Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-01-20
aay iask NJ Sawyer ealled up bill re.

moving he disabilities of US. G. Rich
fardson, reporter of the Supreme Court of
South Carolina. and four other persons.
Mr.. Salisbury suggested that all the
difficulty In regard to the removal of polit-
ical disabilities could be settled by the
enunciation of a principle. Let a test be
applied, and as it really is applied, let it
be understood that the test of Congress lis
this " Does the person whose disabilities
are TO be removed vote the Republican
ticket 2" That is the best test of loyalty,
and it makes no difference, as the action
of the Executive and as legislation here
has shown, what part an individual has
taken in the late war. He may have com
manded armies, he may have. slaughtered
hundreds of your citizens, he may have
been one OF the most different upholders of
the Confederate caRse.. But that is no
matter, provided that he now votes the
Republican ticket and shows fidelity to the
Republican cause. IL is all right, so he
changes has voice, and cries loudly g re
BEL" s. traitor" and ku-kIux 8" against
his former associates. Let 1t be known
that this is the rule to be applied, it will
be very plain aud mple, aud every one
will then know what 10 do. Vote the Re
publican ticket, and holler rebel y and
g ku kiux" against your old friends and
associates.
Mr.. Pomeroy said that loyalty to the
Democratic party of the South was an
almost undoubted evidence of disloyaIty to
the Union. The Democratic party of the
South went as naturally into the rebellion
as a duck went into water. 70 leave the
Democratic party OF the South, which went
boldly into its organized capacity into the
rebellion, was certainly some sign of re-
turning loyalty. 1t was good sign of re-
pentance, and was probably we'll to be
adopted as a test, as the Senator (Mr.
Salisbury had suggested, laughter, but
it was not necessary to say 50 in the law.
He was willing at the proper time to vo e
for universal amnesty. and when these
men would keep the peace and sustain the
government Of their country, he would
vote to relieve them, whether they were
Democrats or not.
Mr.. Salisbury said it WAS not the first
time that such refuge had been taken from
their positions in assaults on the Demo
cratic party. Such assaults as this had
been made upon the Democratic party
from it's very birth. And what is this party
that is now so bitterly assaiIing it? A
party which has subverted every principle
OF constitutional liberty, Which is con-
stantly warning against the DEGREES of AL
mighty God Himself. A party whose latest
exploit is All attempt to annex to this conn
try Tree negro republic; party whose
only mission is to degrade the white man
and elevate the negro. When the Demo
cratic party comes into power in 1872. il
will, as far possible, restore the govern,
ment to what it was designed to be by its
| founders.
The morning hour here expired, and the
bill was laid over.
Mr. Wilson introduced bill for the re
moval of political disabilities, which was
referred to the Committee on Disabilities.
Il provides that the legal and politica
disabilities of all persons, except such as
left the Cabinet or Congress to go into the
rebellion in 1860 and 1861. and those who
have unlawfully held Office since May 81,
1870, shall be removed. 80 ~