The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1865-09-23
RECONSTRUCTION.
SDeech Of Hon. Thaddeus Stevens,
OF PENNSYLVANIA,
DELIVERED IN LANCASTER CITY,
On U'ednesday Ercning, September GM
FELLOW Citizens:

come to give my views of the present con-
,lition of the rebel States of the proper
mode of recognizing the Government, and
the future prospects of the Republic. Dur
ing the whole progress of the war | never
for moment felt doubt orAiespondency.-
knew that the loyal North would conquer
the rebel dcspots who sought to destroy free
dom. But since that traitorous confedera-
ton has been subducd, and we have entered
upon the work of reconstruction or res
toration,'' cannot deny that my heart has
become sad at the gloomy prospects before
us.
Four years of bloody and expensive war
waged against the United States by eleven
States, under government called the "Con-
fedcrate States of America to which they
acknowledged allegiance, have overthrown
all government within those States, which
could be acknowledged as legitimate by the
Union. The armies of the Confederate
States having been conquered and subdued,
and tn ir territories possessed by the United
States, it becomes necessary to establish
governments therein, which shall be repub
lican in ''form and principles, and form a
more perfect union with the parent govern
ment. 1t is desirable that such course
should be pursued as to exclude from those
governments every vcstige of human bon.
dage and render the same forever impossible
in this nation, and to take care that no prin-
cipcs of self destruction shall be ncorpor-
ated therein. In clfecting this, it is to be
hoped that no provision of the Constitution
will be infringcd, and no principles of the
law of nations disregardcd. Especially
must we take care that in rebuking this un-
Just and reasonable war, the authorities Of
the Union shall indulge in no acts of usur
patton which may tend to impair the stabili
ty and pcrmanency of the nation within
these limitations. We hold it to be the duty
of the Government to inflict condign pun
iShment on the rebel beligcrents. and so
weaken their hands that they can never again
endanger the Union and so reform their
municiple institutions as to make them re-
publican in spirit as we'll as in name.
We especially insist that the property of
the chief rebels should be seized and appro-
priated to the payment Of the National debt.
caused by the unjust and wicked war which
they nstigated.
How can such punishmcnts be inflicted
and such forfciturcs produced without doing
violence to established principles?
Two positions have been suggested.
1st-'To treat those States as never having
been out of the Union, because the Consti-
tuition forbds secession. and, therefore, a
fact forbidden by law could not exist
2d-To accept the position in which they
placed themselves as severed from TIE Union:
an independent government de fttto. and an
nlicn enemy TO be dealt with according to
The laws of war.
1t seems to me that while we do not aver
that the United States are bound to treat
them as an alien enemy, yet they have a
right to elect so to do if it be fer the interest
of the nation and that the "Confederatc
States" are estGpped from denying that po-
sition.
South Carolina, the leader and cmbod,
'nent of the rebellion, in the month of Jan
nary, 1861, passed the following resolution
by the unanimous vote of her Legislature.
"Resolred, That the separation of South
Carolina from the Federal Union is final.
and she has no further interests in the Con.
stitution of the United States and that the
only appropriate negotiations between her
and the Federal Government are as to their
mutual relations as forcign States.'
The. convention that formed the govern
ment of the Confederate States and all the
eleven States that composed It adopted the
same declaration, and pledged their lives and
fortunes to support it. That Government
raised large armies, and by its formidable
power, compelled the nations of the civilized
world as we'll as our own Government. to
acknowledge them as an independent bellig-
erent, entitled by the law of nations to be
considered as engaged in public war and
not merely in an instruction. 1t is idle to
deny that we treated them rs a beligerent
entitled to ali the rights and subject to all
the liabilities of an alien enemy. We block
AIDED their ports, which is an undoubted bel
iigerent right; the extent of coast blockaded.
marked the acknowledged extent of their
territory,-the territory criminally acquired
but de facto theirs We acknowledged their
sea-rovcrs as privsteers and not as pirates,
by ordering their captive crews to be treated
as prisoners of war. We acknowledged that
a commission from the Confederate Gov
eminent was sufficient to screen Semmes and
his associates from the fate of lawless bucan-
GERS Who but an acknowledged govern
nent de jure or de facto, could have power
to issue such commission? The invaders
of the loyal States were not treated as out.
laws, but as soldiers of war, because they
were commanded by officers holding COM
missions from that government. The Con.
Tolerate States were for four years what thew
claimed to be, an alien enemy in all their
rights and liabilities. To say that they were
States under the protection of that Constitu-
sion which they were rending, and within the
Union which they were assaulting with bloody
defeats, simply because they became bellig-
erents through crime, is making theory over
rule fact to an absurd degree. 1t will sup
pose at least be conceded that the United