Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-21
Forty Second Congress Session
WASHINGTON, 20.

WASHINGTON, 20.
| SENATE.
| Mr.. Buckingham offered resolution au.
thorizing the Committee on Retrenchment tc
| sit in New York and its sub committee to al.
minister oaths and take testimony. Adopted
Also resolution directing the payment from
the Senate contingent. fund of $1,000 or SC
much as was necessary to detray the eX-
penses of the Committee. Adopted.
| Mr. Summers resolution asking for infor-
| nation about the United States naval yes.
| sells sent to San Domingo was passed unop
posed.
| The House amnesty bill was considered
Mr. Robertson said that the bill was fav.
| ored by all the republicans at the South, and
| its passage would gain the republican party
more friends than any other measure.
Mr.. Buckingham read an elaborate speech
which set forth at great length the ernormity
| OF the crime of rebellion, and expressed the
| opinion that Jefferson Davis and others ought
to have been executed Immediately after the
| end of the war. The government however
had chosen different policy and released
| so many individuals from political disabilities,
that there was some apparent reason for
| charging it with injustice. 1t it refused to re-
lease others no more guilty than those re-
lieved, but he did hope that no other amnesty
bill would be introduced.
Mr.. Morton offered an amendment pro-
yiding that the act should not be construed
| ante date so as to validate the election or ap-
pon,ment Of any Senator or member OF the
! House of Representatives or any officer,
/ civil or military of the United States or OF
| any State who at such time was ineligible.
Mr.. Sumner said he believed in being jus,
| before generous to the rebels of the South
lie thought it a good opportunity to do justiee
| to the colored race, and therefore offered a!
an amendment the supplementary civil right;
+, bill.
Mr. Hill of Georgia supported the bill, bu,
believed Mr.. Summers measure impracti-
cable.
Messrs. Sumner and Hill then discussed al
great length the question of equal rights for
colored persons in hotels, public schools, and
public conveyances.
| Mr.. Morton modified his amendment so as
to apply only to members of Congress and
United States officers.
| Mr. Edmunds moved an executive session
Lost.
| Mr.. Trumbull appealed to Messrs. Morton
| and Sumner to repress their amendments
after further discussion by Messrs. Morton
Aicorn, Scott and Fenton.
| Mr.. Wilson said he would prefer to vote fol
it, not as almatter of expedency, not as a
means of quoting the Ku-Klux, not as a
matter of justice to the South, but simply as
matter OF mercy. He did not hate and he
never had hated the South. or any section OF
the country, but the longer he lived the more
the wickedness of the rebellion grew upon
him. He was glad that Mr.. Sumner had of.
fered his amendment, because the attention
Of the Senate had been directed to it, and he
hoped that it would soon be taken up and
passed, but he preferred that it should not be
tackled on to the bill
1t was agreed to take the vote on the bill
and amendn ent to morrow at o'clock.
The Senate then went into executive ses.
sion and adjourned.