Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-22
FORTY SECOND CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, March 81.
SENATE.

The Military Committee reported i'll ap-
propriating $3.50, 900 for the enlarg !nent of
the military department at Fort 4eaven-
worth.
The bill granting u condemned nnon for
monument at St. Louis to Natha. iel Lyon
was passed.
Mr.. Hill presented a memorial which was
ordered to be printed, from John E. Bryant,
leading republican editor of Georgia, pro-
testing against the admission of Foster
Blodgett, as senator from that State, and
making grave charges respecting that gentle
mans personal integrity.
Mr. Anthony's resolution specifying legis-
iatlon Tor the present session was then taken
up, and MIR. Ames was awarded the floor upon
the condition of the South. He said that one
half of the suffering of the people of the
South had not been told, and attributed the
cause of much of the disorder the enfran-
chisement OF colored element and their doings
to contend for political supremacy with their
fellow citzeHs. The theory that minority
had control in the South was mistake. In
Mississippi the colored population had ma
jority of 10000, and their sympathes were
with the republican party, as a contrast to
the unforgiving spirit of slavery and rebellion
still rampant in the South. He had read res
outions passed by the republican legislature
Of Mississippi, asking Congress to remove
the political disabilities of all the people of
that State, yet the very members who passed
these resolutions had been compelled to petit
ton the government for protection. The
most fearful outrages were of daily occur
renee in that State. He then referred to the
recent despatch of Gov. Alcorn of Miss, to
the effect that the State authorities were COM
petcnt to put down any disorders which may
prevail, and also Gov. Alcorn's proclamation
in Dec. 1870, against the Ku-Klux-k Khan.
The legislature had appropriated $4,000 to
aid in the arrest and conviction of Ku-Klux
associations. Gov. Acorn had drawn every
cent of this money, yet he (Ames) had not
heard of one ku-klux being arrested He
was in constant receipt of letters from Mis-
sissippi detailing wholesale outrages upon the
unionists by rebels. The telegraphic report
of the riot at Meridian was untrue as the
Judge who was shot was a republican, as it
was prepOsterous to say that colored men
would shoot their friends.
Mr.. Ames then submitted and had read
letter from republican member Of the legis-
tature that the riot was the result of a COM
bination of rebels to overthrow the republi-
cans in that country; that many murders of
colored men had been committed which would
never be discovered; that the colored people
had been disarmed by the sherifs, who prom
ised to protect them, and condemning the
government for his failure to protect them.
The occurrence within sixty days of over 500
murders of republicans in louisiana, for
which there was no convictions, and the fact
that no ku-klux was ever punished, were
spoken of by Mr. Ames as indicative of the
wide terrorism exercised by the the Ku-Klux
order.
Alter further remarks by Messrs. Pool,
Nye and Scott, in favor of legislation for the
protection of life and property at the South,
- hat NJ
and all the amendments should be voted on at
, O'Clock tomorrow.
Mr.. Sawyer then moved as an amendment
to the pending resolution to include for con-
slderation at the present session, the general
amnesty bill lately reported from the commit
tee on disabilities. He argued that the pas
sage of this bill would do much to restore
harmony and contentment in the South. He
regretted that the enfranchisement of negroes
in the reconstruction laws had not been ac-
companied by general amnesty to the white
people. The influence of this policy he be-
lieved would be powerfully felt in removing
the bitterness, and conciliating and harmonic
ing all people. Much had been said here and
elsewhere as to the inclination of the southern
people to enter into another rebellion, but
he would assure the Senators that there
not one word of truth in such representations.
The remembrance of their manned sons, de-
serted hearthstones and devastated fields,
precluded the possibility of their ever again
entertaining the idea of another rebellion for
moment. He did not think the disturbances
in the south originated from hostility to the
general government, but that they were in
spired by the disatfection of local govern
ments. The reason or this was that the men
most fitted by education and position to take
part in the affairs of the State were excluded
from all participation therein. 1t was owing
to this cause that men of inferior naval and
intellectual stamp had been elevated to pub
lie positions, with respect to Ku-Klux organ
zations, which he said were dominant in
some counties of the Carolinas.
Without concluding the debate the Senate
adjourned.