The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-05-18
SPEECH OF HON. , ". LONGNEAR. IN
The HOUSE OF REPRESENTA- ATIVE>
on THE BILL FOR THE RECONSTRUC-
TION OF THE STATES

Mr.. Speaker, IL has been my intention, during
the present session al least, 70 content myseli
with being 81 { actor, ard not take up the time
OF tue House Vilh speaking while action vas Oi
50 much HlOre IMPORTANCE o the interests of the
country in H. present perlious coudilion.
But he novelty and Importance OF the meas
ure how unGeT consideration The anamalous con-
dlti0u OF tie country out of which IL arises. the
imperative necessity for action OF some kind bv
Congress now, the great AID absorbing Interest
felt and manifested in regard to 1t, rot only iusti.
~ debate but demand the freest and fullest dis
cussiOn.
Aud The business OF the House having been so
arranged, that debate upon this measure does
rot stand in tie say OF progress in those other
great measures OF the session for supplying men
and means for carrying on the war and to sus.
tain tie credit OF the country, / propose to dis
cess briefly the till now before US
shall Lot attempt TO go over the whole ground
but coutent myself with noticing few Of the
leading questions involved in it,
Mr. Speaker, | have listened attentivelv TO the
speeches OF gentlemen on the other side OF the
House, made in the course Of this discussion. to
get al idea, il possible, OF the grounds OF their
opposition to this bill. But thus far have list
ened in vain. They have, with scarcely an ex-
ceptlon, evaded and lodged the question through
cut. My colleague from the fifth district (Mr.
Baldwin, In bis speech OF nearly an hour in
length scarcely alluded 10 the subject Has he
no reason To give for his opposition 90 this vital
measure! Or does he suppose that his c0nstii-
uents will be willing 10 accept 4 hackaeved IT,
rade against the present Administration as a
reason Why Congress should not make some pro
vision to bring order out of the chaos in which
nearly one halt OF the country is involved by a
wicked and causeless rebellion?
Let NE remind nv colleague that the people
have put upon those old complaints against the
Administration their seal of condemnation that
bis party has been before the people with that
same tissue of Misrepresentation aud miscon.
struction Of the acts OF the Administration, and
met with a most dsgraceful defeat and meriIed
rebuke.
But my colleagues acts, according to his own
admissions, are Inconsistent with bis expressed
sentiments. In one breath he tells US that this
Administration Is corrupt. and that il is conduct
ing this war for its own aggrandizement and the
perpetuity OF its power And il the next breath
he tells Us InaL he votes for all measures for car
rying on the war. In one breath he tells Us that
the enormous expenditure of money by the Gov
eminent is for private speculation, for filling the
already plethoric pockets OF Government contrac-
us that he votes for all appropriations the Al
mlnistratiOn asks for. | suppose this is what he
calls being " war democrat" Does he thus
vote, MIR. Speaker, because be disbeeves the
sentiments expressed by him or does he feel
himself compelled to do so by the Indignant
irowns of his constituents into whose minds he
has not yet succeeded in instining those senti-
meuts: Sir, compulsory patriotism of this
sort Il poor material upon which 10 rely for the
support OF the Government and the salvation OF
the country IN perIlOus times ike these
Mr.. Speaker, it has been asked wherein lies
the necessity for action upon this measure at
this time, and it has been said, subdue the re-
beliOn first, and it will then be time to talk about
governening the country. Ny reply is this the
necessity for some kind of government goes hand
in hand with subjugation. II civil government
is not provided for it must be military govern
meut-a thing inimical to the spirit of our insti-
tutiOns and unknown 10 them excent bv the
laws or war, aud then Of doubtful application ex
cept to foreign territory and a conquered foreign
people. Pass a judicious enabling act, with
proper safeguards, of which the people may
avail themselves to organize civil government:
az the very earliest opportunity, and il will afford
a rallying point for the Union sentiment remain
ing there, and tend to foster it and nourish il
INV hNhithiNi dut fi-oithc tAi-ltuLt- IL " II
prevent perplexing and complicated IRREGULAR
ties and dversites Of action, and tend largely &C
harmony and strength in cur future deliberations
No stronger illustration of the necessity aud pro
priety of immediate ection need be given than
the case Of Tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas
The Presidents proclamation does not solv,
the difficulty. A. proclamation OF amnesty, a;
general outline or plan for organizing new State
governments, as d prescription OF safeguards anC
conditions precedent to such Organization, it wi.
ever stand as a bright and glorious page ia ths
history of the present Administration. But il i:
incomplete for lack OF constitutional power Tha
can be conferred by Congress alone, under th,
power to admit new States
am aware that a wide diversit, OF opinion
exists a. to the true logical condition or status
OF the rebeiious States, both while iu rebellion
and after the rebellion shall have been subdueC
by force of arms. Some contend that, to all in
tents and purposes, these States are out OF th,
UniOn-territcry and peOpe-and that they ar,
foreign Powers and that when subdued We hOlt
both IA by conquest and with all the right of
conqueror on our part, aud the rights and dsa
biliues of n conquered foreign power on thei
part. Others contend that merely the govern
ments Of the States are subverted and over
thrown, but that by some capitalization tb
States still exist and are n the Union, and tina
when the rebellion shall have been subdued, al
We have 10 do is to rehabilitate or reimbOdy tha
supposed spirituality with such hablments o
such body as we NAV see fit; and that when tha
is done we have the same State we had before
but born into a new life. Others, again, con
tend that the State governments are not subver
ted or overthrown; that they still exist, with a
their rights and obligations, as States OF thi
Union, but their functions are merely suspende
by force of the rebellion that it is a @
suspended animation merely, and that when ID
pressure of the military power of the insur
gents shall be removed, these government
will spring into action again with fnll life an
vigor, and with all their former powers, righI'
and immunities unimpaired. Their motto i:
" Once State Of the Union always State {
the Union, on the monarchial idea, | suppose
that the king never dies.
In order fairly to consider these several thee
res, and inteligenty 10 advance my own, pro
pose TO take a few bearings from an origins
standpoint.
What is 2 State, in a general sense, and wht
is it to become and to be a State Of this UnioI
and what are the true relations OF the States
rebellion to the General Government while
war with it, and what will be those relation
when those States are conquered?
What is a State? Chancellor Kent, in b
Commentaries, (p. ls9, n. b. says
STATE in the meaning Of public law, is a c0mpe
or self sufficient body q pers0us united togeieer in Of
community for the defence O. their rights, AMI %
right 70 foreigners. state has Its Affairs and l1te
ests It deiiberates and becomes moral person, Ia
ing an understanding and viii and Is susceptible of @
legations and laws
Such, then, Is State. The people in the
primary capacity do not constitute a State 1t
the union Of the people into one body for Il
purposes named. Such union IS effected throus