The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-12

election in 1870; or i'm other words, AZ expressed
II in the committee of Conference would not be
acceseory before or after The fact, TO the Rebellion
In any way, by aiding the Rebels OF Georgia TO gain
any portion OF their ends by permitting the loyal
legislators whom they had deprived of their
seats to be again deprived OF them oI new
years. term of uninterrupted right and power in
reorgaDizing the State upon true Union basis.
right to determine when they would have an cleo
ton for their successors the statement In the act of
admission that nothing in it contained should pre-
vent the people of Georgia from having an election
according to the terms OF that Constitution seemed
to me to afrmatvely dispose OF the question which
was negatively disposed OF by Mr. Dawes naked
The House evidently took this view OF it, The bill
as amended then went back to the Senate; and in
order to time in discussion and proposition OF
amendments, our friends voted for on-concurrence
with the amendments of the House, in order that
committee OF conference might settle the bill and
as the report OF that committee could not be
amended, no opportunity would be given to talk
against time or embarrass the matter further by
amendment
When the committee OF conference met, propo-
sition was made that further proviso should be
added, in substance, that nothing herein should be
taken to extend the term of any member of the Gen
eral Assembly or officer of the State Of Georgia
beyond the time fixed by the Constitution. That
proposition came from the Senate conferees.
majority of the House conferees replied that we
might have no objection to that because did not
think that there was anything in the act which eX.
tended the time of any officers beyond that fixed by
the Constitution Of Georgia, and we called upon the
Senate committee to point out anything that they
claimed did so extend the term of Office, witch re-
qured the action or the proviso they proposed. The
reply to that was that, although there did not
appear to be anything so extending the time, yet
they wanted the moral effect OF the declaration in
order TO have an election in Georgia in 1870. To
that the House Committee replied that we would
not agree to the provise If that was the purpose,
but we would agree IL they would put in that no.
thing in the act should be construed to abrdSe or
extend any office, so as TO relieve IL OF its moral
effect. Because we thought we were not egislating
for the State OF Georgia, but we desired the people
and the Legislature of Georgia TO settle their own
affairs in their own way for themselves. This the
Senate Committee, by majority declined to agree
to, and the Conference Committee disagreed and
agreed to report to the two houses that they could
Upon that report being made to the Senate as we
had supposed, the Senate ordered its committee to
try again. Upon the conference committee again
meeting, myself drew up the proviso which was
afterward agreed to, and which provided, as you
know in substance, as follows:-Nothing in this or
any other act shall affect the term of office OF any
member OF the Assembly or officer OF the State OF
Georgia. This after conference, was agreed to by
both Senate and House, and has become a law.
need not say. therefore, that ! am clearly OF
opinion that the construction of the act will not re-
quire any election to be held in Georgia until the
Legislature chooses to have one; that the present
Legislature is thoroughly legaized as far as act
Of Congress can do so, by the declaration that a
illegal Legislature" adopted the fifteenth amend
ment, and that being legal Legislature under your
Constitution, you have the power TO fix the election
of your successors OF course, any attempt to pro-
long the term arbitrarily, unustly indefinitely or,
in the slang OF the discussion, TO ''perpetuate your
power" would be just cause OF animadversion, and,
II extended too far, cause or revolution. But all
true and good in the country as in the State of
Georgia, in my Judgment will sustain you and the
Legislature in taking to themselves for the pur-
pose OF organizing the State, the full term OF two
years after they are fully seated IN power as you
now are.
Use the power you have have-as know you will
with wisdom, justice, and moderation, and the
pillars Of the State of Georgia Will be more firmly
settled than ever to uphold the Union the Constitu-
tion, and the laws of our country.
am, very truly your friend,
BENJAMIN F. BUTLER.
Hon. r. B. Bullock, Atlanta, Ga.