New-York tribune., 1872-02-12
HOW AMNESTY WAS DEFEATED.

MR. SINNERS REASON FOR ADDING THE CIVIL
RIGHTS BILL AS AN AMENDMENT-AMNLsIf
KILLED AT THE HANDS OF THE PRESIDENT
FRIENDS.
lFROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSEl
WASHINGTON, Feb. tO.-Amnesty has been
defeated in the senate by the joint action OF the Demo
Gratis who would not have generosity II it must De
couped with justice, and OF Republicans who would
not grant justice If it must be accompanied by gener-
osity 1t is the common complaint that Mr. Sumner
has destroyed the Amnesty bill by loading II WIN Ms
Civil Rights amendment. That was the charge made
with considerable heat in the senate last night by Mr.
SAWYER the carpet-bag Senator from South Carolina,
who went 80 far as TO usinuate broadly that the Massa
cIusets Senator's action dictated by secret hos
tIty to Amnesty-an, which one or TWO IN
dsuant questions from Mr.. sumner quickly compelled
him 10 withdraw Why, it is asked could not this amend
cut securing equal rights to the coOred people have
been presented Il separate bill, needing only major
ity TO become a law instead of being placed as rider
upon measure requiring twO-thirds vote, when there
was every to believe that, with such an amend
ment a two thirds vote could not be securedi
Before we condemn Mr.. Sumner entirely, let Us listen
to the answer which he gives TO this question He has
tried for two years to Introduce his Civil Rights pro
vision as an Independent b and has never been able Ia
bring to vote Twice it has been thrown out by the
Judiciary Committee and il it had been introduced in
the regular way would have been smOhered thrown
out gain. The same Republican clique which gave II
during this session hypocritical support because heJ
meant to it to destroy the Amnesty bill, against
which they had 70 vote openly, killed 1t
in the committeerOom last year. and ready II it
went to Committee report against it once more Mr
sumner felt that he could not get it before the senate al
all except by some such eXpedent the one he did
adopt and however may depore the result OF his ac
ton Is only fair TO bear in mind his reasons, aud to re-
member hut;the defeat by means his work alone
Indeed it idle to denounce the policy which coupled
Amnesty with Civil Rights, when opportunity to sepa
rate them was offered in yesterdays debate, and the
Administration Senators had an excellent chance
IN carry both measures 1t they chose TO
MFR summers amendment had been voted upon and ac
cepted Mr. SAWYER then proposed TO strike out part oil
the original bill which exceptecertain classes from the
beneft, OF the Amnesty. Mr.. Chandler proposed 70
amend Sawyers amendment by striking out everything
relating Amnesty, andeaying merely CiVll Rgdts
bill II this had been done, the bill mghthave passed az
once and there should have been difficulty in then
taking I'D the House Amnesty bill, and carrying that
also But Sawyer's amendment had TO he acted upon
first and il was rejected The Vce-President called at
tenton to the fact that Mr. Chambers motion thereby
fell 10 the ground unless he renewed i4 Mr. Chandler
however was not in his place, and the notion was not
renewed suppose he hadperceived what must follow,
and being an honest unconditional outspoken enemy
to the removal OF disabilities OF Rebels he preferred
10 spend few moments In the coat roOm and let the
bill take its course.
So then the labor OF two months to nought. The
Democrats ranged themselves sodly the side OF pro-
scripton and CASTE and refused to accept the political
rehabilitation OF their Southern brethren II that measure
generosity and sound policy must be bought at the
price OF equal rights.
There seems to be no expectation that new Amnesty
bill can be carried this session. The Senate Is weary OF
the long aud tedious discussion, and has discoy-
cred that no subject is more prolific than this in
texts for special speeches. Amnesty has led into
oratons on Civ Service Reform State Rights the char
acter Of Wade Hampton the military services OF Frank
Blair (whom Mr.. Edmunds reminded that the whole
duty OF general not to sit in Sbley tent, drink
wine and sign orders'0 the Chicago fire, and the per-
sonne Federal force OF inspectors at last years
election NewYork There hardly topic within the
scope Of legislation with perhaps the single exception OF
pgiron that has not been dragged into this debate.
Many Senators have wholesome dread OF encounterng
repetition of such weary days and quite ready TO
follow the leaders OF the party in keeping Amnesty
henceforth out OF sight So here is the first OF the Pre
dents recommendations overthrown by the Presidents
friends Now for the Civil Service. J.R @. II.