New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-11

.pv vpNcr-HE MAKES A SPEECH ON EACbOD
ING JEFFERSON DAVIS THAT INIENs''hi NV
THE HOUSE
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBUNEI
WASHINGTON, Monday, Jan. ~ 1870
T, .bo los, Congress- the House Committee on
prIos sneaker Elaine being Chairman and making
,,rnbrc ol,iection surprised the Democrats by re-
.o,t,,,a General Amnesty bill, so sweeping IN It's
-. 9I,ot II did not exclude even Jefferson DAVIS
-, ,orticipating in the benefits it would confer
:, vyas nsssed almost unanimously by the House.
without the call of the Yeas and Nays. To-day the
Honse which has been in session live weeks anu do-
somplshed nothing except It's organization, pauses
10 discuss the question whether the late President Oh
the Coufederacy shall be restored to citizenship OF
whether. when every other man Ill the SOuth mas
been forgiven he alone shall he singled out 1or eN
,mDtion. In parliamentary sense. Mr.. Randall
made q mistake in his management OF the
Amnesty bill With more consideration than
sften used TO be shown to Democrats, when they
were in the minority. he offered TO divide an hour
18th the other side in debate; but he refused to al
low Mr. Blaine TO have vote on his amendment
mi. was evidently blunder for, while the latter
wonld probably have been able to have secured ior
n large majority of the votes of the Republicans
Abe Democrats being in the majority could have de-
featel il aud then many Republicans, who had
votad IN exclude jefferson Davis, and TO require
those seeking 10 have their disabilities removed to
90 into the United States Court and take the oath Oh
allegiance would have voted for the bill as MI nan
dali introduced it. AS it was, enough Republicans
voted against its passage to defeat H. since IL IT,
ouired two-thirds VOTE not because they were IN
willing to grant amnesty, but because they were de-
ternined that Mr. Blaine's amendment should Eot
be choked off in that way aud then Mr. Blaine, by
moving to reconsider, captured control OF the Dill
from Mr.. Randall and opened IT not only to debate
but amendment.
When Mr. Blaine announced that he intended TO
debate the reconsideration. there was an eager ar
of expectancy in the House. Mr.. Randall moved
over to the Republican side, that he might be
nearer to the great leader of the opposition although
II was hardly necessary for any member to leave his
seat In order to hear since Mr. Blaine always sends
his voice into the remotest of the Chamber
and makes IL heard there above the din and noise
that generally prevail upon the floor.
The first part of Mr. Blane's speech was defense
and eulogy of the Republican party for its splendid
magnanimity toward the South. and he recOunted III
eloquent words the history of amnesty in Congress,
from the introduction of the first bill until the pres
ent day, showing how, year after year, the circle
of pardon has been widened, until only about 25O
now remain in the whole South to whom amnesty
has not been granted. This part Of his speech was
listened to respectfully, though it was plain to see
that the Democrats, and especially those whose po-
htical disabilities had been removed, felt by no
means that they owed to the Republican party as
such the favor they have received at the hands Of
the Government. But the climax Of Mr.. Baines
speech was when he passed from the record OF the
Republican party on amnesty to give his reasons for
excepting jefferson Davis fom the provisions of the
bill The Democratic side was all attention, and tie
int incr sod he announced that il not
because Mr. Davis was President of the COnfed-
eracy OF because an enemy he was able 10 do
more than Others for the injury of the Government
but because lie was author, knowingly, willfuuy.
wickedy," of the murder and crime at Anderson
vile.
He then went on to tear open and lay bare that
ono wound caused by the late war. the murder OF
Mr. Lincoln alone excepted, which it has taken
the longest TO heal lie cited the horrible
cruelty of the Duke of Alva in the Low Countries,
the massacre of ST. Bartholomew, and the terrible
fortunes of the Spanish InquisitOn, and having
asserted that the treatment Of the Union prisoners
at Andersonville surpassed even these in inhuInan
cruelty he charged the whole responsibility of it
upon jefferson Davis. The excitement among the
Democrats had by this time grown intense. A black
cloud seemed TO have settled the side Of the
House which they occupy, and while many
their feet leaning forward to catch every word, and
anger was strongly depicted on the faces OF some,
there was an evident disposition to hiss; and Mr..
Robbins of North Carolina, in tone of voice that
showed great emotion. exclaimed that 1t was an III
famous SANDER
For many day there has not been such display
Of bad blood In the House during the latter part
of Mr.. Blslnes speech. The Southern Democrats as
general thing not admirers of Jefferson Davis,
but attribute many of their worst misfOrtunes dur
ing the to his mismanagement but when he is
attacked on the floor of Congress, he was to-day
their sympathy for him is aroused and they are
ready to defend him under almost all circumstances
The good nature of the House restored later IN
the afternoon, by one OF blr. Cox's inimitablc
speeches, in which he undertook to answer Mr..
Blaine, turning to rdicule many Of the points he had
made. Mr. Cox was followed by Mr.. Kelley, who,
by his liberal sentiments, won the applause Of the
Democrats. and then aIroitly turned his speech
to put in plea for the Centennial BILL which was
crowded ont of Its place to-day by the Amnesty bill
The House adjourned with the debate still pending
and It will probably be finished tomorrow. Mr.
Blaine Will get . vote on his amendment, and after
1t has been defeated the Amnesty bill will probably
psss.
THE SUPREME COURT OVERLOADED.
NINE HUNDRED cAsEs BEHIND, FEW FIVE YEARS
oLD-IHREE YEARS REQUIRED TO CLEAR OFF
PRESENT BUsINESs-A BILL TO RELIEVE THIS
ANNOYING DIFFICULTY.