Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-01-31
WAsBINeToN, January so.

SENATE
ON motion of Senator Schurz, the
house bill to authorize the cOnstruc-
ton of a railroad bridge over the Mis-.
souri was passed, with two amend
ments-One requiring that the draw
over the main channel shall not be
less than one hundred and sixty feet
span, the other prohibiting the st. JO-
seph Bridge-building company from
assigning the charter they now hold
by assignment from the st. Joseph
and Denver City railroad company, or
constructing any other bridge than
the one now being built at s. Joseph.
The amnesty bill came up, and
Senator Salisbury made a speech in
its favor. He said that he would
prefer the amnesty bill without the
exception; but as this was impossible
at present, he would give the present
bill his hearty support, trusting the
generosity Of the American people for
the removal of all disabilities in time.
He felt that the restoration of the
Democratic party to power was neces-
sary to protect the rights Of citizens,
to develope the resources Of the
country and protect the country from
the evils brought upon the country
by Republican rule. He charged the
Republican party with having in
fiicted upon the country an irTedeem-
able and deprecated paper currency,
q ruined commerce, deteriOrated
navy and many other evils, and in
conclusion denounced Senator Sum-
ner's civil rights amendment as an
attempt to degrade white men to the
level Of an Inferior race.
81 Senator SchUrZ followed with an
elaborate speech in favor of universal
amnesty. He said he had at first in
tended to vote for the house bill with
out the amendment, expecting that il
would be promptly passed; but the
bill having been amended in one par
ticulsr il must now 60 back to the
house, and therefore, there was no
longer any reason for refraing from an
attempt to make it apply to all classes
IabOring under political disabilities at
the South. The senator from South |
Carolina Robertson had given notice
that be would move 20 strike out the |
exception from the bill, but for this he |
TSchuIzl would make that motion,
believing that the reasons which |
make it desirable that there should be
an amnesty granted at all, make il |
desirable that the amnesty should |
be universal. The Wickedness and |
terriblS consequences OF the rebellion |
had been adduced by : enstOr Morton |
and others as a reason against amnes. !
ty, but II the rebellion had been still
more wicked and Its conseq uences
still more terrible he lSchnrz could |
not permit himself to forget that in !
dealing with this question congress |
had to deal not with the past, but !
with the present and future interests |
OF theSouth and Of the whole country.
However senators might differ as to |
the means, he assumed that they were |
"a, ,reed as to the supreme end and aim |
f6ev~ should have ia view to secure to |
an the States the blessings OF good |
and free government and the highest |
degree OF VPOsPerity and well-being |
thew can al, ain, sgd revive in the |
hearts of all the citizens Of the repUb-
Lie that love for the nation and its iu-
and that Inspiring con-
sciOusness Of a common NATIONALITY /
which should bind ali Americans TO-
gether. This being the end, no one
would say that il had been attained, 1
or even that the policy pursued
hitherto had tended to its st-
Some Of the Southern
States, governed by a combination Of
and ignorance, are In q con-
dition bordering on anarchy, rs the
result, to some extent at least, Of that
unWise policy. The first step at the
close of the war was the necessity to
secure the freedom and rights Of the
blacks, but the nextstep /
should haze been 10 secure guarantees
for good and honest government at
the South. He would be the last TO /
cast q slur upon the c0lOred people in
che South; their moderation and gen
ersI good Conduct was unt Xam-
pied Ia history, but II was
not reasonable to expect that |
lust after emerging from 3 stale of /
slavery they should step into the pO-
litical arena armed with the inteili- 4
gence and experience necessary for the
Of public affairs. When
ignorance and ineXperience were ad-
rnitted to so large an influence they
ought 20 have been regulated by the
of the cOnterbslaneing eie-
ments. Experience has shown that
this system Of disabilities did not
servs In any way or measure TO pro-
teet anybody IN his rights OF life, lib
erty or property, snd therefore 1t wss
the duty Of congress to acknowledge
the mistake aud place men Of chsrac-
ter and ability at the South in posi-
ton where they could again take
part 80 the management OF affairs.
he had heard it said that mary Of the
late rebels did not deserve amnesty.
Perhaps not; but was not the welfare
{ the country far more important
consideration? 4
A senator had asked whether de-
ssulters should be punished Hand
fraitt;rs allowed to 60 free, whether
embezzlesuent was a greater crime
fhsn treason, That was not the qUes-
fion. the cues ion was whether gen.
ersl amnesty to rebels was not more
demanded by the pubhe good than
the general pardon Of thieves a
broad distinction was algays drawn /
betveen violatOrs of law in which /
noIitical opinion was q controlling /
element, and crimes implying moral
There we're men now /
EittinQ in the German parliament
who q few years ago were fugi-
fives from justice, they had been
admitted, too, without being ask
ad 10 abandon their former opin-
IONS. and most OF them now belonged
To the liberal opposition. The Count
Androssy. condemned to death in /
Ielo. was now at the head Of the Aus
frian ministry, and It was now known
that the liberal amnesty granted to
hiul had done rauch TO attach Hun
0ary to the inpeEial crown again. 1T |
Vvas argued that certain men should |
be excepted fEOm the amnesty be-
cause they had been educatea by the /
United 6tstes government and had /
deserted its service, bat the rule had |
been violated By the appointment to |
once OF one OF the most c0nspicu-
o.1e of this eIas5-Genen0l LOngstreet. 1
IN the discussion OF this question In |
fhe senste 80 much had been heard |
Sbo.s the wlekedness Of the rebellion
Il reason against amnesty thst the /
: melton was suggested whether the