Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-01-20

ernment ana people W oAcluue Aoiu Iao WAN
mon rules of war officers and men Of negro
regiments. He said the object Of the outra-
geous treatment of prisoners at Andersonville
had been to make Union soldiers so that when
exchanged they would be valueless. 1t seemed
incontrovertible that the record adduced on
that subject was true, and Jefferson Davis
having been the conscious author of that ter
rihle work at Andersonville, the American
people still held him unfit to be admitted
among the legislators of the nation.
In the House, on the 18th, the amnesty bill
being still under discussion, Mr.. Banks, of
Massachusetts, made speech of thirty min
utes in favor of the bill. In the course Of bis
remarks, he said:
"Therefore, sir, do not hold either that the
President of the United States is responsible for
all or for any of the acts Of his subordinates, no
matter how near he may have been in connection
with them, nor how closely they may be allied 10
him by friendship or political relationship; nor
do hold Mr.. Davis responsible for anything that
occurred under the Government OF which ne as
sumed to be the head. In regard to the atrocities
at Anderson and elsewhere, 1 dismiss from all
consideration the declarations, arguments, asper-
week past have heard 80 constantly IN tins
chamber. do not doubt that the soldiers of the
Confederacy may have suffered in the Norm, nor
do doubt that the soldiers OF the North may
have suffered terribly in the South. 1t was incl
dent to the condition OF things. For the guilty,
whoever they may be, I pray forgiveness. For
the suffering, whoever they may have been, l IN
woke the blessings of God. For the crimes them
selves, say let the earth hide them let US snat
sidel. There is one thing, Mr.. Speaker, which Is
especially desired by all the people, and that is
peace-general peace-peace in all sections. with
amnesty is the first step that has to be taken to
that end; the very first step. Nothing else Will
answer in the place of it. Credit has been claimed
for what has been done already in the way Of am
compelled by the people of the country. Ispeak
in part for New England. I speak in part for
Massachusetts, and hope that Massachusetts
will give vote approaching unanimity upon this
since the creation of the world that will compare
in sublimity with this act if it shall be passed,
and to take this sacred document, this majestic
declaration of the people, and plaster it over with
the crimes that may be charged against an lnol-
vidual, is to blur the grace and glow of cemency'
to take the nose from the fair forehead OF God.
like act and stick blister there. [Appause.]
Mr.. Speaker, when the people Of other States
shall come here during the present year To W.T.
ness the achievements of our Republican Govern
ment after the expiration of century, remem-
bering as they do, even better than ourselves the
events Of our great war, our highest triumph Will
be to let them hear the shouts of the whole peo-
pie in Joyous congratulation upon this grave ACT
of peace and oblivion to all classes and persons,
for all crimes connected with the late war" ZAP
plause on the Democratic side.]
! Tarbox, of Massachusetts, said that the message
from Massachusetts, had been spoken to the
House by his eloquent and distinguished col
league jBanks). His colleague had sent back the
answer of Massachusetts to the gaunt and CORY
spectre which the gentleman (Blaine), like some
magician of the black art, had, with devlllsh m
genuity, called up to mar the festal cheer of the
Republic. [Applause on the Democratic side .,
When Mr.. Banks concluded, Mr. Randall
moved the recommittal of the bill with in
structions to report it, with an amendment
proposed by Mr.. Banks, modifying the pre-
scribed oath, which motion was adopted.
In the House on the 18th, Mr.. Knott re-
ported back the amnesty bill, which reads as
follows:
"That all the disabilities imposed and remain
ing any person by virtue of the third section OF
the l4th article of the amendments to the Consti-
tuition of the United States be, and are hereby re-.
moved, and each and every person is and shall
be forever relieved therefrom, on his appearing
before Judge of any Court of the United States
or ofany Court of Record in the State OF which ne
lowing oath, to be duly attested and recorded:
"I, A. B., do solemnly swear or affirm that
will support and defend the Constitution OF the
United States against all enemies, foreign and do
mestic; that will bear true faith and allegiance
to the same and obey all laws made in pursuance
thereof, and that take this obligation freely and
without any mental reservation or purpose OF
After considerable parliamentary skirmish-
ing between Blaine, Randall, Cox, Knott and
Frye, the House proceeded to vote on the
passage of the bill. The vote resulted-yeas,
1872 nays, 81. The requisite two-thirds vote
not being obtained, amnesty, for the present,
was defeated. Of the South Carolina men,
bers, Mackey voted in favor of the bill, and
Hoge, Smalls and Wallace against it; Rainey
not voting. A Washington dispatch says:
"There was intense interest manifested as the
call of the yeas and nays proceeded: Some OF the
prominent Republicans brought their influence
to bear on some Of the members of their party
who had voted aye on the preceding vote either
to vote in the negative or to refrain from voting
ly the object of such attentions. He did not an
swer when his name was called. Mr.. Haralson,
of Alabama, who was in the same position, also
withheld his vote at first, but finally rose and an
swered "aye," amid the plaudits of the Demo-
had voted in the affirmative, changed his vote TO
the negative, at which the Repu blicans rejoiced.
Mr.. Wells, of Mississippi, tried to explain why,
although he was in favor of general amnesty, in
Guiding Jefferson Davis, he voted no, but the
Democrats shouted him down. Mr.. Lynch, OF
Mississippi, however, managed to get the chance
of saying that, though he was in favor OF the bill,
he voted no with view of letting Mr.. Blaine Of
fer his amendment, although he lLynch) would
vote against the amendment. Mr.. Purman, Of
Florida who had also withheld his vote when his
name was first called, afterward rose and voted
no."
The Republicans voting in favor Of the bill
were Anderson, Banks, Egbert, Farwell, Har-
olson, Kelley, Landers, Of Indiana, Lutrell,
Mackey, Pierce, Seelye-12. After passing
the pensions appropriation bill, the House ad'
journed until Monday.
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.
Chester county is creditor in Hardy
Solomon's bank to the amount of 1898.
- The taxes in Spartanburg reach twenty
two mills.
The Grange mentions that active efforts
are being made by the people of Rock Hill
to obtain town clock.
- The new Methodist Church at Rock Hill
is reported as rapidly approaching compile
ton.
Gen. James Chesnut, Of this State, has
been chosen to deliver the annual Grafton be-
fore the literary societies of Princeton College,
New Jersey, at the commencement.
"A colored individual in Camden has been
compelled to pay s12O to get out Of pig