The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-11

and oppresso on which the hard OF this side
OF the House could not possibly prevailed upon to re-
| move desire now TO place record just what the
republican party has done in this matter wish TO
place u there mperishable record OF liberalty
| ana arge-mndedness and uagnan nifty and many
such as mas not been shown IN the worlds history by
conquerers TO conquered. The gentleman from Penn
sylvanla Mr Randal and myself entered this Congress
in the midst OF the hot flames Of war when the Union
was rocking to its foundation and man knew
| whether we were to have country or not He would
| DO surprised when he aud were officers
| In the Thirty-eighth Congress, II he could
then have foreseen that before mutual service
| he should have seen sixty-one gentlemen, then
arms against the United States government. admitted
TO equal privileges with ourselvs in this House all by
the grace and management OF TINS republican party;
When the war was ended according 10 the universal
law OF war; the party In the possession oil the govern
ment or the government itself, which was controlled
by the party had the right TO determine what should
DO the status of these people Did we naugurate any
measures OF persecutonS Did We set OF on career OF
Did we prohibit any man all his civil rightsi Did We
take from him the right which he enjoys To-Day 70
voter Not at all.
Mr.. Blaine then recited the amnesty acts OF
Congress and estimated the numbers affected by them
from time to time. and continued
have had occasion, by conferences We the De-
partmenis OF Nevy and War, and by ref
erence to other records, TO be able TO
state TO the House, with more accuracy than has
been already stated, just the number Of geu-
tlemen who still under disabilities. Those who
officers OF the United States ARMY, educated at
| the expense Of the government at West Point, who
joined the rebellion and who still under disabilities,
are estimated at the War Department at 325 the
Der Of such persons in the Navy at 295 and those
ing under the other heads members of the Thirty sixth
and Thirty seventh Congresses judges heads of de-
| parimens and foreign Ministers. | not
able to give the number exactly, but the
whole number OF persons under disability
in the South is about $50 | very frankly
say that in regard to all these know OF reason
why amnesty should be granted them II has
been TO many OF the same class not here TO argue
against IT. since amnesty has already become so general
but simply wish TO put into the law that the persons
shall go before United States court and, In open
court with uphfted hand, swear that they mean TO
conduct themselves as good citizens OF the United
States
After referring to an alleged statement Of Robert
roombs, that he would ask the United States for
| citizenship, he said
do think that Congress ought raise itself or
to resolve itself into joint convention and TO embrace
| Mr. Robert Toombs gushingly and beg him TO honor
and favor US by coming back and taking the highest
form OF citizenship
| Regarding the amendment excluding Mr. Davis Mr.
| Blaine said
In my amendment have excepted Jefferson Davis
from It's operations. Now, do not place that excep.
ton on the ground that MI Davis was, as he is com
monty called, the head and front OF the Rebellion be-
cause on that ground do not think the exception
would be tenable Mr.. Davis was just OUTLYING
moro So less sothan thousands Of others who will
get the benefit Of grace and amnesty Probably he
| far less efficient enemy OF the United States
Probably he was far more useful as dsturber OF the
councils Of the Confederacy II is not because OF any
particular special damage which ne above others did
to she United States, or because he Is particularly OF
any special consequence that excepted him But
cept him this ground, that he is the author-know
ngly deliberately, guilty, wiully-of the gigantic
murder and crime at Andersonvia
A MEMBER-And Libby.
Libby paes in insignihcance compared to Anderson
Vile place II on that ground, and believe that
rapidly does follow the heels of another
In rapid age in which live that those us
who contemporaneously cognizant OF what
ranspirng there still less those Of us who have grown
up SINCE failed realize the gigantic crime which
there committed. Since the gentleman from Penn
syvana introduced this bill have taken the
ehah ta rnnlfoo ~ No.
Mr.. Blaine then recaptuated some of the atrocities
which are mentioned with thrill OF horror throughout
Christendom, and charged that Mr. Davis RESPONSE
BILE for them through his appointment Of Wnder the
command at Andersonvllle He said
declare before God, measuring my words knowing
their full and import that neither the Duke Of
Alva in the Low Countries cor the author Of the
massacre Of ST Bartholomew, nor the thumb screws
dungeons and atrocities Of the Spanish lnquisition
begin compare atrocty with the hideous crime Of
Andersonvlle tSensation in the hall and galleries.
snd remark by Mr.. Robbins, OF North Carolina un.
heard by Mr. Blaine, that Infamous slanderD
Thank Cod Mr. Speaker that when this Congress was
under different control from that under which Il
day, with committee composed Of members Of both
parties that tale of horror placed where could
not be denied or gainsad.
Mr.. Blaine read from the report OF the Committee on
the Conduct OF the War extracts reference TO the nor
rors OF Andersonville which stated that no pen
can describe painter SKETCH nation compre
bend It's fearful unu,terable niquty He also read
from the testimony OF William John Hamilton a
Catholic priest OF Macon and a democrat, showing
some OF the atrocities perpetrated In the Anderson
Vile den given the wirtz trial. and proceeded to
show that Mr. Davis eonversant with the facts
stated by the witness He continued
This Catholic priest states he went 10 General
Cobb TO represent 20 him that II he could
exchange the prisoners they should be taken
let 20 FREQ, and yet, II the Union forces we're to
get within seven miles, that the regular order OF
Mr. Davis officer was TO open battery or grapeshot
those poor wretches, without the slightest possible
regard TO what was going on outside Now.
this God forbid tina. I should ehSrge any
people with sympathzing with such order.
There many evidences OF great uneasiness among
the Southern people about H. and one Of the greatest
crimes OF Mr.. Davis that he concealed from the
Southern people We have obtained complete
OF Mr. Davis messages, with the Official imprint al
Richmond, and they in the Congressional
Library have looked over them and End In his
Message Of December 1904 that the very time when
these horrors their acme, their EXTREMIST
verge Of desperation, he says
The socsudo Of the for the release OF
sas contrary been still deeply affected BY the add
.ons suffering % which .hey have been wantony subjected
they have not been permitted purchase from the prison
ssrous coudue, BY ss SnoSnded allegation that i wa re-
,alation for like conduct part.
Now undertake to say that there IL not a Confed-
crate soldier living, who had any crediI as a
In his command, and who pi isoner In the
hands Of the Union forces who Will say that ne ever
was cruelty treated that he deprived OF the
which the Union soldiers had or the same
food
Mr. Cook OF Georga-Thousands OF them
Mr.. BLANE-Wel, take issue on that and say that
not lruthfuily state IT, As for Of
taliaton though goadcd by this terrific treatment OF
our friends IN prison by Mr. Davis the Senate OF the
United States especially refused to pass resolution OF
retaliation contrary to modern civilization and TO the
first precepts OF Christianity. There retaliation
attempted justified II was refused, and Jefferson
Davis knew Il refused just as well as he knows Il
to-day because what took place IN Washington or what
took place in Richmond OF kind known on
either side within day two thereafter. Now this
is not q proposition TO punish Mr. DAVIS There is
nothing attempting 10 do that very frankly say that
always thought thai the indictment OF Mr.. Davis AZ
Richmond under the administration OF Mr. Johnson
was q weak step, for he was indicted only for
that for which he was guilty In CON-