The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-12-23
mo speech OF MAD. stevens.

cent Lancaster speech, with confisca-
ton omitted. He commended that the
lately rebel States are not in the Union,
and if again admitted they must come
in as territories. He would not consent
to their readmission until they give
suffrage to the negroes and accept an
amendment to the constitution basing
representation upon voters instead of
population. The effect of the speech
was much marred by the frequent
avowal that the object of his policy is
to secure the continued ascendency of
the republican party, and he seemed to
dents plan that it affords the demo-
Gratis chance to gain power by new
alliance with the South. hefollowing
are the striking points of the speech:
"UnIess the law of nations is dead
letter, the late war between two ac-
knowledged belligerents, severed their
] original compacts, aud broke all ties
that bound them together. The future
condition of the conquered power de-.
ponds on the will of the conquerOr.,
/ They must come in as new States, or
remain as conquered provinces. The
/ first duty of Congress Is to pass law
declaring the condition of these out
| side or defunct States, and providing
! proper civil government for them.
/ Since the conquest they have been gov
erned by martini law. Military rule is
necessarily despotic, and ought not to
exist longer than is absolutely neces-
HRTy. As there are no symptoms that
/ the people of these provinces will be
prepared to participate in n constitu-
/ tional government for some years, ]
know of no arrangement SO proper for
them as territorial governments. There
they can learn the principles of freedom,
and eat the fruit of foul rebellion under
such governments. According to my
judgment they ought never to be recog-
niZed AS capable of acting in the Union
or being counted as valid States until
the constitution shall have been so
amended AS to make it what its trainers
intended, so as TO secure a perpetual
ascendency to the party of the Union
and so as to render republican govern
ment firm and stable forever. The first
OF these amendments is to change
the basis OF membership to actual
voters. II they should grant the right
of suffrage to persons of color,
think there would always be Union
white men enough in the South, aided
by the blacks, to divide the representa-
ton, and thus continue the republican
ascendency. II they should refuse thus
to alter their election laws, it would re-
duce the representatives of the late
slave States to about forty-five, and rem
der them powerleSs for evil. II is plain
that this amendment must be consum-
mated before the defunct States are ad-
mitted to be capable of State action, or
it can never be. The proposed amend
ment To allow Congress to lay u duty
on exports is precisely in the same sit
untiOn. Its Importance cannot well be
overestimnted. 1t is very obvious that
for many years the South will not pay
much under our Internal revenue laws.
The only articles on which we can raise
any considerable amount is cotton. 1t
Will be grown largely Mt once. With
ten cents per pound export duty, il
would be furnished cheaper to foreign
markets than they could obtain il from
any other part ofthe world. The lRteIwnr
has shown that. two millions ofba es ,ex-
ported nj ve.hundred pounds to thebale
would yield 500, 100000. This seems
to be the chief revenuewe shall ever de-
rive from the South. Besides, 1t would
be Il protection to that amount to our
domestic manufactures.
But this is not all we ought to do be-
ford these inveternte rebels are invited
TO participate i'll our legislation. We
have or are about to turn loose four
millions Of slaves, without hut to
/ shelter them or IA cent in their pockets.
/ The internal laws OF slavery have pre-
vented them from acquiring an educa-
ton or from understanding the COM
monest laws ofcOntract or from lnanag-
ing the ordinary business Oflife. This
/ Congress is bound to provide for them
until they cnn provide for themselves.
/ 1.-Two do not furnish them with home
| steads and hedge them around with
/ protective laws if we leave them to
the legislation oftheir late masters, we
n ID better have LETT them in bondage
Their condition would be worse than
our prisoners mt AndersonVille. II we
fail in this great duty now, and when
we have the power, we shall deserve
and receive the excavations of history
and all future ages. H-r
"Mr. Speaker, L trust that the repub-
\ lean party will not be alarmed Mt what
1 am saying. do not profess to speak
! their sentiments, nor must they be held
/ responsible for them. speak for N.Y.
self and take the responsibility, and
I will settle with my Intelligent constitu-
ents. This Is not white mans Gov
ernment in the exclusive sense in which
/ il is used. To say so is political BIAS
/ phemy, for il violates fundamental
| principles of our gospel of liberty. This
/ Is mans gOvernment-the government
/ of linen alike. Not that all men will
have equal power and sway within it
! accidental circumstances, natural and
acquired endowment and ability will
/ wary their fortunes-but equal rights to
/ all the privileges of the government Is
/ innate in every immortal being, no
mntter what the shape or color Of the
tabernacle which it inhRbits. If equal
privileges were granted to all, should
/ not expect any but white men to be
elected TO office for long ages to come.
The prejudice engendered by slavery
would not soon permit merit to be pre-
| terred to color. But it would stiff be
beneficial to the weaker races. In
country where political divisions will
always exist their power Joined with
just white men would greatly
modify if it did not entirely prevent
the injustice of mRjorities. With
! out the right of suffrage in the late
slave stutes-I do not speak of the free
| states-the slaves had far better been
LEFT in bondage. / sec It stated that
very distinguished dvocatrs ofthe right
of suffrage declared in this city that
they do not expect to obtain It by con-
greSSional legislation, but only by nd
ministrHtive action; because, as one
gallant gentleman said, the states had
not been out of the Union. Then they
Will never get it. The president is far
Sounder than they. He sees that ad-
ministrative action has nothing to do
with 1t. II it ever is to come, It must
be constitutional amendments or con-
greSsional action in the territorial and
enabling acts. How shameful that these
men OF influence should mislead and
miseducate the public mind, They pro-
claim this is the white mans gov
ernment, and the whole coil OF conner
heads re-echO the same sentiments. and
upStaTt, jealous republicans ioin the
cry. Is it any wonder that Ignorant
foreigners and illiterate natives should
learn this doctrine and be led to dispise
and maltreat a whole race of their fell
low-men? Sir, this doctrine of a white
mans government is as atrocious as the
infamous sentiment that damned the
late chief justice to everlasting fame,