The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-16

tncendiary and the thlef He aludeu 10 the
fact that before gun had been nred IN
tho rebellion the resignation OF one hundred
and eighty Officers OF the undergraduates OF West
Point-had been accepted by the constituted autho-
rites OF the United States; and he asked what
greater aid and comfort could have been given to
the enemy than the furnishing OF them with great
captains and men skilled In war. He believed that
had it not been FOR that act Of the federal govern
ment no hostile gun would have been fired out
side OF the limits of Sonth Carolina.
Mr. MCk EMILE, Tep.) or Va, argued that Congress
ought 70 pass a general amnesty bill, without any
exceptions, and let the country have peace,
Hanse at Ss S q was nos 10
nous report Of the Committee on Eeconstruc-
ton, did 1t have the approval OF even majority
OF the committee. 1t was only permitted 10 be
reported to the House. He declared that the pro-
vision OF the fourteenth amendment to the constitu-
ton which imposed political disabilities was only
intended to remain SO long as reconstruction was
incomplete and until the rights OF all persons were
secured. lie did not find that any person had asked
Congress TO make any exceptions Ia the matter OF
removing disabilities. He had seen no petition from
any State in the South or from any other quarter and
no remonstrance against redeeming all the people
OF the South. He had taken up this morning re-
publican paper from Georgia and found that It's
pie OF the South asked for IT. Having obtained their
own rights, they, moro liberal and more Just than
some members OF Congress, were asking Congress
imposed upon them. Tue leading papers Of all
political parties IN the country edited by the beat
ysr ADVISING s %Sya o. all
publican party outsiae Of Congress was in
favor Of universal amnesty. He did not
see any practicable or just way OF making excep-
ITEMS by classes. General Longstreet who held
high position by appointment o. the President,
parties to he excepted should DC mentioned by
name, not grouped IN classes. The Dill was a very
singular mixture. 1t contained some matters which
might become law II adopted by majority vote,
and 1t contained other matters which could not
become law unless adopted by two-thirds vote.
same bill. 1t was cheat and o swindle to do SO.
Unless the bill were passed By two-thrds vote 1t
would be In no sense political bill, and would have
nothing TO do with pelltcal disabilities. IL would
then be merely bill settling legal questions only,
ana should have come from the Judiciary Com
mittee. lie read from Lord Aahon's history TO show
the barDares that mad followed the Scotch rebel
Hon OF I745, and 10 show that the Congress of the
United States should resort 10 that period to lind
precede for this bill. lie declared himself very
positive thai there was something behind the bill
something covered up IN the meal tub. While the
people all over the country were looking for an act
OIL amnesty they were asking for Bread and Con-
gress onered them In this bill stone. Instead OF
being bi TO quiet suits IN the south II was
Referring to the English act Of amnesty Of 1747 he
remarked that, although It was passed within two
torian whom ne quoted (Lord Manon) characterized
the exceptions In IL as "clogs.n And now 1t was
proposed five years and half after the close OF the
war, in d republic where amnesty comes from all
the people and not from the crown TO clog with ex
ceptOns an act or amnesty who, he ASKED afraid
exclusion or men by classes would exclude the best
brains and best hearts In the South. The republican
by a democrat yesterday (Mr. Mungen) the repub-
can party had lost by the course 1t had pursued.
little generosity exercised In proper time made
friends, and not enemies. IL was everywhere and
with all people. by excluding the classes proposed
to be excepted Congress only made the men CON-
posing them the deeper enemies The sons OF those
men would be presented by them as candidates for
once instead Of the fathers, and they would prove
10 De much more bitter than the fathers.
IA q q
bad In form, wrong In some OF It's purposes. and
II II became law, as pernlcious In some OF It's con-
less he did not knew In which way to characterize
1t, than the bill ITSELF serious objection to the bill
was that 1t contained matter over which the Presi-
dent possessed the veto power and matter over
which he did not possess IL. The moment tnat Con.
gress by two-thrds vote removed political dsabli-
ties the bill became law, without the action or Sig
nature OF the President But other provisions OF the
pending bill would require the approval OF the Presi-
dent This incSngraity he regarded as fatally
him that the bill was unconstitutional In
the attempt 1t made to annihilate the judy
rights OF civil action OF loyal citizens for wrongs
committed by rebels in aid or the rebellion and In
arrest the administration OF criminal justice. In all
these respects the bill was UNCONSTITUTIONAL He
was opposed to II because i extended pardon and
government s,o. had made was the failure
ish Its leaders for treason. A hundred first
class funerals that time would have been worth
hundred amnesty bills. He believed that the time
had not yet come wnen it was expedient to relieve
all classes OF rebels vino did not choose to seek, and
who, as general rule denied that they were
guilty OF anything wrong. He believed 1t still ncces-
sary that the State Legislatures should be in the
hands OF loyal men, who would legislate to pay the
national debt protect the interests oil Union soldiers,
their widows ana orphans, and to maintain the
rights OF the en1ranchised colored men.
Mr.. NIBLAcK, (dem.) OF md. asked If Mr.. Law
renee would not concede that hundreds of the most
and merltOriouS men In the south were
dlsfranchisedy
Mr. LAWRENCE admitted that but said no meri.
torous man who had asked to be relieved from his
disabilities had been refused relief.
Mr. NIBLACK inquired further whether the con.
tinued exclusion OF these men did not really give
them more consequence and influence IN their own
communities?
the deprlving man OF the right 10 hold office
added " his influence or power. lie was IN favor
OF amnesty whenever 1t was sale TO grant IL, but
before granting II he wanted some evidence 1t was
SAFE and that evidence had not yet been presented
to the House.
suffrage declaring that the republican party OF
Louisiana stood squarely on That PLATFORM. The
worst men III the South were those who were at
present relieved from political disabilities because
they were men VINO were willing to come forward
and commit perjury in order TO be able 10 hold office.
while those who were unable to do were pro-
scrlbed by the exceptions IN the bill.
Mr.. WOOD (dem.) OF N. T., a member OF the Re-
construction Committee, declared that this was in
no sense or frame an amnesty bill. 1t relieved no.
body OF disabilities imposed by the fourteenth con-
sttutional amendment, but It's exceptions created
new class Of persons, who were virtually dsiran-
chised. Instead Of being an amnesty bill it was a
property grabbing bull. Instead OF being measure
OF grace IT was bill to defeat justlcea bill to deny
the right Of men 10 recover property. 1t was o
measure the effect OF which he would not say. The
design OF 1t do injustice, to deprive iugants
OF their proper redress and to grant boon aud re-
lief to those who were least eDtltled to 1t.
Mr.. Cox, (dem) Of N. y, said he believed that the
dominant party IN the House and in the country
was in favor of universal amnesty. He did not find
In the Message OF the President anything about
general amnesty. There was an expressive silence
IN 1t that subject which lie (Mr. Cox greatly re-
GREETED, more especially as the President was still
In favor Of repressve measures toward the Southern
people, and had actually protruded those measures
into other States not In the South. SILL he was
thankful to the gentleman from Massachusetts for
reporting the bill, in spite OF all its obnoxious
clauses, because II gave the House an opportunity
to on the subject He expressed himself utterly
surprised at the speech made to-day by the gentle
man from OHIO mr. Lawrcnce). That gentleman had
wished for a hundred first class funerals after the
war; Was that the gentleman's Christian spiritY
What sunday school had he been raised InY What
church did he belong tor Even Pagansm repudi-
ated such doctrine Of revenge He would read to
gentleman sentiments hv