New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-28
KELLOGG on AMNESTY
Money in Pockets Of Adventurcrs.

| reports OF the senate proceedings, on Tn
tWsntyfirst instant, the following para
graph, the question being the general all
nesty bill:
, Mr.. Kellogg charged Mr.. Sumner, an
, those acting with him. with design to xii
the bill, because if his amendment was pu
to it it could not get two-thirds vote. II
said the reason why the white people Of tn
South were hostile to the Republican part
was because that party was identified wit
the laws that trampled them in the dus
ami ground them to powder; because unde
color or these laws their taxes were pile,
mountain high. and they were made til,
prey of the lOafers, thieves and adventurer
who went down there to put money in thei
pockets, without caring by what means i
got there.
The Globe contains the official report, al
follows:
Mr.. Kellogg offer the following amend
ment-
The President pro temporc: There is an
amendment pending.
Mr.. Kellogg: Then, in the tenth line OF
the fourth section of the amendment of the
Senator flOm Massachusetts l move to
strike out the word five" and insert the
word two l do not disguise the fact
that in common with many Senators who
have resOrted to the same expedient |
offer this amendment for the purpose of
having an opportunity to submit some re-
marks, more in explanation Of my vote,
however, than otherwise.
voted, Mr.. President, in the committee
of the whole for the amendment proposed
by the Senator from Massachusetts. had
desired, at some time during the progress
| OF this bill, TO urge upon the consideration
| OF the Senate some reasons in favor of its
immediate passage. | thought l should be
able to give many sufficient and conclusive
reasons why this bill should be passed as
matter Of justice to all and as measure of
sound policy. But, sir, in common with
others, abstained from saying one word in
regard to the bill, lest l might delay its
| passage. 1t was my desire to show that the
| imposition Of disabilities was originally re-
sorted to as temporary eXpedient, that it
was inangurated before suffrage was guar
anteed to the black man, and that since the
fifteenth amendment has been made part
| OF the constitution the main reason which
| was urged in debate by all the prominent
Republicans for the adoption of the third
section OF the fourteenth amendment has
passed away. Now that the right of sut
Irage has been guaranteed to the black
man the reason for disabilities has ceased.
And, sir. this reference to the fifteenth
amendment leads me to recall a scene which
l once witnessed on this floor which shall
never forget. When the galleries were
bleathless with excitement. when they
We're hanging on the utterances of every
Senator as his name was called and as he
voted yea" or may" on the question of
the adoption Of that great Magma Charta
giving the right of suffrage forever to the
black man, my honorable friend at my
right tNlr. Sumner), who attempts to ham
per this great measure, who is hostile to it,
and who endeavors to fasten his amend
ment upon it manifestly for no other pur-
pose than to defeat its passage. took his
cane and hat in his hand and walked DELHI
erately from this chamber and refused to
record his vote in favor of constitutional
suffrage for the black man in all time to
come.
l respect my friend from Massachusetts,
and have respected him from boyhood; but.
sir. it is evident that he is hostile TO this
measure; it is evident that other Senators
whom l see AROUND me here are also hostile
to it. and are. l tear, endeayoring to defeat
it. In Louisiana to-day every single re-
qnlrement. every provision of the bill
which the Senator from Massachusetts
offers as an amendment, is, believe. with
scarce an exception, now upon the statute
books. and believe exists in several other
States OF the South: and Notwithstanding
this the Senator attempt to put NE and
others i'll a false position before the col
Orcd people of the South because some of
us insist upon voting for the bill before the
Senate without any amendment and as it
came to us from the House.
l perceive. sir. that must talk rapidly
for | am admonished that 1 have but Il
moment or two; wish had longer time
Mr. Ednunds Take As much time as YOU
like. The rules have all been broken down.
Mr.. Kellogg: If the Senate will give me
an opportunity to go on for two or three
minutes, it is all shall ask. and think l
Ill J
circumstances.
Mr.. President. the Senator from Pennsvl- |
vani:,. the chairman OF the committee com
monty known as the kuk klux committee |
tMr. Sc"tt), told US yesterday that the re-
moval of disabilities was measure of sound |
policy. He gave abundant reasons for his
belief. and it was my intention, if had been
afforded the opportunity, to read from his
speech reasons he urges why this measure |
of amnesty should be passed, why it was a |
measure of sound policy thus to bring into |
the front rank men that can take Office from |
among the wealthy and intelligent popula-
tion OF the South now distranchised. 1t is |
a fact, as true as it is unjust, that many of |
the peaceful, honest. respectable and intel |
ligent people of the Southern States are pre-
cluded from any participation in the gov
of the States IN which they live, |
unless it be to- pay exorbitant taxes to sup
port, in many eases, worthless and corrupt |
office holders.
The government has abandoned the
of the most responsible of |
the leaders of the rebellion; Congress has
by special acts removed the disabilities of
and appointed some of them to
important offices, and yet now some lead
ing Republicans favor policy which only
tends to harrass and aggravate certain pro-
scribed individuals, and constantly keep
before them and the world the official
declaration that they can not be trusted.
The President pro tempore: 1t is the
!uty Of the Chair to remind the Senator
hat his five minutes have expired.
Mr. Kellogg: Then | withdraw the
amendment that l offered, and move now to
strike out the last word of the pending
l will not trespass long on
he Senate but l really desire to say two
n three things since l am on my feet, and l
'ppeal to my friends in the South es-
,ecially, and ask them to corroborate what
say.
was about to say that it is surprise to
ne that as a matter of policy some of our
riends seem inclined to oppose this meas
Ire. Sir, why are so many Of the white
ncn of the South hostile to the Republican
,arty9 1t Is mainly because they see that
he Republican party is in measure
Identified with the laws which oppress
hem-unjust laws that have tended to pile
debt mountain high upon them, and in
icted upon them taxes, unjust and oppres-
i've, for the purpose Of putting money in
he pockets Of adventures, who, in many
ases, have no proprietary interests in com
non with the people.
Let me present one more consideration. |
he Republican party is sure of the votes
t the colored element Of the South. They
re Republicans in all their instincts. They
now very well that the Republican party ;
the party that gave them freedom and ;