Evening journal., 1893-01-27
ActIxe Aealnst Rsbslllon.

In 1862 Mr. Blaine was elected TO Con-
gress, whore I'm one branch or the other
he served for eighteen years. To
the House be was chosen for several
successive terms. he was bold n at-
tack, quick iu reparteo, and apt i'm illus
tration.
The measures lor the reconstruction OF
the states that had been iu rebellion
largely ongrossed the attention 0f Con.
gress from 1865 to 1859, and Mr. Blaine
bore q prominent part in their Cis-
cussion and Ina the work of framing
them.
On February 6. 1867, Mr. Blaine de-
clared his unwillingucss 90 support any
measure that would place the South
under military government. if it did not
at the same time prescribe the methods
by which the people of the state could,
by their own action, re establish civil
governments He accordingly proposed
an amendment providing that when amy
one of the so.calied confederate states
should assent Co the fourteenth amend
ment of the Constitution and should
establish equal and impartial suffrage,
without regard TO race or color. and when
Congress should approve fits action, 80
shonld be entitled TO representation. and
the provisions for military government
should become Imperative This propo-
sition became known as the Blaine
amendment
Costello, Warren, Burke and other
| Irish Americans had been arrested Fra
1867 in England, on the change of COM
plcity in Ferian plots Costello had
made a speech in 1853 in New York,
which was regarded as treasonable by
/ the British government. and he was
treated as q British subject and tried
under ana old law on tnis accusation.
/ His plea of American citizenship was
overruled and he was convicted aud
sentenced Go sixteen years penal sorri-
/ tude MIR Blaine, who, with other
/ American statesmen. resisted the English
doctrines of perpetual allegiance, and
maintained that natgraliled American
WAS entitled to the some protection
| abroad that would be given Go @ native
/ American. took active part in pressing
/ these questions upon public attention,
/ and as q result of the agitation Costello
was released
Mr. Blaine was chosen speaker of the
! House OF Representatives In 1869 and
served by successive re elections, for six
/ years His administration of the speaker
/ shp is commonly regarded as one of the
most brilliant and successful in the
annals OF tde house
The political Ievulsion of 1874 placed
/ the Democrats in control of the House,
and Alr Blaine became the leader of the
minority, Mr. Blaine affirmed i'm fiery
words in a speech I'M the House of Rep
resentatiyes in 1876 that Jefferson Davis
was knowingly deliberately, gululy
and wiliulIy responsible for tine gigantic
murders and crimes at Auders0nville.
Mr. Blaiue now became the subject of
a violent personal assault Charges
were rculated That he had received
I S6t 600 from the Union Pacific Railroad
/ Company for some underlined services.
he however vindicated himself By let.
ters from officers of that company.
Almost President Twice.
ln 1876 DE lacked but twenty eight
/ votes uf securing the nomination f0l
1 President OF the United States. ON the
election of Garfield he was tendered and
accepted the Office oi Secretary OF State.
His administration was practically
limited 10 -FOUR years, within which