Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-02-26

When The bill for the removal Of the
disabilities Of large number Of persons
was before the House of Representatives
on the 21st, Mr.. Maynard moved to
amend the bill by striking out the names
of Neill S. Brown, Robert J. Mckinney,
Archibald Wright, f. C. Huntington and
James IL Thomas. The amendment was
rejected-ayes 10; noes %. Mr.. Stokes
opposed the amendment and favored the
passage of the bill We find in the Con-
gressional Globe of the 22i the following:
Mr.. Stokes-Mr. Speaker, it is per
haps proper that should make a state
ment in regard to some of thenaInes which
appear in this bill. 1t is well known to
members upon this floor, and it is well
known from one end of my State to the
other, that ever since the ratification of
the fourteenth amendment to the Consti-
tuition of the United States my position
has been to relieve every man who would
file his petition or even write a letter ask
ing that his political disabilities should be
removed. have been written to on the
subject, and have had petitions sent to
me on the subject; and in every instance,
sir, have filed the letter or the petition
with my Endorsement in favor of the re-
| lief being granted. In not one single in
stance have / refused gentlemen on the
other side who have come TO me with their
letters asking me to take charge of their
petitions, knowing and believing as l did
| that the petitioners for relief were sincere.
And, sir, am to-day willing to relieve
every man who viii place on record here
his petition to Congress asking thatit shall
| be done.
When gentlemen talk about these bills
| for the removal of political disability
being "peddled out" for partisan reasons
l deny the accusation so far as l am
| concerned. have put in the names Of
distinguished and leading Democrats who
| are my political enemies, and who have
1 been my political enemies for a lifetime.
They were holding high positions, and
| knowing that l was well acquainted with
| them of course it was their duty to send
| their applications to me for the purpose
of having their political disabilities re-
moved. They believed it was their duty
| to do it, and they have sent their petitions
to me many times in preference TO sending
them to the Representative of their own
district, but | have always consulted the
member representing the district and have
obtained his consent in every instance to
the insertion of the names in the bills for
the removal of political disabilities. One
gentleman in my own district, elected a
few days ago as a Circuit Judge, sends
here to have his political disabilities re-
moved. He was Judge there during the
rebellion. / have known him from his
bOyhood, and believing that it was both
| right and proper to relieve him | filed his
application with the Committee on Recon
struction and insisted that his name
should be placed in the bill.
Although appointed to this judgeship he
| is unable to decide single case until his
| political disabilities are removed. The
people come up without regard to politics.
Republicans and Democrats, and indorse
his application. Therefore l felt it to be
| my duty to ask that he be relieved. My
l policy has been, and hope to be able to
| continue that line of policy as / have pro-
4 II oLLAooe stump Ia
my State, that every man, care not who
he is, how high or how humble he may
be, who puts his name to paper asking
to be relieved shall have my vote in favor
| of bill relieving him from political dis
| ability. 1t matters not with me who
he is or where he comes from.
| We provide in the Fourteenth Amend
ment of the c. Institution way by which
| these men could be relieved, and after we
have done that think it is the duty of
Congress to relieve these men on making
| proper applications. Unless man has
committed some crime against the Govern
ment of the United States, there is no ne
cessity for asking such relief; but, as
! understand it, the object of the Fourteenth
Amendment to the Constitution is to pro-
vide for the relief of the men who have
been in the rebellion. And when any
man from my State makes application, &C
knowledging the wrong he has done to the
Government of the United States by en-
gaging in the rebellion, and showing
disposition to do what is right hereafter, l
shall, for one, vote in favor of relieving
him from all further political disabilities.