Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-02-16
The Amnesty BtlI.
spARRrSe IN THE SENATE.


adopted by the close vote of Is 20 20
the Vice President giving the casting
vote for it, The bill as amended was
,hon IL, because two.thirds failed to vote
cor il the vote standing 33 ayes to l9
NAYS. During the debate on Friday,
there was sparring in which Senator Ed
munds Of this State participated, and we
give the following abstract:
Mr.. Norwood asked Mr., Edmunds for
proofs of his charge against Generals
Hampton, Butler add Kershaw.
Mr.. Edmunds asked Mr.. Norwood il
he did not know that Ku-Klux organ
ization existed in the South.
Mr.. Norwood insisted on an answer to
his question. The Senator (Edmunds)
was trying to convince the Senate that
these three gentlemen ought to be ex,
Guided from the bill, and charged them
with being members of an Illegal organ
ization.
Mr.. Edmunds said he was trying to
convince the Senate that every man
ought to be excluded who was an enemy
to his government, to his fellow citizens
and to good order. He had already
stated that be was informed from the
best authority that the Executive De-
partment of the United States bad evil
dence showing that the three persons he
had named were at this moment or were
a month ago, the Advisory Board of the
Ku- Klux Khan, whatever that was.
Perhaps the Senator NORWOOD, as he
lived near the locality could tell better
than he.
Mr.. Blair, thinking that Mr.. Edmunds
referred to him, said that he did not live
near the locality, but he had been there
and had heard the testimony on the sub
ject, and he would just as readily believe
him (Edmunds) capable of belonging to
the Ku-Klux as Messrs. Hampton, But
Ter or Kershaw.
Mr.. Edmunds-Undoubt we all
know that in the opinion Of the honor
able Senator reconstruction is disgrace
to the age and country, but is it not a
disgrace and outrage that there should
| be organizations for the eommisson OF
murder, arson and all kinds of outrage
Mr.. Blair-I prefer to stigmatize those
who have caused these outrages.
Mr.. Edmunds made a remark imply
ing that Mr. Blair, as he did not de
nounce the outrages must approve o
them.
Mr.. Blair-Upon the same principle
might charge the Senator (Edmunds,,
! with approving the thieving and robber
les of the infamous carpet-bag govern
ments that he hoped to establish in the
in the South, for he has never condemn
ed them.
|, Mr.. Edmunds-I will be more candle
than the Senator. | have not condemn
ed the carpet-bag governments, as h
!, calls them, because | do not believe it
| (Laughter.) deny that the carpet-bag
governments at the South are thieving
governments in the sense in which hi
uses the term, but have no doubt tia
in the South, as in the North, there arr
men 10 office who done minister rightful
ly the duties and functions intrusted tt
them. So soon as the government in the
South or elsewhere, is not faithful to it
trust in the highest degree, / go to the
verge Of the Constitution with the Sen
ator to put it down.
Mr.. Blair-I am very glad to heal
that.
Mr.. Edmunds-I should be still more
glad to hear the Senator say he will &C
with me to protect the loyal black mer
of the country; but on the contrary
when we propose to do that he is always
against US.
Mr.. Blair-I went to protect the lib
critics of the whole country in the battle
field.
Mr.. Edmunds-Yes the Senator wen
to the war, but he got through too soon
lLaughter.)
Mr.. Blair-It is time for you to d.
something in that way now. You die
nothing then. (Laughter)
Mr.. Edmunds-I do not wish to insti
tute comparison between my service
aud those of the Senator from Missouri
but perhaps he will pardon me if sug
gest that this government was not save'
altogether by the Brigadier Generals
} (Laughter)
. Mr.. Norwood in reply to Mr.. Ed
munds, said he had heard of the Ku
Klux organization, but knew no NOR
about it than he (Edmunds) did. Il
+ had heard of outrages at the South, bu
as many of them we're committed b
'. blacks as upon them, and it was motor
: Gus at the South that the negroes did nc
5 begin those outrages until after they wer
put in power by the reconstruction act