Year: 1867

scribes their manPuyres:


The whole idea was to connect the
motion to strike out with some other in
such a manner that their real object
could be covered up. After trying sew
eral plans to accomplish their object
without headway, they finally applied
to leading Democrats of the Convention,
and proposed to them TO secure suf-
ticient number of Republicans to vote
to strike out the clause DISTINGUISHING
those who had participated in or given
aid to the rebellion, if they would vote
to strike out the clause DISTINGUISHING
defrauders. Those Democrats consulted
on this point did not seem inclined
to take part in this job. AS far as those
who took part in the rebellion are
concerned, it would simply disfranchise
those who come to the State from the
South to reside here, and might take in
its operation as many blacks as whites,
while the DISTINGUISHING defraudeIs
would affect entirely the Republican
party. The shoddyists persisted in their
efforts, aud were determined not to give
the job up until their point had been ac-
complished. They finally succeeded in
getting Ira Harris to make the motion
to strike ont, with the understanding
that Mr.. Evarts should advocateit. The
motion was read in the afternoon, and
ruled out of order by the Presi-
stacle, and. had an artist been
present on the spot he could have pro-
duced picture equal to anything in
PaRch. 1t needed but glance at the
countenances of the men to see where
the clause referring to defrauders
pinched. The President of the CoAven-
ton was taken to task as soon as the
Convention adjourned for making the
decision he did, and at the commence
nient of the session the next morning he
withdrew his decision, and asked unan-
ilnous consent that the Convention al
low the floor to Mr.. Harris, which was
granted. The result of ali this was that
the provision DISTINGUISHING those who
took part in the rebellion, deserters from
our armies, and those who defrauded
the government, was stricken out. But
in the discussion of the question the
talk WAS all about rebels and deserters.
The Republican speakers made no allU-
sion to the defrauders, and when one
delegate in the middle of the hall got
up to ask if the motion included the
defrauders, a hubbub was at once
created by the shoddyires, to pievent
this question being heard and under
stood. Now, provisions of this kind
could accomplish but little, and should
never have been inserted. 1t is not to
reflect upon the striking ont that this
movement has been described, but in or
der that the public may understand
hos much there is in the profession Of
loyalty and honesty of the party in
power. Before the proposition was pre-
sented to disfranchise defraudeTS, the
changes were constantly being rung
on TRAITORS" ''rebels," treason" and
all those hackneyed phrases of the
stump. But all this was forgotten
when the question of defrauderS was
attached to it. Instead of denouncing
''traitors," "treasOn," and "Tebels,' the
Republicans were found apologisinG for
them, and voting in their behalf. Why
this change! Simply that the hundreds
of contractors who have defrauded the
government, and the bounty brokers
who have filled their pockets, should
not be disfranchised. Such is the record
OF the party that claims to have all the
loyalty and hates treason SO intensely.
They lose their hate the moment that
the practice OF that hate interferes with
their own schemes.