The New York herald., 1876-01-14
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
WASHINGTON jan Is, 1876.
All the galleries Of the Hall and the approaches to
them are crowded with spectators anticipation of the
close Of the debate on the amnesty question.
BLAISEs SPEECH AMNESTY.
The House then, at O'Clock, resumed the consd-
Grafton OF the Amnesty bill, and addressed by Mr..
Blaine, of Maine. He commenced by disclaiming any
intention to convey the idea yesterday in the discus
the point of order that the Speaker desired
deprive him of his right reply the speeches made
on the other side.
He said that from the tone OF the debate one would
imagine that the republican party represented in
Congress was trying to in0ict some new punishment
or add other stigma to the OF Jefferson
Davis 1t might, therefore, be inappropriate TO
recall the attention OF this House the precise ques
at issue. The gentleman from Pennsy lvania (Mr
RandalD had introduced bill to confer special honor
on Jefferson Davis for what honor could be higher
than the ullpanoped citizenship of the United States
Jefferson Davis had lost it by his crimes, and the
gentleman from Pennsylvania proposed in hot haste
without debate, without amendment-to drag every
gentleman in the House to say aye the bill
declaring Jefferson DAVIS TO be entitled and hence
forth to all the rights OF American citizenship To that
he Mr. Blainel and those with him dissented. They
not seeking TO throw any other element OF
fammable character into the politics OF the day. What
Of that kind had flown into this discussion lay
the door OF the gentleman from Pennsylvania, and of
those who stood with him. IL was no proposition TO
punish, but IT was proposition to honor, and while
he tMr Baine and those with him disclaimed any
tenton OF desiring TO punish Jefferson Davis they re-
sisted the proposition honor him. He then passed
discuss the question regard the treatment
OF Union prisoners at the SCUM and VINO
OF prisoners The speech OF the gentleman IRON OHIO
Garded) yesterday had left hum literally nothing TO
say. The subject had been exhausted and the argu-
In In reAnlf tnstf
yet gentleman on the other side had answered
fact which the gentleman from Ohio had alleged,
and that no gentleman could answer them. He Bainel
should not therefore at any length rest on that point
But there allegation as 10 point in history
the republican party but as citizen OF the American
Union to resist and resent and that was the allegation
made In regard TO the manner IN which Confederate
prisoners had been treated IN
UNION
The gentleman from Georgia (HnD had spoken this
i sentence IN hls speech
also proved with all the horrors which you
have made such nose about occurring at Andersonve
held
And could not but admire the "our" and the
''your' with which the gentleman communicated the
decision. 1t III compared with his later pretensons to
Unonism. II certainly hingng the shadow OF the
dead Confederacy long way the dial OF the
uona House Of Representatives,; and think that the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Cox somewhat tell
into a little OF the same line lie goes on TO say
And the atrocities Of Andersonvie do begin
Fort Delaware and OF all the atrocities both Anderson
Mr. HILL, of Georgia who occupied front seat on
the republican side OF the House, and said:'I
certainly said no such thing. stated that brought
charge against any body, but that according The
gentleman's IS logic the result followed
Mr. BLAINE--That not the report OF the speech at
all am quoting the gentleman speech as he dely-
cred IT,
Nj. HnL-You are only quoting sentence, out Of
| It's connection.
Mr.. BLAME beg pardon; am speaking OF ii as it
appeared IN the Washington Chronicle and the Asso
ciated Press report do not pretend be bound by
the version of II which may appear hereafter IN the
Conqressonai Record because observe that the gen.
tlenan from New York (Mr Cox spoke speech and
pubhshcd another. l suppose the gentleman from
Georgia will do the same. l admit that he has diff
cult role TO play to keep himself in line with the New
York democrats and TO keep himself In the proper po
siuon for a democratic candidate as Senator from Geor
ga and is very difficult thing reconcile the
Two Laughter ON the republican sidel The
barnburner democrats in 1858 found IL very
hard to adhere to their nt-slavery principles
in New York, and still to support the Pierce admins
tration and Mr. Greeley, with his inimtabe humor,
which characteristic OF him, said that they had
hard to straddle, and that they like the mill
tia generals parade day Broadway, who found II
an almost impossible task follow music and keep
clear Of the omnbuses. lBosterous laughter all over
the house, And that is the with the gentleman
from Georgia. He has been trying keep step 10 the
music OF the Union and TO dodge his nre.eating
sttuents IN Georgia. taughter.) ! will read another
quotation from his speech
prisoners suffered in federal hands and we know how
home from Eimra Fort Delaware and other places with
their fingers frozen or with their frozen on with their
Was that in the line Of what had said or was il a
simple assertion rom the gentlemanS
Mr. HILL said that these were necessary incidents
TO all prisons
| Mr. BLANE-Do understand the gentleman now to
back down from that assertons
Mr. HILL-No. SIR; saw II with my own eyes
Mr.. BLANE-Ihe gentleman from the Eimra district
yesterday lMr Walker, and honor HIM Tor Il, not
held IN leash by party hdeiity and by southern sym
patny but out like and vndicated his
constituents There that side Of the House
gentlemen who represent part the constituents that
DOuglaS-I
Mr. Harrson-and ask those gentlemen TO say
whether. TO the best OF their knowledge and belief,
there was any cruel treatment Of prisoners Chi
caaog yield 10 them Tor that purpose.
Mr CAULYIELD, (den1l OF Ill, rising tho demo-
cratic side OF the House, sad-'The gentleman has
seen call on me for my testimony in regard to
the treatment OF prisoners at Camp Douglas do
not wish him TO suppose, from my silence, that fully
acquiesce in what he has said"
! hr BLAINE pnterruptingl-ln what who has said
The gentleman from Georgia or mysclig
Mr. CAULFiELD--ln what the gentleman from Maine
has said
Mr. BLAINE fsneeringiyl-ohi uaughter1
Mr. CAULFiELD-I used 10 say that there were hard
ships In Camp Douglas which were experienced by the
prisoners IRON the SOUTH but that those hardships
incidental TO the climate and TO the emergency or
their Imprisonment
Mr. Hill without rising and in low ione)-That ls
/ right, In that agree with you.
/ Nr. CAULNELD--I do, however. say that there
certain instances or cruelty which occurred IN that
] camp 10 my knowledge, but they not Of such
number or OF such a character az To make a general
charge against the officers OF the camp
Mr. HILL tstill in his and low tonel-That Is
right and make none
| Mr. CAuLFiELD--l remember some instances myself
! happened 20 be one OF a number appointed 10 ame-
/ liorae the suncrngs Of the PRISONERS at Camp
Douglas. They were brought there in the
winter think the first batch was from Fort
IL was impossible to make them perfectly
comfortable, and as matter Of course there
great deal OF suffering among them, but regarded that
suffering as only incidental the circumstances which
] surrounded them at the TINE. Every effort was made