Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-01-11
The Amnesty Bill.

made speech deoOuDclag tne co0uuct vi ur.
Jefferson Davis,
Mr.. Cox obtained the floor, and said: The
gentleman flom Maine, who, under some dis
pepsation of Providence or the people, is 20
longer Speaker of this House, has seen BIT to
tear away the mask Of prudence. He justlfes
his conduct in the light of history; but there IS
no precedent in history and no canon IN the
moral law which the present minority has not
outraged. The gentleman Mr.. Blaine had
alluded 10 the Duke of Ava. His friends
we're doubtless familiar with Alva, for bis MUIR
der, rapine aud robbery 10 the Netherlands has
been repeated by the Republican party III the
South since 1865. The history of the Repub-
licau party is the history OF raplne. Inc gen
tlemap from Maine flies 10 the face OF oil his
tory and 10 this year Of grace and jubilee he
issues another manifesto for some peculiar puI-
bose. which will probably 5000 appear. 1t is
not true that the gentleman's party is the par
ty Of amnesty. When they passed an amnesty
bill they did it 10 paltry way of peddllng pol
itics. He Mr.. Cox was 10 Congress before
the war, and be had the honor to bring fer
ward the first bill for the exchange of prison.
ers. He did it as matter OF humanity: con-
citation and peace. The party of the gentle
| man repudsted it. Aud yet the gentleman
from Maine says they have always advocated
peace and reconciliation. He had 1t on the
authority of sixty gentlemen on this floor who
we're in the Confederacy That 40 order was ever
issued as to prisoners raiions and clothes that
was not issued as to Confederate soldiers. The
gentleman further defends all the acts OF the
Republican party because it was so magnanlm-
Gus and graud Why, gentlemen: addressing
the Democ! ats they allowed you to come
back. Why, God bless US all, [laug liter, the
Republican rarity, by the grace OF the gentle
man f.om Maine, allowed you to como here
| Down Oh your knees TO bis majesty frou Maize.
| Renewed laughter. As to Ienleney, he Mt.
| Cox remembered that Wheo the question OF
confsca,iou was ~, gentleman On the other
side Of the House, now dead, SAID that all
south of certain line should be in the peDl-
tertiary of hell. Il was not confined to men,
bur women and children we're also to be con-
| feed there. He Mr.. Cox had always labor,
ed 20 mitigate the severity of civil war, and all
| through the war the Republicans strovc to per-
| petuae rebellion When Liuc, u issued his
proclamation Of amnesty he said, ''Malice to-
ward uonc; charity 70 all. No outraees, no
| odious test yaths, which make Us the laughing
stock of the civilized world He could DOT tell
! what Church the gentleman from Maine was
! raised in. but if be lad ever read the Sermon
! on the Mount he never would have made the
rcd aud fiery speech he made to-day.
Mr.. Cox then said he would show the his
tory of amnesty from his standpoint. Was the
first bill passed in the present of Christian
love? No; but it was done to let 10 Republl-
can voters who could not represent the South.
Tie party wanted to recruit its waning ranks
10 CONGRESS by this means.
Mr.. Blaine. How did that side get in?
MIR. Cox. Because the South wanted honest
men, and the men you brought up from The
South we're not honest. Applause.
Mr.. Blaine. But how did they get amnesty2
The Republicans were in the majority.
Mr. Cox. Because of 40 increase of a
he.: by public sentiment, and some sensible
men 90 your side voted with this side. Re-
ncwed laughter.
Mr.. Cox then related the history of the am
nesty bills, and argued that that of the Forty
first Congress was permitted to sleep IN the
Reconstruction Committee. ln the Forty
second Congress General Butler reported
bill, which was declared to be bill OF amoes-
ty and Oblivion for pas, offenses, and when you
came to examine it the oblivion was all alive
with horrid memories. 1t was only to am-
nesty the Federal agents of RECONSTRUCT
ton, What had your sWeet-scented agents
of reconstruction been doing? Had they
been stealing? The bill finally passed With an
amendment to MIR. Poland's, hut that was OBJ
iectiouable, and excepted all officers OF the ar
nv and navy. Afterwards the Committee on
! Rules agreed to report bill for amnesty.
| What right that committee had to do it he
| (Mr. Cox could never understand. But the
| Gentleman from Malne the ex.ofioio chairman
| of the committee, proposed bill tor general
amnesty, and also proposed that Mr.. Maynard
should draw it up The gentleman was pres
ent at all the committee meetings and did not
| object opce The gentleman has appealed to
cd, IL" said Mr.. Cox, appeal to my COM
mi,tee colleague, lMr. Randall, to God and
the Record
MIR. Blaine. Like Dogberry, you appeal to
your colleague before God. Laughter
Mr.. Cox. I'll give you enough of dog be-
fore get through. Renewed laug hter.
| hr. Cox then read from the Record to show
| that Mr. Maynard stated that the bill was re-
ported unanimously. Where was the ex-Speak-
| er when the bill was reported I? Was he at
home or in the chair He could not object
from the chair, and be called upon bis friends,
and among them a colored member, to object.
Is not that so ?
MIR. Blaine said that Mr. Maynard was much
interested 10 the bill, and out of friendship
for that gentleman, he promised not to oppose
| it. He, however, tried to get Mr.. Rainey to
object unless Jeff Davis was excepted. Mr..
Rainey feared that if be did so it might pre-
JUDGE the civil rig hts bill, and there Wasa sort
ola sentiment among Republicans that it the
amnesty bill passed the Democrats would not
object to the civil rights bill. Was that the
understanding
Mr.. Randall and Mr.. Cox both replied it
| never was.
Mr.. Cox, resuming, said the gentleman, was
then one thing in committee and something
else 10 the House. He agreed to that IN COM
mittee which be would not consent to IN the
House.
Mr.. Blaine said the gentleman made no dis
tincton. He agreed to tie bill, but thought
j e Davis should be left out.
Mr. Randall inquired whether the gentle
man offered any amendment 10 committee 10
exclud. Davis.
Mr. Blaine. did not.
Mr. Cox said, "If the gentleman from
Maine would not interrupt me quite 80 nuch
he would feel good deal better. He is like
the little boy down 10 Memphis who undertook