Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-01-26
BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE
Daily Kennebec Journal.
Forty.Second Congressional Session
WASHINGTON, %,
SENATE.

SENATE.
Mr.. Morrill, said that the government hav-
ing prosecuted the war upon the principle
which assumed absolute political disability OF
twelve millions of people, and the absolute
overthrow Of the legitimate governments Of
eighteen States, the very first step in the pro-
cess Of reconstruction was necessarily am
nesty, in order to qualify those who were to
take part in the reorganized governments
The assumed disqualification made amnesty
a great civil, political and moral necessity u
the end of the war, and in accordance with
that principle the question of general amnes y
had been long ago settled.
The question now before the Senate was,
whether it will pass bill granting amnest,
not quite universal, but so nearly so as to put
an end to special legislation ON the subj ct
He was convinced that it would be wise to
pass this bill. He had been brought to that
conviction by the Presidents recommend
ton, by the recommendation of the Ku-klux
committee, and by his own judgment. AS to
the amendment proposed by Mr.. Sumner. he
was not only opposed to its adoption, but be-
lieved that it never ought to have been en-.
tertained as an amendment to this bill, first.
because it involved very delicate constitu
tional question. 1t had not been ousidered
by the committee, but there was a still more
conclusive reason why it ought to be rejected
1t was unconstitutional. The Senator (Sum-
per) had invoked the Declaration of Indepen-
dence and many high considerations in favor
of his bill, but had failed to point out any
provision of the constitution which authorizes
Congress to pass it, and until he could show
that such legislation was authorized by the
constitution, it was idle to invoke the mem
DRY OF great deeds of other times, or the
doctrine of equal rights as q justification for
it.
The Senator had attempted to place this
bill upon the same grouRd as the civil rights
bill, but there was no analogy between them.
The constitutional amendment upon which
the Senator attempted to base this bill did
not assert anything. 1t was simply grand
negation. But the bill itself was an asser-
ton of equal, civil, political and social rights
OF all men in hotels, churches, schools, thea
tres and everywhere else. This was all well
and he hoped the day would come when we
should be also thoroughly imbued with the
principles of justice, humanity and chris
tianity, as to take all men without distinction
of color to our firesides and bosoms. But
certainly it was not within the province of
Congress to enforce them by direct legisla-
ton.
Mr.. Morrill, criticised in detail the provi-
sions of Mr.. Summers bill, and argued that
Congress had no power to enact them into
law, except SO far as they applied to common
carriers, and he warned the Senate against
disregarding the constitutional line of separa-
ton between the federal and State govern
ments, upon the preservation of which the
stability OF the republic depended.
Mr.. Flanagan followed. lie was in favor
Of the amnesty bill and also Of the amend
htrf haze vrnr oh n a,
whose relief he would not vote-Jefferson
Davis for instance. There were also other
persons in his own State, all democrats, who
were conducting themselves very badly, to
prove which he sent several letters and tele-
grams to the desk to be read. On the other
hand there was one man who had been
member of the secession convention, for
" hose relief he would ask after the passage
Of this bill. He criticised Horace Greedy for
going bail for Davis, eulogized Henry Clark
and General Jackson, and announced his own
belief in the good old doctrine, that Amer-
cans should rule America.
The bill was then postponed till Monday.
A resolution to adjourn till Monday was
lost.
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
~AA' oA"hN Va SiihOutt ICpOittu IEUut the
Joint committee on southern outrages. The
report recommends the adoption of resolu-
ton calling on the President for the informa-
ton on which he acted and exercised in South
Carolina. The power conferred upon him
in the ku-klux act with the names of persons
arrested and imprisoned with all the particu-
lars. Also such other information as will
convey correct idea of the state of the So
cety and the security of life and property
in that State and in North Carolina, particu-
larry as to the lowry gang in Kentucky,
Texas and Louisiana, including
the recent legislative conflict there.
Mr. Beck of KY, offered substitute con-
fining the information asked to South Caro-
lima inasmuch as that was the only State
where martial law existed, as it would re-
quire months to give all the information re-
CURED in the original resolution. He al
luded to the fact thatsmany persons who had
been arrested in South Carolina had been dis
charged by the army officers, arresting them
on payment of money. In fact they had been
black mailed, and he referred as authority to
a letter in the New York Herald of Novem-
Der 10th, giving the names of the officers,
and challenged denial.
Mr.. Stevenson of Ohio opposed Mr. Beck's
substitute because it contained all statement
that was not true, namely: That the Presi-
dent declared martial law in South Carolina
Martial law superseded the civil law, and if
that had been superseded the recent trials in
Columbia. 8. c., would not have been held
where two Of the lawyers in the land were
fed largely to defend Ku-klux wretches, and
actually left the court room in shame. For
his own part he had no objection to see hun
dreds or thousands of these Ku-Klux wretches
tried by drum head court martial and swing
ing to the highest trees.
MIR. Van Trump OF Ohio questioned the
statement as to the counsel tor the Ku-Klux
prisoners having been driven out of the cenrt
room by shame at tae developments made
Mr.. Stevenson said one of them Mr.. Stan
berry of Ohio left the cou' t house while one
of his clients was on trial because he was
sickened by the fact developed, and another
Reverdy johnson left Columbia while cases
were still on trial.
Mr.. Van Trump of Ohio said that Mr..
Stanberry left only when his duty that of ar
guing the law points was performed.
Mr.. Maynard of Tenn, asked Mr.. Van
Trump il he said that Mr.. Stanberry was not
ashamed ofthe DEVELOPMENTS.
Mr.. Van Trump did not know anything
about that, but he knew that he had not de-
serted his clients.
Mr.. Stevenson would undertake to say
that Mr.. Stanberry was ashamed and mus,
u