Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-02-23
AMNESTY.

AMNESTY.
SPEECH OF HON. THOMAS l., JONES, OF
KENTUCKY, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRE-
sENTArIvEs, JANUARY ID, 1876
Mr. Jones, OF. Kentucky. Mr.. Speak
or, am happy in the opportunity
once more to raise my humble voice
for governmental amnesty to oil my
countrymen. ! had the honor to serve
In the Fortieth and Forty-frst Con
crosses of the United States, and It was
among my first acts in the sortieth
and my very last in the expiring hour
of the Forty-frst to offer resolution
for general and complete amnesty. l
thank God, sir, and | thank the Amer
lean people, that the popular branch
of their Government n at lcngth, |
hope, enabled to vote complete amnes-
ty and oblivion tor oil political ofienses.
A gracious Providence has changed
the hearts of our people, has smoothed
down the aspcritics of their rugged ma
ture, and turned them once more to
words and acts of brothcrly kindness
and affection. The time has come, sir,
when we can look the sun and the
truth without fear Of assault or insult.
Happy, happy indeed, sir should we
be in this return of iraternal feeling TO
hail and welcome with universal ac-
claim the Centennial Of the countrys s
independence and glory. Universal
acclaim did say, sir? ] would fain
hope for it.
But am reminded Of the substitute
offered by the distinguished gentleman
from Maine in which he makes, ] had
almost said, an invidious exception,
that mars the general harmony which
was pervading the land. | had not
believed IL in his heart thus TO express
himself, and | had certainly thought
better Of his policy and wisdom. He
is representative man of his section,
and even aspires to the chief dignity
OF his country. would ask that gen.
tleman, Why, why make this cxcep-
tionP What has Jefferson Davis done
more than his fellows and comrades in
their great struggle for separate gov
ernment and independence What
crime, if crime at all, has he commit
ed that they have not committed P
And speak, sir, not only of the lead
crs in that struggle, but Of the people
in their sovereign capacity. IN Wos
conue,tite terrum ddstnt qW fecint." 1t
was they who first moved for rebellion
and war; they commanded and ap-
pointed their leaders; they were be-
fore them in the inception of the strug-
gle, and with impctuous and irresisti-
bic spirit ordered them TO lead in the
march. They unfortunately esteemed
it their right to do so; they were edu.
Gated in that political school and belief.
Then, sir, if the gentleman and his
friends q hope, indeed, few must still
pour out the vials of wrath and pro-
nounce accommodation upon the
primal and real offenders, let them do
1t upon the whole Southern people,
and not with exceptional revenge upon
the frosted and sorrowed head Of their
still honored chief.
Why, sir, look around; here sit
among us, welcomed with open hands
and hospitablc greetings, brave and
gallant men, whe stood side by side
with Jefferson Davis in council and
marched and fought and bled at his
command and undcr his order The
Constitution of our country, by its
amendments, supported and passed by
the gentleman's own voice and vote,
has entitled these men to their seats
on this floor and cannot believe, Mr..
Speaker, that he intended by his un-
fortunate exception to give affront to
them, his peers in the American House
Of Representatives. And yet it must
be so felt, sir. They have the forbear.
ance, the courtesy; perhaps, the wis
dom, commcndable indeed, TO pass it
by in silence. But | know they must
feel it sting in their hearts. Should !
properly characterize the gentlcman's
substitute would pronounce it an in.
suit to every true man, woman, and
child in the South. love that people,
sir; | am their "kith and kim" born
and reared among them, and in politi
cal sense, as it were, in the very heart
of the South. revere their great
history and if ! should ever attempt
to speak to their disparagement may
my utterance freeze upon my lips. Il
they have committed great wrong
greatly have they repcntcd It: in sack
cloth and ashes they have atoned FOL
IL. But, however mistaken in judg
ment, however disastrous to them thcil
late struggle, you, their conqucrors
and the civilized world must admit
that it was one of the giandcst tha,
ever immortalizcd the virtnc and forti
tude Of woman or the courage and en-
durancc of man.
Sir deeply regret the character O
this debate. But who is rcsponsbl,
for it2 Who gave it its peculiar and
dircful complexion Is II the distin
guishcd son of Pennsylvania, the "kcy
stone of the Federal Arch,' the great
State which has done so much and sc
grandly to promote the Centennial by
united people at the cradle of Amcri
can liberty ard union? Has it beer
reserved for him to exhumc tho dead
ccremcnts of the grave of the unfortu
nate prisoners Of the late civil war