The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-11

such u petition refused. l believe
that in no one instance except one, has
there been any difficulty by unanimous
votes. even to pass such bill. Now ! lind
an equally erroneous varying Of judg-
ment In reference to the number still un.
der disabilities in the South. 1have had
occasion by conferences with the depart
ments OF the navy and war, and by re-
ference to some other records 10 be able
to state to the House with more accura.
cy than has been already stated, just the
number Of gentlemen who are still under
disabilities. Those who were officers OF
the United States army, educated at the
expense OF the government al West Point,
and who Joined the rebellion and are still
under disabilities are estimated at the
War department at $500, and the num-
ber Of such persons in the navy are 295,
and those coming under other heads
as members OF the XXXVI and XXXVII
Congress, Judges, heads OF the Depart
ments and foreign ministers. am not
able to give the number exactly, but the
whole number Of persons now under dis
abilities in the South is about 750. l
very frankly say that in regard to these
know Of no reason why amnesty should
no, be granted 10 them, as II has been to
many OF the same class. | am not here
to argue against it, since amnesty has al
ready become so general, and | am not
going back to argue that question. am
in favor Of giving 1t to them, but in the
absence Of that respectful form OF petition
which since the 9th Of May 1872 has be.
come sort OF common law as prelmina-
ry to amnesty, simply wish to put into
law that they shall 20 before the United
State. Court, and in open court, with up
lifted hand. swear that they mean to con-
duct themselves as good citizens of the
Uui,ed States, that is all. Gentlemen
,ay tina, this Is foolish exclusion. Well,
yea, it il, but some how or other l
am prejudiced in favor OF 1t. !
don't do it to impose OH citizenship
and on gentlemen. II I am correctly
informed there are some gentlemen on
this li.t who have spoken cOnIemptu.
Uuslv Of their taking cilizenship under
the United States and have spoken with
great hardness about their associates in
the South who have done so. under.
stand that Mr.. Robert T,onbs has made
II special boast at watering place. in this
country and in Europe that lie would not
ak the United States for citizenship.
Very well. We can stand that quite as
well as Mr.. Robert Toombs (laughter) and
II Mr.. Toombs is not prepared to come in
the United States Court and swear that
he means to be good citizen, let him
stay out. l don't think that Congress
fought to raise itself or to. resolve itself
into joint body and embrace Mr.. Rob
ert Toombs gushingly and beg him to
honor and favor US by coming back and
taking the highest form OF citizenship.
Well, what ifthe substitute requires that
every one OF these gentlemen shall
show his good faith by taking the
oath which all Of us take and are glad to
take; that ia n very small cxaction to make
as preliminary to u full restoration TO
all the rights Of citizenship. In my
amendment ] have excepted JEFF. Davis
from its operation. Now, do not lay
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 don't think the excep.
ton would be tenablc. Mr.. Davis was
Just as guilty, no moreso nor less 80 than
thousands OF others who will get the bene.
ct grace and amnesty. Probably he was
far less in effect as an enemy Of the United
States, probably he was far more useful
US disturber OF counsels Of the Confcd-
eracy. 1t is not because of any partic-
ular or special damage which he
above others did TO the United States or
because he is particularly Of any special
consequence that I excepted him, but l
except him on the ground that he is the
author knowingly, deliberately, gniltily
and wilfully OF gigantic murder and
crime nj AndcrsonviIc and Libby.
Mr.. Blaine continued d-Libby.1 place in
insigniicance compared to Andersonville.
/ place il on that ground and believe
that so rapidly does one event follow on
the heels OF another in this rapid age in
which we live that even those Of us who
we're cOntcmporaneouSly cognizant Of
what was transpiring there, and still less
those OF IN 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 occa.
sion to read some OF the historical cruel.
ties Of the world. l have read over the
details OF those atrOciOus massacres un-
der the Duke OF Alva in the low cOun.
tries, which are mentioned with thrill
nf horror throughout ChrislendOm. l
have read the details Of ST. Bartholomew,
which stands ont ~ one Of the atrocities
beyond Imagination. have read the
horrors untold aud unimagined Ut the
Spanish lnquisitinn, and | here, before
God, measuring my words, knowing their
full vaIle and import, declare that
neither the Duke Of Alva. nor the massa
Gre Of ST. Bartholomew, nor the thumb.
screws and dungeons and atrocities OF
the SpanI.h Inqul-ition begin TO com.
pare in alr0cily with the hideUuS crimes
OF Andcrsonvillc.
Amid the noise in the hall and galleries
and remark by Mr. Robbins. Of North
Carolina, (unheard by Mr.. BIsinc) that
it wa. an Infamous Islander, the speaker
continued:
rha k God, Mr.. Speaker, that when
this Congress wns under different control
from thai which il i. to-day, with a com.
mittee composed Of members Of both par.
IieI, that tale OF horror was placed where
it could not be denied or gainsaid, |
hold in NY hand the story written out by
a committees OF this Congress, and by it.
authority state that Wlnder, who ia now
dead, was sent to Andcr-onviIlc with ful,
knuwIedgo Of hi. previous atrocities, aud
that the atrocities in Richmond we're so
bitter mud bad that the Confederate pa
pers-thC Richmond Examiner for one,
said when il was done, that they thanked
GOd that Richmond was rid ofhiS presence.
We in 'he North know from the returning
skeletons what he had accomplished
At BuIlc TsIc or Libby. Fresh from thee
accomplishments, he was sent by Mr.,
DAvi-, against tho protest Of others in the
Conicdcracy, to construct the pen Of hor.
ror ut Andtrsonvillc. OF course it would
be utterly beyond the scope OF the occA.
sion aud beyond the limits Of my hour to
give any details. But aS ono arr 'igninG
- II