The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-02-17
SPEECH
HON. n. p. BANKS

HUN. IN. L. Is "A IN kS,
In the House of Representatives OH
} Tuesday, Jan 13, 1876. The Amnesty
Bill being under consideration, Mr..
Banks said:
, Mr.. BANKS. 1t is not my purpose,
sir, to engage in the discussion of the
subjects which have occupied the at
! tentiOn of the House for most of this
week. The amendment which have
read embodies my views of the ques-
ton, and it is my purpose to confine
myself to that subject. am not op-
posed to the passage of a general am
nesty bill, and, if compelled, very
likely should vote for such bill as
this, without any declaration or con-
dition connected with it, The last
House Of Representatives, I am in-
formed, passed q bill to the same eff
feet if not in the exact words of the
bill proposed by the gentleman from
Pennsylvania. But there is one con-
sideratiOn that bears upou this ques-
tion to which think gentlemen will
give their assent.
Sir, without any intention Of casting
personal reflections upon anybody, l
take one person as an illustration of
the principle have stated, and that is
one whose name has been continually
mentioned in this debate as the head
Of the confederacy lately at war with
the United States-Mr.Je efferson Davis.
Mr.. Davis has, l understand, abjured
his allee eiance to the United States
He took upon himself an oath of feal-
ty to government hostile to that of
the United States, and do not under
stand that he has since taken any oath
of allegiance to the United States or
the Constitution thereof a. it now ex-
ists.
| Sir, other men who have received
pardon Of the Government of the
United States and have been restored
TO their political rights have, more or
less OF them, taken the oath Of allie
glance to the Constitution as it now
exists under the proclamation ofPresi.
dent Lincoln or the proclamation of
President johnson or under the sever
all acts relating to the reconstruction
of the Government, most if not all of
which required the taking of an oath
by the parties who accepted the privi-
leges conferred by those acts.
Gentlemen have said to mo as rea-
son why this proposition should not
be embodied in the bill before the
House that all these meu have at one |
time or another taken an oath of allie
glance. But think, sir, from what
occurred yesterday, the probability is
that j Jefferson Davis has not.
Now, if he should be embraced in
this amnesty, he stands in the position
of having abjured his allegiance to the
United States, having taken the oath
of fealty TO a government hostile to
the United States, and then of being
restored to tho same political rights
that any other citizen Of the United
States has, with the right of election
and Of being elected to office, with the
obligation of an oath to support hos
tile government resting upon him.
But gentlemen say that he will have
to take an oath if he is elected to Of
ice but that is not sufficient. There
are perhaps in the United States un-
der the General Government and that ,
'f the several States, from two hum
lred and fifty to three hundred thou
'and ofiice-holders, mest of whom ,
must have taken the oath of allegiance
o the United States: there are also
'bout eigh millions of men who by
light of birth or naturalization owe an ,
lndisputed allegiance to the United
States, and who are invested with the |.
privilege of electing or being elected
o Office, and this is one of the highest
privileges conferred upon or enjoyed !.
~ American citizens. 1t is not right
hat this one man should be admitted
o this privilege without having made, .
g these men did in one form or an .
'ther. direct declaration of intention
0 support the Conititution-obey the :
avs of the Government. Sir, trust !:
he gentlemen on the other side of the
Iouse who are so earnest in support
II this bill will not refuse a PROPOSE :
ion of this character, so manifestly
proper in itself as applicable to this
ase.
Now the difference between my !,
and that of the gentleman
rom Maine Mr.. BLAINE] is, that it
loes not. as his docs, except Jefferson :
Davis from the operation Of the gen. !
raj amnesty proposed. He has seated :,
8 the ground on which he makes his :;
objection to the extension of amnesty :
D Mr.. Davis that he was guilty of in :
lividual crime against the United
states; that he was responsible, and :,
hOuld be held responsible, for the ;,
trocities committed at Andersonuille =,
md other places during the war. For :.
myself, do not hold him responsible 8
or these atrocities. l believe that any u
nan who has been connected with
government will be ready :,
o concede that every executive Of :,
icer, every man charged with the chief :,
xecutive direction of any form Of a.
is compelled by virtue OF
nd in consequence of his position to a.
10 many things absolutely disapprov q
d by his Judgment. This is one OF !.
hese concession constantly made in |
rider to secure the support and CO. b
peration of opponents to measures d
leemed indispensable. l do not hold +
hot tho Droa: loaI ILa SI~I.