New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-14

/ AVv yS0sO JUG uVOG UUY IO0&efs
Ar: Davis, vccifercusly-Ha asked for.
the facts, and when tho facts come out 10
will not have them. (Grest excitement.l
Hr. Banks, 0f Massachusetts. made the
point Of order that siter Mr.. Blaine's chal-
leDge to the other side, be had NO right -
decline yielding. but the Speaker overrulsa
! Mr. Blaine-Lst them ali arise and d.
sent; do not object; but do not intend
to yield my whole hour.
II: Hills, OF Texas-lt is not the desise
on this side to reopen any of tho wounds q
the ste war. We have cat here and listesea
| to charges. but We do not desire TO answer
them or to have anything to do with the1.
We hope, however, that our silence will mot
be recorded against us as an admission q
what We know to be false.
Mr. Cook. of Georgis-I was one of these
who were wounded and crippled.
| The Speaker-Does the gentleman froa
Maine Weld any iurtherf
Mr. Blaine-I do not.
Mr. Cook-Then take back what yen said.
M. blaine-Yes, If that will do yOu any
good, or you oil over there stand pp and
dissent, I will wait for you to do that.
Mr.. Rsndall-We are not at school now.
| (Roars Of laughter.
Mr.: BIaine-f you were, you are most
| unruly set of scholars. Mr.. Blaine then
alluded to the speeches of Nessrs. Cox.
Hill and Randall At length. and moved % ths
previous question.
Mr.. Randall. who, under the Speakers
ruling resumed control of the bill, yielded
thirty minutes to Mr.. Banks, who made an
eloquent speech in favor Of the bill, but
proposed an amendment of the oath.
1t required unanimous consent to enter
tain the amendment, and Mr.. Bl lime OBJ
jected.
The following are extracts from Mr..
| Banks speech:
Therefore. sir, do not hold either that
the President of the United States il re-
| eponsible for all or for any acts Of sis sub
| ordinates, no matter how near he NAV hsvo
oeen IN connection With them, nor how
closely they may be allied to him by friend
| ship or political relationship. Nor do
hold Mr.. Davis responsible. tor everything
that occurred under the governments Of
which he assumed to be the head.
| In regard to the atrocities at Anderson
vile and elsewhere, dismiss from ali con-
sideration the declarations. arguments, a..
which for week past have heard 90 con
stantly in this chamber. I do mott doubt
that tho soldiers of the COnfederacy NAV
have suffered in the North. nor do doubs
that the soldiers of the North may have
suffered terribly in the South. Iswas inci-
dent to the condition of things; for the
guilty, whoever they may Be, 1 pray
forgiveness for the suffering, whoever they
may have been, l invoke the blessing Of
God; for the crimes themselves soy let the
earth hide them. Let US shut thom ont of
| sight. (Applause on the Democratic side.1
There 10 ono thing, Mr.. Speaker, which u
especially desired by ell tho people, and
actions, with all parties, GLASSES and races.
This declaration Of amnesty 10 the first step
that has been taken to that end-the very
first step. Nothing else will answer In place
of it. Credit has been claimed for what
has been done already in the way Of am
nesty, but every step in that direction has
been compelled BY the people Of the coun-
speak in part for Massachusetts, and 7 hone
that Massachusetts will give vote ap-
proaching unanimity upon this question.
There 10 NO act OF any government since tho
creation Of the world that will compare il
sublimity with this act If it shall be passed.
and to take this sacred document, this ma
jestic declaration of the people. and plaster
it over with the crimes that may b
charged against IN individual, il to blur
the grace and glow Of clemency-to
take the nose from the face for the
thread Of . godlike act and stick blister
there. IApplause.] Mr.. Speaker, when
tho people Of other States shall coms hero
during the present year to witness tho
achievements of our republican govern
ment after the expiration Of century, re-
membering - they do, even botter than
ourselves, the events Of our great war, our
highest triumph will be to let them hear
the shouts Of the whole people in Joyous
congratulation upon this grave act Of peace
and oblivion to all Glasses and persous for All
plause on the Democrats side.]
Mr.. Tarbox, of Massachusetts. said that
the message from Massachusetts, had been
spoken to the House by his eloquent and
distinguished colleague (Bsnks). His COL
League had sent back the answer of Nsssa-
chusetts to the gaunt and CORY spectre
which the gentleman (Blane) or some ma
gician of the black art had with devilish in
genuity called up to mar the festal cheer Of
the republic. tApplause on the Democratic
side.l
Mr.. Morey referred to the reconstruction
acts of Congress, which unfortunately
struck out and prevented from halding
office after the war large class of mon
who had opposed the war, and who had
given the rebellion nominal support, tho
only objection to this being that they had
held office prior to the war. He paid .
high tribute to the few unflinching. consist
ent Union men Of the South. and followed
With . scathing denunciation of pseudo
Unionists who were too Cowardly to
fight for the South, and who at the close
OF the rebellion were ready to take any
| oath necessary to secure official position.
Next to the true loyal mon of the South ho
clAased the Confederate soldiers a. the best
element of the Southern people, declaring
they were moro inclined to sccept the re-.
suits Of the war than the demagoeues Who.
after driving tho South into rebellion, Left
the young men and poorer class to tight her
battles. He referred to tho messages Of
General Grant, recommending the RENT val
| of disabilities, and to the actions of Relub-
| lican State and district conventions on tho
| same subject, and alluded to the constitu-
| tional amendment submitted to tho people
in 1868 by Republican Legislature, which
| swept away Ill disabilities imposed upon any
class. 1t was too late, be claimed, @
punish the Confederate leaders, and it Was
illogical and unjust to except one man from
oused of Q crime for which he had never
been tried. While fAvoriug removal Of al
disabilities, test oaths and legislation Of any
character that may sorve 20 . reminder of
the bitterness and sorrow of the war. and
exrendiDg generous aid 70 tho South 20 no
build levees and aid her material rehabii-
tatiou, he would 1t the same time invoke he
whole power of tho general government to
protect it, humblest citizen in the enjoy
ment Of his civil and political rights, 60 that
to be IN American citizen would be 70 enjoy
guarantee Of that ample protection Of III
his rights IN any part OF the nation that u
enjoyed by the humblest of EoRiand's sub-
jects, without regard to race or color.
Mr.. Rsndsll moved the recommittal Of
the bill to the judiciary Commirtee, with
instructions to report it with tn amend
ment Adopted.
Mr. Randall asked unanimous consent for
the committee to report at once. Mr.. Blaine
objected.