The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-11

cate Of general amnesty. He advocated it
from the stump, repelling with indignation
the charge that he was in favor of con-
tnnation Of the policy of prescription;
aud | aver here to-day that he would not
have been elected to this House il he had
not taken that stand
Look how this thing works with US.
Eighteen months ago, in the election Of
1862 when the Republican party of Yir-
GINA advocated the policy of incorporating
in the constitution then before the people
of the State the DISTINGUISHING clauses of
the fourteenth amendment and the IRON
clad cath, we were defeated from the At
lantic ocean to the Allegheny mountains;
we were defeated by over twenty thousand
majority. But, sir, growing wiser with
experience, we last September took away
from our political enemies the plank of
general amnesty, adopting it as a part Of
our platform; aud on that broad policy
we retrieved the disasters of the previous
year we overcamo the adverse majority
| Of twenty thousand; we carried the State
of Virginia on that platform of general
amnesty.
Sir, as | said BEFORE, stand here in
structed on this question by a resolution
adopted by the representatives Of the Rep
ublican party of Virginia at a meeting of
their State Central Committee only two
months ago. A resolution adopted by that
committee unanimously with the excep-
ton of one member, who afterward apollo
gized for voting against it) urges the Con-
gress of the United States to give this
measure to the people of the South. I say
that the existing system of dsfranchise-
ment in the South is mere farce. 1t does
the loyal men no good.
Mr.. VAN WICK. Will the gentleman
allow me to ask him one question.
Mr.. PLATT. | decline to be interrupted.
| say that the existing system of dsfran-
chisement in the South is a delusion and a
snare because when the loyal people of
the South come here asking Congress for
protection, we are told that we have pro-
lection, that disloyal men cannot hold
| office. When we ask for bread you give
| us stone.
For six years have been, as a citizen of
the South, engaged in business there,
minglius with the people in various bust
ness enterprises. / have been close
observer, and having personal interest
for mysefaud every member of my family
in this question, ] assert here to-day that
the true policy for this government to pur-
sue is to remove all these DISTINGUISHING
clauses, to sweep away all these test-oaths
as soon as we can. Sir, give us protection
by the removal of these disabilities Take
this irritating question out of our politics.
Protect the loyal men of the South by such
means as will really give them protection.
If the occasion demands, send into the
South as large force as may be necessary
to put down disorder; l will vote for such
measure with pleasure. Send sufficient
force to give US the protection we desire,
but do not attempt to give it to us in the
form of this miserable delusion of iron-clad
oaths and disqualifying clauses.
Here the hammer fell
Mr.. BUTLER, OF Massachusetts,. | will
next yield to the gentleman from Georgia
Mr.. PLATT. l am much oblige to the
| gentleman from Massachusetts for the five
minutes he has allowed me- | hope he
will give me as much more.
Mr.. BUTLER, of Massachusetts, l can
not yield any further.
Mr.. PLATT. | wish, then, only to say
that, speaking for Virginia and for the
Republican party in Virginia, l hope the
House will pass this BILL