Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-01-25
From the Lewiston Journal.
The amnesty Contest.


We have already stated the manner in
which MIR. Randall thrust the Jefferson
Davis amnesty bill into the National
House, and compelled Mr.. Blaine and the
republicans to state their reasons why
they could not support an amnesty meas
ure which included the arch chief OF re-
bellion and the morally responsible author
OF the Andersonville outrages.
The memorable debate and struggle
which occupied Congress from Monday
to Thursday oil last week. will never be
forgotten. BY general consent it WAS the
sblest and most skiliui parliamentary
contest OF a minority ever carried on in
Congress. Under the mastery leader.
ship of Mr.. Blaine, the democratic ma.
lority was held at bay, demoralized and
finally beaten at every point. All The
correspondents, including those on the
democratic side, agree that no man ever
appeared in Congress who showed such
mastery parliamentary skill and sledge'
hammer power IN debate as Mr. Blaine.
Randall, Cox. Hill-the ablest men on
the democratic side-were met and van
quised in succession. The republican
column stood solid at every charge, while
the democratic majority was broken and
demoralized. When the vote was taken
on Thursday. after Blaine had closed the
debate in q speech which LEFT very little
OF Cox or Hill. Mr.. Randall saw that his
bill was defeated aud hsd it referred TO
the judiciary committee for an amend
meut requiring an oath of allegiance.
Friday the bill thus amended was 70
ported back, and another struggle com
menced for Parliamentary mastery
between Blaine and Randall. Cores
poudents unite in affirming that The great
superiority OF the former was al once SO
conspicuous as 10 make the contest brief.
Mr.. Blaine rallied the republicans around
him, defeated the bill, and then on mo.
ton 10 reconsider got in protest from
TX Gov. Holden Of n c.. made Randall
and the democrats squarely refuse n vote
on an amendment excluding JEFF Davis,
and then withdrew his motion aud left the
Davis amnesty bill defeated.
But the republicans were not content
with this. Not being able 10 get direct
vote on bill which should grant amnesty
10 every body but Davis. on Monday 10y
arrangement of the republican leaders,
on call of the sisted, MIR. White Of Ken
lucky offered a bill OF this character, and
moved TO suspend the rules so as TO put
il on its passage. Tho movement was 50
unexpected that the democrats were
caught mapping. They hardly knew what
10 do. Here they were called to face the
music and vote for the bill. or else put
themselves on ecotd as being willing
that no OK Confederate should be granted
amnesty il Davis was TO be left out. This
was the very vote which they had been
lodging. On the roll call about fifty
democrats united with Blaine and the
republicans in voting for general am
nesty bill which excluded JEFF Davis, but
over a hundred democrats practically
said that the honoriug OF JET Davis Is
dearer TO us than the granting OF amnesty
70 every body else. They thus assumed
the responsibility of defeating the bill.
putting themselves in the very position
that they had arranged to place The re-
publicans.
1t is uncertain whether the subject will
come up again. Whether II does or not.
whether or not one Of any character shall
pass the House. this is certain-both par
ties have put themselves on record on the
question OF honoring JEFF Davis. lust rs
Mr.. Blaine intended they should. Thanks
TO Mr.. Blaine and the other republican
leaders, the democratic majority have
been defeated at every point in their at
temp, to make party capital out OF the
amnesty question. Whatever party ad
vantage has been gained. has enured TO
Mr. Blaine and the republicans.