The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-14

Mr.. Jopes-I was not prisoner of war


NJ. Jon.s (continuing)-Bus civil pri
on-r, taken to Camp Chase
Mr.. Blaine-I am not dealing with TIL
class. loud laughter on the Republics
side.J
Mr. Jones (persisting) You were asking fe
the facts of history. and l want
Mr.. Blaine Gnte rrupting)-No, sir. L az
not; am not dealing with that class Of pris
o.,crs at ell. daughter
Dir. jones (s,ili pelsisting)-I deprecate TN
unfortunate debate. but when the gentleman
from Maine especially rises and appeals t
gentlemen Oh tllls side of the House for fact
of history, be must not object to hearing
them.
Mr.. Blaine-It i.le ,nse agrees to exten(
my time viii let the gen len an taik.
Mr.. Rlndall-I otjec. to the time being ex
tended
Mr. Blaine-Then / decline to yield.
Mr.. Jones-I appeal to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania to DO justice, and Let me bt
heard.
Mr. Blaine-I was not referring TO the gen
tleman from Kentucky at all, and l did moi
know that he had even been prisoner.
Mr. Mills Of Texas, rising on the Demo
cratic side-I ask that the gentleman from
Maine withdraw his remark that "if the gen.
tlemen on this side wDo were Confederate
prisoners did not rise and deny his statement,
their silence would be construed as an ac-
knowledgement of its truth
Mr.. Biaine-lf y gentleman on that side
OF the House desires TO contradict 1T, will
yield to nim.
Mr.. Davis, of Norh Carolina, also on the
Democratic side-I was prisoner OF war at
Fort Delaware
MIR. Blaine made motion as IT he would
not yield the floor any longer.
fare II QakA0 hQ
facts, and when the facts come out he will not
have them. TG,ea' excitement]
Mr. Banks, of M issachusetts. made the
point of order that after DIR. Blaine's chal-
lenge to the other side, he had no right to
decline yielding, but the Speaker over
ruled it.
Mr. Blaine-Let them all arise and dissent.
I do net object, but l do not intend to yield
my whole hour.
Mr.. Mills, OF Texas-It is not the desire on
this side to reopen any of the wounds of the
late war. We have sat here and listened to
charges, but we do not desire to answer them,
or to have anything to do with them. We
hope, however that our silence will not be re-
corded against us as an admission Of what
We know to be false
Mr. Cook, of Georgia. was one Of these
Who were wounded and crippled.
The Speaker-Does the gentleman from
Maine yield any further?
Mr. Baine-I do not.
Mr.. Cook-Then take back what you said.
Mr.. Baine-Yes, if that will do you any
good, or if you all over there stand up and
dissent; will wait for you to do that.
Mr.. Randall-We are not at school now
(Roars Of laughter
Mr.. Blaine-If you were, you are most
unruiy set of scholars.
Mr.. Blaine then alluded to the speeches of
Messrs Cox, Hill and Randolph at length, |
and moved the previous question.
Mr.. Randall, who under the Speakers rul- |
ling, resumed control of the bill yielded
thirty minutes to Mr.. Banks, who made an |
eloquent speech in favor of the bill, but pro-
posed an amendment of the oath.
1t requires unanimous consent to entertain
the amendme mt and Mr.. Blaine objected
Mr.. Randall moved the recommlttal Of the
bill to the Judiciary Committee, with instruc-
tions to report it with the amendment
Adopted.
Mr.. Randall asked unanimous consent for
the committee to report at once.
Mr.. Blaine objected.
Mr.. MOrey referred to reconstruction acts of
Congress which unfortunately struck out and
prevented from holding Office after the war q
large class OF men who had opposed war, and
who had gwen the rebellion q nominal cup
port, the only objection to this class being
that they had held Office prior to the war.
He paid high tribute to few unflinching
Union men of the South and fol-
lowed with scathng denunciation of pseudo
Unionists who were too cowardly to fight for
the South, and who, at the close of the rebel
lion, were ready to take any oath necessary 10
secure official position. Next to true loyal
men Of the South he classed Confederate sol
diers as the best element of Southern people, |
they were more inclined to accept
the results of war than demagogues. who, |
after driving the South into rebellion, left the
young men and poorer class to fight her
battles.
He referred to the message Of Gen. Grant
the removal OF disabilities, and
10 actions of Republican State and district
conventions on the same subject, and alluded
10 the constitutional amendment submitted to
The people in 1865 by Repu 5lican Legisla-
ure, which swept away all disabilities i'm
posed upon any class. IT was too late, he J
slammed, to punish TIL Lenfederate leaders,
md it was illogical and mi ust to except one :
nan from ho.benefts 81 an aot DO ,auss he
been tried.
While favoring removal of all disabilities,
est oaths and legislation of any character
hat may serve as a reminder of the bitterness
md SORROWS Of war, and extending generous
lid to the South, to rebuild levees and aid in =
ner material rehabilitation he would at the
'ame time invoke the whole power of the
General Government to protect it's humblest
,itizen in the enjoyment Of his civil and po- 4
itcal rights, SO that to be an American citi- I
ZEN wonid be tS enjoy q guarantee of that 9
nipple protection of all his rights in any part T
f the nation that is enjoyed by the hum
,lest OF England's subjects, without regard to 7
ace or color.
The House then adjourned. q
EXTRACTS FROM NIB. BANKSS SPEECH.
Therefore, sir, do not hold either that the o
President Of the United States is responsible
or all or for any acts of his subordinates. no p
natter how near he may have been in connec- s.
ion with them, nor how closely they may be
Illied to him by friendship or political rela- p
ionship. Nor do / hold Mr.. Davis response I
lie for everything that occurred under the t
government Of which he assumed to be the
10