Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-10
FORTYTHIRD CONGRESS,
SATURDAY, January 10, 1873.

SENA 1E.-Ine senate 10 not In session to-
day.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
House met for debate only-no business what
ever to be transacted.
Mr.. Arthur (Ky.) had a speech on f.ffairs in
Louisiana ana their connection with Federal
affairs. After speaking for i've minutes, he oh
tanned leave to print the remainder of his re
marks.
Mr.. Fields (Mich.) said he proposed this morn
ing to discuss four propositions: LIST, that tn,
nited States should issue convertible bonds al
low rate OF interest at par; I'd that such bonds
shall be payable by the government at the op
ton OF the holder; 81, that the receipts of the
Treasury notes after the redemption of thes,
bonds shall be used TO purchase 52D bonds in
open market; and, 4Jh, that on and after tn.
third day of June next the national banks
should cease to be banks of issue. He then pro
ceeded to discuss these propositions at length.
Mr.. Vance IN. c. next addressed the House
in opposition to the civil rights bill, claimiug
that its title should be changed to ''a bill to
protect cOlored men in their social rights" and
asserting here was now no denial of civil rights
in the southern States. The provision of schools
he held to be a civil right, but the right of col
ored children TO go into the white schools was
social right, and the attempt to enforce it could
but produce disastrous effect upon both the
white and coored schools. A spirited colloquy
on by q remark that If he was a coIored man he
would noG stand as beggar before Congress
for these rights, but would rather strive to ele-
vste himself to be worthy Of them.
Mr.. Rainey IS. CO. asked If those were his
views, what he thought of the southern whites
who were coming here and asking the removal
of disabilities?
Mr. Vance said he had expected such a cues
ton. Everywhere the horrid skeleton Of the war
was brought up. 1t was right for Congress
to remove these disabilities, for President John
son had practically done so by his proclamation
Gpd Almighty had not, he said, placed the
brand of Cain on the southern man. The bones
of his c"untrymen and friends laid in their
graves at Chicamauga, Muscovay Ridge, Spot
sylvania, Petersburg, and elsewhere, where
they are free in maintaining what they believed
TO be right.
;. Mr.; Fort (IIl.) asked if he thought the rebel
Mr.. Vance replied that he did, and under
similar circumstances would rebel again. III,
would now ask the gentleman if he had beer
placed under the same circumstances would he
not have done the same?
Mr.. Fort said he could not conceive OF anv
circumstances under which he could be induced
to raise his hand against his government
Mr.. Vance then said there never was a more
sublime sight than when, after the surrender at
Appomattox, the southern people went home
with the greatest coed will to the old flag of
their fathers. Loyalty, he said, did not consist
in devotion to a party, but devotion to the Con-
stitntion, and in this sense the men of the south
went home loyal. What followed: laws were
made TO strike down the south, and his people
met denunciatiOn on all sides. He contrasted
this with revolt i'm Russia, where, after 1t was
put down, the "rebels" were not met by denun-
citation by every stump speaker, but q law went
forth forbidding the mention of it. The war
has passed, and several years had elapsed. If
II was necessary for men to wake up the
skeleton OF it to sustain falling cause then let
them do it, The south had been willing to Join
hands, and when Mr.. Greeley had proposed to
shake hands across the bloody chasm they had.
after seeing that he held the knife In his
rushed to the very edge of the chasm to
graspit.
Mr.. Fort said he desired to ask one more
question.
Mr.. Vance, who had yielded the remainder OF
his time to Mr.. Whitehead, of Va, said he saw
DO good to come from fighting the war over
again, and would not take the time for it which
he had yielded 10 his friend from Va.
Mr. Fort appealed to Mr.. Whitehead to yield
few minutes.
Mr.. Whitehead said he had supposed the war
ended eight years ago, [laughterl and declined
to yield.
MIR. Fort, persisting, put the question which
was The gentleman having stated that he had
sworn TO support the constitution, whether he
or the leaders of the rebellion had not taken
the same oath before they attempted to over
throw the constitution and government
Mr.. Vance said that after their state had Sc
binding.
Mr.. THE states now that under like cir
him whether he considers that would be PERU
nv or not.
Mr.. Eance-"Not." He then went on to say
that he had not brought this matter about 1t
had been brought up by the question of Mr..
Rainey. He was not ashamed Of what he had
possibly occur again, therefore the discussion
was frutless.
Mr.. Whitehead claimed the floor, saying that
he hoped "this cruel war was over. Laughter.
He then proceeded to speak in favor OF re-
auction OF the duty on tobacco, arguing that
the enormous tax upon that product was a dis
elimination against the agricultural interests of
Virginia.