New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-19

publican Governments 20 apsed or oatlawed States.
Whence springs tho preposterOus idea that either the
President or the Senate the House Of Representa-
tives acting separately, can determine the right OF
States 10 send members Senator's to the Congress Of
been out OF the Union for all legal purposes,
and are now conquered subjects to tho absolute
disposal OF Congress will suggest few ideas and adj
duce few authorities. II the socaled Confederate
States Of America were independent bellgerent,
and were so acknowledged by the United States and
by Europe or had assumed and maintained an attitude
which entitled them to be considered and treated as
beliieerent then during such time they were preclse
in the condition Of foreign nation with whom we were
al war, nor need their independence rs nation DC
acknowledged By US to produce that effect.
Mr.. STEVENS then quoted from Mr.. Justice Grier IN
the prize all the law. these points After snch
clear and repeated decisions, he said, it is something
than ridiculous to hear men OF respectable stand
ing attempting TO nuify the law Of nations, and de-
clare the Supreme Court Of the United States in error
because the Constitution forbds it, the States could
not go out of the Union de, taeto After proceeding
obvious that the first duty Of Congress
Is 10 pass q law declaring the condition Of these
outside defunct States and providing proper civil
government for them. Since the conquest they have
been governed by martialaw. Military rule is
sariy espOc and ought not TO exist longer than is
absolutely necessary AS there are no symptoms that
the people Of these provinces will be prepared to p1rt
cpate 10 a Constitutional Government for some years,
know Of no arrangement 50 proper for them as
| Territorial Governments. There they can learn
the principles Of freedom, and eat the nut OF
! eleeting members 10 the Territorial Legislatures
they viii necessarily mingle with those to whom Con-
gress shall extend the right OF suffrage In the Terri
tories Congress fixes the qualifications OF electors, and
know OF better place or better occasion for the con
qnered Rebels ana the conqueror TO practice justice to
all men, and accustom themselves to make and TO obey
| all laws. As TO these famed Rebels they cannot AZ
! their option reGnter the heaven which they have
disturbed the garden of Eden which they have de-
serted as flaming swords Sc, at the gates to secure
their exclusion. 1t become important to the nation to
inquire when the doors shall be reopened for their ad'
mission. According to my Judgment they ought never
TO be recognized as capable OF acting In the Onlon OF
being counted valid States, until the Con
stituiion shall have been so amended as 10
make il what its trainers intended, so
TO perpetual ascendency to the party OF the
| Union and so as TO render Republican Government
firm and stable forever The first of these amendments
is TO change the basis Of membership TO actual voters
Now all the colored freemen in the Slave States and
three ,hs Of the slaves represented though none
OF them have votes, The Rebel States have ~
representatives OF coOred slaves II the slaves are
now free then they add for the other twofths Is
more making the slave representation 49, i suppose
the free blacks in those States viii give at least five
more, making the representation Of nonvoting people
of color about 81. The whole number OF representa-
tiyes from the slave states Is 7O add the other
two.dfths, and 1t viii be 80.
Ifthe amendment prevails, and those States withhold
the night Of suffrage from persons OF color, 1t Will de-
duct about 81 leaving them but 43 With the appor-
tionment unchanged, the g Southern members, with
the Democrats that will in the best times be elected
from the North. will always give them majority In
| Congress
the very first election take possession of the White
House and the halls Of Congress. l need not depict
the ruin that would follow. The assumption OF
the Rebel debt or reputation Of the Federal debt
would be sure 10 follow. The oppression of the freed
men, the eamendment Of the State Constitutions, and
establishment Of Slavery would be the inevitable re-
suit That they would and disregard their pres
ent Constitutions forced upon them in the midst OF
martial .law would be both natural and just. NO one
that has any regard for the freedom of elections
can look upon those governments, forced upon
them in duIess, with any favor. II they
Rs % % sSgs S tS R a enough
in the South aided by the blacks to divide the repre-
and thus continue the Republican ascendancy
II they should refuse thus to alter their election
late Slave States to about IS, and render them
! powerless for evil IL is plain that
the ieunc States are admitted TO be capable of State
action, or il can be. The proposed amendment
TO allow Congress to lay duty on exports Is precisely
In the same situation. It's importance cannot well be
oyerstated 1t very obvious that for many years the
South will not pay much under our internal revenue
laws The only article on which we can raise any
considerable amount is cotton. IL VIII be grown
largely at once. WITH ten cents per pound
export duty it would be furnished cheaper |
10 foreign markets than they could obtain It from any
other part OF the world The late war has shown that
Two millions of bales exported at 800 pounds to the BALE
would Weld SlO0 O0O0 900. This seems To be the chief
revenue shall ever derive from the South Besides
II would be protection to that amount TO our domestic
manufactures. Other proposed amendments, TO make
all laws uniform to prohibit the assumption OF
tie Rebel debt are OF vital I'm Importance
Copperheads ard Sccessionsts from egslang against
the interests OF the Union whenever they may Obtain an
accidental majority. But this is not al We ought to 10
before these nyeterate Rebels invited TO participate
In our legislation We have or are about 10 turn loose
100000 of slaves without a hut to shelter them
or cent in their pockets The internal
laws Of Slavery have prevented them from
acquiring an education OF from understanding
the commonest laws OF contract or from managing the
ordinary business of ie This Congress Is bound to
.,I,o, tbav dc yaS
IL We do not furnish them with homeseads and hedge
them around with protective laws, five leave them 70
the legislation Of their late masters we had
dition would be worse than our prisoners |
al AudoTsonylle II We fail in this great duty |
now, and when We have the power. We shall de,
serve and receive the eXecTaons OF History and al
future ages Two things are Of vital Importance 80
10 establish a principle that none of the Rebel States
shall be counted in any OF the amendments OF the Con
stitution until they duly admitted into the family OF
States by the lawmaking power ol their conqueIors
For more than six months the Amendment oi the
Constitution establishing slavery mas poem ratiheu
by the Legislatures OF threeOurths OF the StGtet that
acted on its passage by Congress which had LegSla
tnres or which were States capable Of acting or re,
quired TO act on that question. take no account OF
the gatiols OF whtewashed Rebels, who without
any legal authority, have assembled in the capitals OF
the late Rebel States and simulated legislative
bodies Nor do ! regard with any respect the
cuupine by.pay into which they deuded the
Secretary Of State by frequent teegrGphic onnounce
ments that South Carolina had adopsot the Amend
mcut AllDdinh mas Nne stAucHuilVhl, O'ih~
the twenty. seventh State Sc. This was intended TO
deude the people and accust0m Congress 10 hear the
names of these extinct States as they were awe when
in truth they have more existence than the rcyoed
cities Of atium twOhrds OF whose people were colon.
zed and their property conhscaod and their right OF cit
zenshp withdrawn by conxuering and avenglng Rome
II is equally important 10 the stability OF this repub'
lie that il should now be solemny decided what power
can revive and renstate these provinces into
the family OF States and invest them with the rights of
American citizens. 1t is time that Congress should
assert sovereignty and assume something Of she dig
nlty OF Il ROmun Senate. 1t Is fortunate that the
President invites Congress 70 take this manly
attitude After stating with great frankness in his