Year: 1866

The speech OF Hon, SAMUEL SnEILABAR
GER, in the House, on the subject of recon
struction and citizenship, is pronounced on
all sides to be one Of tho ablest efforts o
the present session. The following extracts
will be read with interest


DisFRANCHIsEMENT OF REBELS.


After quoting the remarks of tho Presi
dent, in which he denounced treason as q
crime, lie continues;


Such, then, are the views of the Presi.
dent. TO say that they are not his views
or that they are put nth as mere lures to
ensnare generous and coniiding people
into his snpport--mere "spiings TO catch
woodcock," which he deems neither consti-
tutional nor capable Of being practically
applied and enforced, nor fit TO be so APP
plied-is to attribute TO him purposes and
conduct which would be disgraceiul to the
most vulgar political harlequin, bat which,
in the ruler Of a great and generous peo-
pie who have SO honored and trusted him,
would be utterly disgusting and infamous.
| will neither say nor believe this; and |
therefore shall assume that the President
deems it both practicable, constitutional,
and ht to enact that the traitor " forfeited
his right to vote with loyal men when ho
renonnced his citizenship aud sought to
destroy tie Government" and "that he
shall be subjected to severe ordeal before
he is restored to citizenship"


neei not say that Congress has already
indicated its b,lief in the same thing.


1t is obvious, thsn, that either they who
Government are most false and insincere,
or else they agree that the dsoyal should
be stein'y excluded, by severe ordcals, !,
from Government until tLey bring forth
fruits OF repentance"


| now proceed to inquire whether this
VIII ch bo h Congress and ths President
fay or is p rmi'te by t c IT tn ior.


And t. quad myself at the very tiOsh-
hold OF these remarks. from M :sapprehen.
sion, state that should the Government be
found to holl this alleged power of exclud-
ing them who have renonnced their citizen
ship from the exercise of its powers, still
do not favor such exclusion against the
mass OF the common people, unless it shall
appear that they continue incorrigibly dis
loyal, and inSubordinate to our Government
aud laws. | only inquire now as to The
power. The manner and extent Of it's EN-
ployment will be a matter for the high,
solemn, and most cautious exercise of the
wisdom and discretion of Congress; to be
done with due regard to the nature of ours
as popular Government resting upon the
will'of the loyal citizens, but also with re-
gard to the perpetuity and safety of the
Republic.


What makes the inquiry upon which
now enter. as TO the right TO exclude tie
llsloyal from citizenship aud from voting,
of such vital moment just now, 10 the sad
act that in at least ten Of these States there
8 the highest reason to fear that more
lIaD half the white inhabitants desire the
destruction oi this nation.


the people could not learn fact, 30 ut
erly unnatural and appalling. until each
household spelled it our, letter by letter, !
inc by line. for itself. But the nation did |
earn it at last, when every family read it
n the marble feature of its own slain
For there was not house in which there was


not ono dead"


To again refuse to believe il as we did !
,olore, and TO decline again to act upon
I as true is only stark madness. For