Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-06-22
General James A. Garfield.

Some two years back the editor of Ihe
Commonwealth prepared an article,
which was PUBLISHED in the Southern
Law RevieaO, discussing the limits ana
effects of the Fourteenth Amendment
In preparing it, it became necessary TO
investigate its history in the records OF
Congress. In going over these we were
struck by the peculiar bitterness ana
vindictiveness Of Mr.. Garfeld's speech
es. and some of them were noted for fu-
ture reference. Amongst them was one
from which we give an extract below.
When the proposition was before the
House of Representatives to submit that
amendment to the Constitution OF the
United States to the States for ratifica-
ton it contained the following pros
vision = :,
"Until the 4th day of July, in the
year 1870, all persons who voluntarily
adhered to the late instruction, giving
IL aid and comfort, shall be excluded
from the right to vote for Representa-
tives in Congress, and for electors for
President and Vice-President of the
United States"
This was in May, 1865. Mr.. Garfield
objected to this provision, because 1t als-
| franchised our entire people for four
years only. He thought they should be
disfranchised forever.
Speaking to the proposition, he said =
'"Now, Mr.. Speaker, if the gentlemen
who report this bill will put in section,
that ali who participated in the rebel
| lion shall forever be excluded from the
right of elective franchise, in all cases
relating to national offices, then I will
saw the proposition will be Just and one
we could stand upon as matter OF prin-
ciple. Anything is just which excludes
| from privilege and power all those in
famous men who participated in rebel
lion. The proposition, without any
modification, without any Limitation,
would meet with my approval, as one
eminently wise and just, if it could be
practically carried out"
This speech can be found in the Con-
oressio,aaI Globe, lsi ssssiop, Thirty
ninth Congress, part 8, page 2,465.
The Republican party now asks thu
country to make man President of the
United States who, in 1866, deliberately
depressed the opinion that every white
man in the Southern States was an infa'
NOUS maE, end who was of the deliber-
ate opinion That every man then living
| in the Southern States sh9lH be forever
excluded from all right 10 nave any
part or lot in the Government Of this
I Union.
| This is not exactly the man to hea
the sectional dissensions with which tA}f
country has been 40 long rent, nor az
we think that these view will bring
much strength to him in the Southern
States. 1t the object that the Republt
can party has in view is the keeping
open oil tsae old wounds and sores OF thu
war, then they have made most hap
: nv nomination. But If it be their pur
pose to heal the old wounds and to havi
peace and prosperity to reign through
out the land, then their selection of
candidate haa been most unfortunat'
one.
We do not think Mr.. Garfield viii
command the confidence of those earn
est and sincere Republicans of tn
Nsrth who heartily desire cessation o
the chickering's between the sections ant
final end OF the strifes which have TO
so long time been casting pail owe
the material interests of the Whol
Upion.-Rich. Commonwealth.