The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-01-22


their taking citizenship under the United
States, and have spoken with great harshness
about their associates in the South who have
done so. ] understand that Mr.. Robert
Toombs has made special boast at watering
places in this country and in Europe that he
would not ask the United States for citizen
ship. Very we'll, we can stand that quite as
well as Mr.. Robert Toombs. Laughter, ]
and IL Mr.. Robert Toombs is not prepared 10
come into the United States Court and swear
that he means to be good citizen, let him
stay out. do not think that Congress ought
to raise itself or resolve itselfinto Joint con
yention and TO embrace Mr.. Robert Toombs
gushingly, and beg him to honor and favor us
by coming back aud taking the highest form
of citizenship. Well, what after? My sub.
stitute requires that every one Of these gen
tlemen shall show his good faith by taking
the oath which all Of as take and are glad to
take. That Is a very small exaction to make
as preliminary to a full restoration to all
the rights of citizenship. In my amendment
i have excepted jefferson Davis from its op-
Grafton. Now, | do not place that exception
on the ground that Mr.. Davis was, as he is
commonly called, the head and front of the
rebellion, because on that ground | do not
think the exception would be tenable. Mr..
Davis was just as guilty-no more so, no less
so-than thousands of others who will get
the benefit of grace and amnesty. Probably
he was far less efficient as an enemy of the
United States; probably he was far more use.
ful as disturber Of the counsels of the Con.
federacy. II is not because of any particular
or special damage which he above others did
to the United States, or because he is partic-
ularly of any special consequence that ex-
cepted himi but ! except him on this ground,
that he is the author knowingly, deliberately,
guiltily, wilfully, Of the gigantic murder and
crime at Andersonville. "a member--'And
Libby, Libby pales in insignifcance as
compared to Andersonville. place 1t on
that ground, and believe that so rapidly
does one event follow on the heels Of another
in the rapid age in which we live that even
those of us who were contemporaneously cog.
infant of what was transpiring there, still less
those of us who have grown up since, have
failed to realize the gigantic crime which was
there committed. Since the gentleman from
Pennsylvania introduced this bill have taken
the occasion to read some of, the historical
cruelties of the world. have read over the
details of those atrocious massacres under the
Duke Of Alva in the Low Countries, which
are mentioned with thrill of horror through.
out Christendom. have read the details of
St. Bartholomew, which stand out as one of
the atrocities beyond imagination / have
read anew the horrors untold and unimagined
Of the Spanish Inquisition, and here before
God, measuring my words, knowing their full
extent and import, declare that neither the
Duke of Alva in the Low Countries, nor the
author Of the massacre of St. Bartholomew,
nor the thumb-screws and dungeon and
atrocities of the Spanish Inquisition, begin to
compare in atrocity with the hideous crime
Of Anderson vile. [Sensation in the Hall
and galleries, and remark by Mr.. Robbins,
Of North Carolina, unheard by Mr.. Blaine,
I'That it was On infamous slander.nl
Thank God, Mr.. Speaker, that when this
Congress- was under different control from
hat under which il is to-day, with a commit.
lee composed ofmembers of both parties, that
tale of horror was placed where il could not
be denied or gainsaid. | hold in nv hand
he story written out by committee of this
Congress, and BY It's authority I state that
winder, who is now dead, was sent to Ander.
sonville with full knowledge of his previous
atrocities, and that those atrocities in Rich
nond were so bitter, so terrible. that Confed
crate papers (the Richmond Examiner for
,ne) said when it was done that they thanked
God that Richmond was rid Of his nresenco.
We. in the North. know from returning skele.
ons what he had accumulated Mt Belle IsIe
and Libby, Fresh from those aecomplish.
nents. he was sent bv Mr.. Davis. AGAINST the
protest of others in the Confederacy. tn con.
;,ruet this nen of horrors NJ Anderso,v;,,o
of course itwould ba utt.rlv beyond The scona
. =, sa 49, ,,laI'F