
George II. uasie has been appointed col
lectOr Of customs at Vicksburg
The Republicans held an adjourned
caucus tonight. Not more than fifty mem
bers were present. Among the speakers
were Sheldon and Mercy, Of Louisiana,
who advocated general amnesty, stating
that the people Of that State, in their re.
cent election, had repealed the provisions OF
their constitution imposing disabilities, and
Butler, Of Tennessee, spoke against am
nesty.
Other speeches were made, and the eau
Gus, adjourned sine die, without taking q
vote on any proposition.
There is before the Supreme Court
of the United States case from the
Southern District Of New York, which
involves the right of mercantile agen
cies to collect, and communicate to their
merchant subscribers, information concern
ing the financial condition and character Of
merchants throughout the country, as q
privileged communication and, further, N
wolves the question whether such mercantile
agencies, as hitherto conducted in this cOun
try, shall longer exist.
Senatc-The Judi ciary Committee have
made an unanimous report that Indians are
not citizens OF the United States, under the
fourteenth amendment to the constitution
of the United States, the treaties and laws
always having regarded them as indepen-
dent nations, and not interfered with in
their local administration.
Unnco uo,ao tho hill for
a full and general grace. amnesty and Obliv-
ion of all wrongful acts, doings, or Omis-
sions Of all persons engaged in the war OF
the late rebellion.
The exceptions are as follows: All those
educated at West Point or Annapolis, mem
bers of either house of the federal or con
federate congress, heads Of the federal ex-
ecutive departments, ministers abroad,
Judges of the federal courts, and those
holding similar offices iii the confederate
government, members Of State conventions
who voted for OF signed the ordinance OF
secession, governors of States which were in
rebellion, confederates who treated cruelty,
or otherwise than according to the usases OF
war; federal prisoners in their hands, per-
sons intrusted with funds, which they have
not accounted for, all deserters and bounty
jumpers.
Property exceptions then follow: All
property wherein the United States or third
parties have become vested in by sale, for
feiture or cOnfscatiOn, and lands used now
or heretofore for federal cemeteries. Every
right of action and liability rising for any
ordnance law or contract in aid of the re-
bellion. and every such right shall be
deemed invalid.
Mr. Butler reported the bill; in explana
ton he said it was drawn mutdtis n,utoas1'is
from the amnesty bill passed by the English
Parliament after the Scotch rebellion OF
l745. He quoted from the preamble and
body of the act, and referred to the excep
tiOns in it, among which ''all persons by
the name and elan of MacGregor, and ali
who had been in favor of having the French
army invade Great Britain
He wished the state OF the country was
such that all Of the exceptions could be
struck out, but such was not the state Of the
country. The bill swept out everything
that had been done wrong on one side as
well as on the other, and said that no more
suits could be brought for acts done or com
mitted during the war, either by those who
those who warred against it. 1t threw the
mantle offharity over all. The bill excepted
the leaders of the rebellion, but why should
they not be excepteds They had played
for empire, and lost, and should now take
the penalty of loss. 1t would be seen thai
the first exception only applied to those
military and naval officers of the United
States who had received their education a
West Point or Annapolis. 1t did not apply
to officers who had not been so educated.
AS to the provision referring to thu
national cemeteries, he said he thought i
was high time, after hearing eulogy il
the Senate on General Lee, that the ide,
that these cemeteries could be tampered will
should be put an end to. If the Union sol
diers did anything during the war, they
certainly conquered land enough to b,
buried in. He wants this bill passed, If fo
no other reason, so that that question nigh
be settled forever. He said an objection
had been made to tho bill that it was not
general amnesty. lie was not the mos
forgiving Of men, and he trusted that h
was not the NEST vindictive. He could re
main unforgiving as long as his neighbor
and could forgive an honorable opponen
quite as easy as his neighbor, but when III
did forgive, he forgave all over, and whel
he did not forgive he remembered all over
Mr.. Lawrence asked how many persons
the bill would relieve.
Mr.. Butler replied that it woult
relieve very many in the South VIII
are under legal trouble or vexation
1t would relieve every man who held post
mastership, who was sheriff or constable
support the constitution. AS to the ex
cepted classes, all that they had to do wa
to come to Congress hereafter and petition
for the removal Of their disabilities.
Mr.. Beck offered substitute for the bill
as follows;
That all persons, other than those herein
after excepted, now disqualified to hOlt
Office by the third section of the fourteenth
article of amendment to the constitution o
the United States, are hereby relieved from
such disability, and the same is hereby re
moved from and after the passage Of thi
act, except from tho following classes o
persona
/. Whoever having been educated at tn
military academy at West Point, or tn
naval school at Annapolis, shall have Ell
gagged in the rebellion and insurrecte,
against the United States, or given aid an
comfort to tho enemies thereof.
9. Whoever having been member Q
either House Of Congress of the Unite
States, shall have engaged in rebellio
| against the same, or given aid and cOmfor
| to the enemies thereof.
g. Whoever shall have held the office {
head of one of the executive departments {
| the Government of the United States, mil
lister plenipotentiary, minister resident, 9
| Judge of any court under the United State
and shall have engaged In rebellion or insu
rootion against tho same, or given aid IN
comfort to tho enemies thereof
Mr.. Farnsworth offered substitute Il
the whole bill, a. follows:
! That the political disabalities imposed b