Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-01-31
Nor | "a u .a,,.llr srroneaa. Va.


South. have had occasion by confer
eDces with the Departments Of the Navy
and War. and BY reference to some 9TH
er records to be able to state to the
House with more accuracy than has been
already stated just the number Of gen
tlemen who are still under disabilities.
Those who were officers Of the United
States Army, educated at the expense
Of the Government. at West Point. who
joined the rebellion. aud are still under
disabilities, are estimated at the War
Department at S25; the number Of such
persons in the navy. 295, and those
coming under the other heads. members
of the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh
congresses, Judges, heads Of depart
ments, aud Foreign Ministers, l am not
able % give the number exactly. but
the whole number Of persons now under
disability in the South is about 100
I very frankly say that in regard to all
these, know of no reason why amnesty
should not be granted to them rs it has
been to many Of the same class. | am
not here to argue against it, since am
nesty has already become so general.
and am not going back to argue that
question. l am in favor Of giving it to
them. but in the absence of that respect
full form of petition which, since the
18th Of Nay. 1872. has become a sort
Of common law as preliminary to am
nesty. simply wish to put into that
law, that the persons shall 90 before a
United States Court. and in open court
with uplifted hands, swear that they
mean to conduct themselves as good cit
liens Of the United States That is all.
Gentlemen say that this is a foolish
exclusion. Well. yes it is; but some
how or other l am prejudieed in favor
Of it. | do not want to impose citizen
ship on gentlemen. If l an correctly
informed there are some gentlemen on
this list who have spoken eOntemptuOus-
/ ly Of the idea Of their taking citizen
ship under the United States. and have
spoken with great harshness about their
associates in the South who have done
50. understand that Mr.. Robert
TOOmbs has made special boast at wa
tering places IN this country aud in Eu
rope, that be would not ask the Unitec
States for citizenship. Very well. We
can stand that quite as we'll as Mr.. Rob
ert Toombs laughterl /; and if Mr.. Rob
ert TOOmbs Is not prepared to come int
the United States Court and swear tha
be means to De good citizen. let hin
stay out do not think Congress Ough
70 raise itself or resolve itself into
joint convection and to embrace Nj
Robert FOSmbs gushingly and beg bin
: to honor and favor Us BY coming bae
and taking the highest form Of citizen
ship. Well. what after? Ny subst
! tute requires that every one Of thes
gentlemen shall show his good fait
which all of Us take and are glad {
take. That is a very small exaetiOn I
make as preliminary to full restor;
ton to al the rights Of citizenship.
In NY amendment l have excepte
> Jefferson Davis from its operation. No
: l do not place that exception on Il
" ground that Mr. Davis was, as be
commonly called. the head and front
: the rebelliOn. because on that ground
do not think the exception would
tenable- Mr.. Davis was Just as gull
no more so, no less sO-than thou
- ands Of others who will get the bene
Of grace and amnesty. Probably be "
II far less efficient as an enemy Of t
H. United States. Probably he was
ia more useful as . distarber Of the eou
"a els Of tie coufederzcy. It is not |
It's cause Of any particular or special da
II age which he, above others did to {
ny United States. or because he is parti,
an larry Of any special consequence, tia
IL excepted him But l except him
n this ground that he is the autbor. knc
I'd iDgly. deliberately. guiltily. EiIlful
II Of the gigantic murder and crime
me Andersonville. .'.-t
Ind A Menber-And Libby.
II Mr.. Blaine-Libby pales in inslgl
no icanee as compared to Andersouville.
OBJ place it on that ground. and l bell
Z" that so rapidly does one event follow
vas the heels Of another in the rapid agt
oe- which We live that even those Of Us
-m are eontenporaneOusly eOgnizant of "
rus was transpiring there, still less of Il
owe ofusShO have grown up since.
isa- failed to realize the gigantic crime wi
- was there committed. Since the
aen' tleman from Philadelphia intrOdr
men this ball have taken the occasion
ace read some Of the historical cruelties
t'er the world. have read over the
mas tails Of those atrOciOus massaeres u
VIII the Duke Of Alva in the Low Count
which are mentioned with a thrill
i'ea horror throughout Christendom- II
Ooth read the details Of St Bartholon
pup which stand out as one Of the atrOc
nat beyond Imagination. have read .
'Pon the horrors untold and unimaeine,