Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-02-02

The following abstract Of tn,
speech Of Gen. Banks, in answer t.
the vindictive effort Of Blaine, up
on the amnesty question is worth,
Of wide appreciation:
The difference between m,
amendment and that of the gentle
men from Maine (Mr. Blaine) i
that it does not, as his does, ex
cept jefferson Davis from the op
Grafton Of the general amnesty pro
posed. He has stated as the ground
on which he makes his objection Il
the extension Of amnesty TO Mr.
Davis that he was guilty Of indiv-
val crime against the United States
taat he was responsible, and should
be held responsible, for the atroci-
ties committed at Andersonville
and other places during the war
For myself, do not hold him re-
sporsible for these atrocities.
believe that any man who has been
connected with executive govern
ment viii be ready to concede that
every executive officer, every man
charged with the chief executive
direction OF any form of govern
Inent, is compelled by virtue of and
10 consequence of his position TO
do many things absolutely disap-
proved by his judgment. This is
one OF these concessions constant
ly made in order to secure the sup
port and cooperation Of opponents
TO measures deemed indispensable.
do not hold that the President of
the United States is at this moment
responsible for all or any Of the
acts of his subordinates, no matter
how near may be their connection
with him or how closely they may
be allied to him by personal or pol
iticial relationship.
Nor do / hold Jefferson Davis
responsible for all that occurred
under the government Of which he
assumed to be the head. In re-
gard to the atrocities of Ander-
sonvilie | have this 10 say: 1t is
impossible for the people of the
loyal states to believe that great
cruelties did not occur in this and
other prisons. 1t is very likely
possible for gentlemen who were
in some measures connected with
the affairs Of the confederate gov
eminent 10 believe that the repre-
sentation made here as to occur
RANGES at Andersonville afe truth
fully made, or, that they can be
held for such charges as are fire.
quently thrown out against them. I
Now. before this question can be |
settled by the people Of the country
OF ihe congress OF the United
States, all of these parties must be
heard. Men cannot be convicted
u crime or cruelty in the nature
0f crime unless we give them fair,
ust and full bearing, nor can JEFF
'erson Davis be held responsible
by us here in our action on this
subject, according to my belief, for
his crime until he shall have been
heard. He has the right to be
heard before he is condemned
Therefore assent with my whole
leart to the declaration of my hon.
orable colleague, (Mr. Leelye) yes
ferday, that these matters Of crime
do not belong to the question be-
fore the House. They are q part
of the history Of the country, and /
it is impossible yet for US to unite
in any declaration on the subject
which shall express the honest SEN
timent Of all classes of the people
and all sections of the country. 1t
belongs to another and totally diff
erent series Of events, and not to
this great question Of universal
amnesty before the House. The
record which has been read of the
'eport of the congressional commit
zee, very carefully prepared and
Undoubtedly with a definite pur- [
Jose before the minds Of those who {
prepared it, we must believe to be {
substantially true. / cannot say
bat | disbelieve it, it is not the c
Judgment Of history. II is what
he French call materials to serve {
or history. Nor can l believe en- [
rely the representations which '
re made by gentlemen on the 9th {
T side, nor can / believe they are
ilse or dishonest or disloyal in !,
heir representation. They are L
! their estimation absolute facts. O
re consideration of which is in Ii
ispensible TO correct understand y
g of the matter. They are ma $,
rails which are to serve for the =,
tnre history Of the. country. 81
The history of the war has not c.
'cn and cannot yet be written. W
cannot be written In regard TO &c
ose who were opposed to the st
.istance of the union. II has not g,
'en and it cannot be written in III
gard to the officers and soldiers Ii,
the army who periled their lives OF
defense Of the union. There is tn
o much Of passion, too much OF la
ejudice, too little regard for truth, gi
0 little regard for the great prin- WI
pie, upon which our government IN
sts, too little regard for indiyid- n