The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-15

OH Tue Iesult uelug uunOuHCeui ME'
Blaine took the floor, and by motion to
reconsider obtained the right to speak.
He said that the only object on his side Of
the House was not 10 be obtrusive [Sev-
eral Democrats, ave hope not"] and not
to delay legislation by any OF those
means with which the last House was
SO familiar. Although the civil right bill,
which had been designed to give the
rights Of manhood to the colored men,
had been ready to be reported from the
committee, the filibustering cut of
the chance TO report it for seventeen con-
secutive. Mondays, and one Of the chief
parliamentary glories OF his friend from
Pennsylvania (Randall was that
through the extreme use Of that power
he had prevented the consideration Of
that bill. They designed no such pro-
cess; they simply desired 10 have q vote
on whether JEFF. Davis should be included
in this general amnesty. II his friend
from Massachusetts (Banks), whom he
saw sitting with that winsome smile to
which he (Blaine) was always glad to
respond. would excuse him he would sug-
gest that his (Blaine's) amendment was
better than the gentleman's in another
respect. The gentleman's [ (Bank's) amend
ment allowed the oath to be taken in
any State court Of record, in 4 probate
court, for instance. He thought that
the government was dealing with some OF
its erring citizens who were crying to be
reclothed and rehabilitated with the full
rights and glories Of American citizen
ship. He thought such an important
transaction should be cognizable only in
the United States courts. He believed
there was no other difference between the
two amendments.
Mr.. Kasson-Oh, yes. The latter pro-
position requires an oath Of obedience to
all laws made in pursuance Of the Consti-
tuition.
Mr.. Hoar-So that il man violates
any law he becomes guilty Of perjury.
Mr.. Blaine-Then my friend Banks
amendment rs harder on them than mine.
/ want to be generous to them. Under
the gentleman's (Banks) amendment if n
man refuses to put two-cent stamp on
his check he violates his oath.
Mr.. Banks-We intend to obey all the
laws.
Mr.. Blaine-Yes; but at the same time
there should be no pitfalls in legislation
for the unwary to fall into.
Mr.. Banks-There are no unwary on
our side.
Mr.. Blaine-What is the gentleman's
side? Loud laughter.
Mr.. Banks-It is the side OF the, Con.
stitution Of the United States and OF the
laws made in pursuance thereof. (Gen.
eral applause on the Democratic side.
do not see there is any difference be-
tween the men Of this country who are
under political disabilities and the aliens
who come here and ask to be admitted 10
citizenship, and who are allowed TO take
the oath in the State courts.
Mr.. Blaine-I endeavored this morn
ing to have letter read, and will read
it now. With that cloquence which my
friend from Massachusetts possesses, he
called our attention to the great value in
this centennial year OF having no man in
the land under the slightest political disa-
bilitics, and why ironically except poor
Jefferson Davis? / will now read the
letter. It is addressed to myself, and is
dated Raleigh, n, c., January Il, 1876.
Mr.. Blaine thereupon read a letter
from W. W. Holden, Ex-Governor OF
North Carolina, stating that he had been
impeached and removed from office as
Governor OF North Carolina solely on
account OF his movement against the Ku-
Klux; that this was done by the Demo-
orats of North Carolina--the allies
and echoes OF Northern Democrats;
that he had been disqualified by the
judgment OF removal from hold
ing any office in that State; that
the late convention in which the Demo.
Gratis had a majority by fraud, and had
refused by strict party vote to remove
his disabilities, and that to-day he was
the only man in North Carolina who
could not hold office, and that he thought
that these facts should be borne in mind
when the Democrats in Congress clamor-
ed for relief TO the late insurgent lead.
ers.
When he reached thenamc and read II,
there was an out burst OF contemption
laughter on the Democratic side, and
several OF the North Carolina members
tried to get the floor to reply to the hold
er Of the letter, but Blaine absolutely re-
fused TO yield and said, what have you
got to say to that purely political i'm
peaehment.
Mr.. Ashe-He is not the only person
in the land deprived OF office.
Mr.. Blaine-It is purely political
scheme, not a prosecution. 1t is perse-
cution-the persecution Of Union man
to-day. It is within the design Of the
Democratic party Of Mississippi to re-
move Governor Ames from his chair by
impeachment, and to disqualiiy him.
These two friends Of the Union, one a
Union man in North Carolina and the
other as gallant Union soldier as ever
tied n sash around his body, are TO be
disfranchised and disabled men, and JEFF.
Davis is to be free to enjoy the Centennial
at Philadelphia.
Mr.. Southard-I would like to know
what Governor Holden was during the
war.
Mr.. Blaine-I do not desire TO go one
single point from the debate. desire to
offer my bill, and will yield the floor to
any on thatside to move to strike out the
exclusion Of Jefferson Davis, and proba-
bly,, rs to the temper OF this house is,
the bill can be passed within twenty min
utes.
Mr.. Ashc rose to ask a question.
Mr.. Blaine-lf the gentlemOn from
North Carolina will get up and say that
he is for universal amnesty, including
Governor Holden, l will give him the
floor.
Mr.. Vauce-Iwill speak for North Car
olina, and say that am.
Mr.. Blainc-oh, yes; but why did not
the Constitutional Convention do it?
Come here, gentlemen, yourselves with
clean hands and not as prosecutors. You
come here prosecuting men who never
rebelled against the Government OF the
United States Voices on the Democratic
side, "Holden didnl; you come here dis
abling men who fought grandly for the
United States; you come here with the
intent TO drive Mr.. Ames from the exec
utivc chair Of Mississippi and to disable
him in this centennial year, and you come
here refusing to remove these disabilities
Of W. W. Holden. 1 now offer the bill
and will yield to any gentleman.
Mr.. Randall made A point Of order