The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1865-05-25
GEN. 3. r. BUTLER ON RECON-
STRUCTION.
Tuesday evening, (,iay I'd, Major

Tuesday evening, May 3D. Major
eneral Butler addressed the New York
Union League, upon the terms upon
which rebelIions "States can be brought
into practical Relations with the Govern
ment." He said:
We may congratulate ourselves that
after four years OF effort, toll, expendi
tnre, NJ well of treasure as blood. all
armed resistance to the Governmet has
been brought to an end.
THE GOOD TIME COMING.
Among the returning blessings which
will now flow from this consummation,
not the least will be the arrival of the
period when all abnormal administration
of law and exercise of authority and
power can and will cease, the reason for,
cause and object of extraordinary use
OF executive functions which we have all
upheld because necessary powers, justi
fed in the struggle for the life of the ma
tion. ceasing. they also cease, and we
of the loyal States come back once more
to that regularity and safety of exercise
OF governmental powers which our
fathers with so much care provided as
safeguards to the rights OF all There
IL, however, a portion or our country,
in which all these safeguards are broken
down, where all law which we can re
cognize has been disregarded. and where
the withdrawal Of our armed forces
would leave only anarchy, aggravated
by hostility to the Government.
GEN BUFFERS POLICY IN THE PRESENT
HIS TREATMENT OF THE REBELLIoUs
STATES.
I propose, with your permission, in a
conversational form to evolve for con
sideration a few propositions relating to
the questions which now press home up
on Us as to the manner in which we shall
receive back the rebellious States, or.
avoiding all controversy upon terms,
merely, as to whether they are in or out
of the Union, in regard to the language
Of our late lamented President, .'tIow
these State es can be brought into their
practical relations with the Government
need not say that the thoughts which
have been subjects of my reflections up
on this topic are only the speculations
OF citizen whose mind has been turned
for sometime in this direction, attracted I
thereto and enlightened by the success
Of the bold, original action of President .
Johnson in bringing Tennessee as 10y
nj State into the Union by the voice of
those only who had ever remained loyal
in heart. and rejecting all those who /
had participated in the rebellion. This, |
perhaps is the kew to the whole difficul- /
ty. In April, 1868, had the honor to
express to the citizens Of New York, at
the Academy of Music. the opinion that
the people of the rebellious States were
in the legal relation to the Government
OF alien enemies; this proposition has
since been confirmed by the repeated
solemn decisions of the Supreme Court.
By what process. then. are these public /
enemies of the United States, living un-
der political organizations. or State Gov
ernments hostile TO the Union, their
forces Just now shattered and broken by /
our victories, to I've brought into political I
relations with us, and become endowed (
as well with the privilege Of legislating T
for themselves as part or the Govern I
ment, as also to make laws for us, who /
have just subdued the rebellion by the T
sword 1t is quite clear that until some
measures are devised to enable the /
Southern people to govern themselves in I
the Union, disorder must be repressed. i
peace preserved, crimes punished, and /
the industrious and well doing protected I
by the military powers OF the United I
States.
BEST POLICY OF THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES. |
It would seem to be the part of wis I
dom to ascertain first whether any of
the inhabitants of these States. and how
many, are really desirous of coming /
back and becoming part of the govern
ment. with the political ideas, atiinities.
unity OF thought with the loyal States. /
which can alone insure their usefulness
and homogenei;y as parts of the body
polite. Would it not be well then, that
military Governors appointed for each .
State. for their knowledge of civil affairs
as Of .'army relations" if satisfied that
any considerable number of the inhabi
tants of his district were truly loyal and
desirous OF bringing their State into the
Union. should call upon the loyal citi-
zens of the United States residing there
in. who had never held Office during the
rebellion, TO vote upon the question
whether the people desired 10 resume
their relations with the United States as
= loyal State. and for that end would pro
vide and declare in their State constitu-
tom
First - That hereafter forever there
should he neither slavery or involuntary
servitude except for crime jHdicially de,
clared
Second-That there cannot exist in the
political system Of the United States any
such thing as right of secession by
State.
Third-That no person. corporation.
municipal or otherwise, or State. could 1
or might ever assume or pay any part |
of the debt or claim by any person or /
corporation, State o. confederation of |
States. incurred or in any way arising /
from or in aid OF the late rebellion.
foHrth-That any person who had held |
military. civil or diplomatic office under |
the so.called Confederate States. or eth |
er OF them, or been any agent thereof |
during the rebellion. should have no po !
ltical rights in the State. but should be |
and remain alien thcreunto forever If
the people of the State should. by good
degree of unanimity, vote TO call con !
ventiou to make these or like propositions |
part Of their constitutional law, then |