The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1864-08-18
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE REBEL
STATES.
The Protest Of senator BENZ. r. Wade and
Henry Winter Davis.
From the Albany Evening Jour,

,..-.a ,. From the Albany Evening journal.
. Less than one hour previous to the sine
die adjournment of Congress, the Presi-
dent had placed in his hands a bill "to
guaranty to certain States whose Govern.
ments have been usurped, republican
form of Government. This bill he con-
sidered OF such an important character
that he withheld his signature Temperate
ly tor mature examination, and finally al
together, for reasons given in his proca-
nation of July 9Th, 1864. In order that
his reasons may be fully understood, we
give the material portions Of that procla.
nation:
~"Now, therefore, l. Abraham Lincoln,
President Of the United States, do pro-
claim, declare and make known that while
| ain Gas | was in December last when by
proclamation | proposed plan for rcstor.
atom unprepared By formal approval
Of this bill to be iufcxibly committed to
any single plan Of restoration; and, while
l am also upprepared to declare that the
Free State Constitution and governments
already adopted and installed in Arkan-
sas and Louisiana, shall be set aside and
held for naught, thereby repelling aud
discouraging the loyal citizens who have
set up the same as to further effort, or to
declare constitutional competency in
Congress to abolish slavery in the States,
but am at the same time sincerely hoping
and expecting that a constitutional amend
ment aboiishing slavery throughout the
Nation may be adopted; nevertheless |
am fully satisfied with the system for re-
storation contained in the bill as one very
proper plan for the loyal people of any
State choosing to adopt it, aud that am,
and at all times shall he, prepared to give
the Executive aid and assistance to any
such people, SO soon as the military re
sistance to the United States shall have
been suppressed in any such State, and
the people thereof shall have sufficiently
returned to their obedience to the Consti.
tuition aud laws Of the United States, in
which eases Military Governors will be
appointed, with directions to proceed &C,
cording to the bill "
It appears from this that the following
were the reasons which actuated the Pre-.
sident:
First. He was unwilling to commit
himself infexibIy to any single plan of
restoration
Second. He was unprepar"d to set
aside the Constitutions Of Arkansas and
Louisiana.
Third, lie was not ready to declare a
constitutional com potency in Congress to
abolish slavery in the States
r 1t also further appears that he was 10
favor of an amendment to the Constitu-
ton abolishinG slavery, and that he was
"fully satisfied with the system Of rostor.
alton contained in the bin as one very
proper plan for the loyal people of any
State choosing to adopt it, in which case
no would carry cut the provisions Of the
bill.
Two individuals prominent in the pas
sage Of the bill, have taken umbrasc with
the President because he did not APP
prove the bill absolutely, and affix his sig,
nature to it, and have addressed com
munication "to the supporters of the Go.
vernment" relative thereto.
HaOne great burden of their complaint
IL, that the President deemed it best to
issue the proclamation above given
Common people viii consider the Prcsi-
dent justified in giving the country his
views on question Of such grave mo-
ment, especially with the evidence now
before them that designing persons stood
ready to mlsrepresent his refusal to sign
the bill.
But Messrs Wade and Davis are also
dissatisfied that the President does not
deem their bill the embodiment of all the
wisdom of the country on the question
characterization They dismiss the very
streng point FIRST made by the President
isfthe following words:
"That is to say, the President is 70.