New-York daily tribune., 1866-02-21
XXXIXTH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
SENATE. WAsuISGIoS, Feb. 20, lsGG.
RECONSTRUCTION.

RECONsTRUCTIoE.
Mr. UEspERsoN presented the petition OF cltl-
zens Of Missouri the subject of reconstrueton ask
ng Congress amend the acts Of the President IN es'
tahiishing civil Governments in the SOUTH and 10 81.
cRre eaua rights io all without distinction on account
VI color Referred 10 Tho Special Committee OF Fifteen
Mr. NoRGAS presented the memorial OF the Loyal
League Club IL New the subject Of reconstruc.
ton which was referred To the Committee on Recon
struc'iOn.
MORE PAY.
Mr. LANE tInd) presented the petition of Assistant
Assessors Of Internal Revenue for Increase of com
pepsaton. Referred 10 the Committee on Finance.
EQUAL RiGHfS.
Mr.. SuNsra presented petition from citizens OF
askng for equal rights Referred 10 the Special Com
nitlee OF Fifteen.
MR. WADE fEorosED AMENDMENT.
Mr. WArr introduced the following Joint resolution
nroposins nm amendment 10 the Constitution:
hori 1h,, the following article be prop ssd 20 ne Le.i'
siu.s Of The 'cy,r siate a, an meniinc TO Tho Conn
Of the ,d Lsgur,' shall be valid ss part Of said Con'u-
ton VII: -, -
den, Of the United States OF America. Ne shah hold his
oc. d1nug the Of four and hail not ngsin be
case o. the the Pro'dent from Office OF death
inability Ia di.etsrse the powers ard duties Of
ho shall be eligible to the office Of President OF the
Unt,d states dung tie term ofhs natural o Whenever
re,nAon 81 inabii both Of the President and Vice Pe,i
declaring whs, officer 'hA then &C, as President such
4
dnnng the term Of he natural HE -
Mr.. WADE, in offering this resolution. said: j will
state that this resolution Is no new idea OF mine for
have been AL advocate o IL for many years and have
derived the very strong impressions have the sub
iect ny very careful observation Of the workings Of
our Government through such periods as have been
an observer Of it--and believe II has been very
that We have been able 10 elect President of the Uni
ted States who has not been tempted n the vast
powers intrusod TO him according 10 bic own opinion
To advance his reelection and when say this Of the
Presidents who have preceded us, say il In AT
tempt 10 depreciate the merits Of these men,
because the Constitution places before them ptatons
which hardly expect that human nature will re-
sis end in the long run. sir, II will never resist us
Early IN the history OF our Government Washington
himself who was exceedingly sagacious IN the work
ings Of our Government, Informed us that II was his
opinion that there was weakness that ought TO
be remedied. lie saw II early. Ho saw a man liz
trusted with these more than that regal powers
during 1.-THE period he Is President, might be
tempted TO use them for his adv ment afteIward
and almost all the Presidents since have felt the necos
sity OF such check upon personal ambition IL Is
the injunction Of more than human wisdom to be re-
lieyed fIOm these temptations. We might trace THIS
had We time. through preceding Administrations
and We should find that this influence weighed ike
eraya,ion upon the mind of almost every President
we had. How is 1t, Sir. IN the present case
have doubt that the present Chief Magistrate came
into office while he was perfectly single IN MS mihd
sincere and truthful in lis opirons. What were some
of these opinions Why Sir he spoke and reiterated
II every day Or two months that treason was great
crime that ought To be punished that II must be rem
dpred
said II to every delegation that waited on him. until
the words became stereotypcd on the minds Of the
whole people How Sir has he performed that pledge
Hiss he punished anybody Why, Sir we have me
uhcardof spectacle Of OF the greatest rcD"lions
that ever cursed mankind involving more people, more
lives expense than all the rebeions thai have oe
Cured in history and yet Slr no man nas uesn pun
this IL all right then the whole system OF
penientiaIes throughout the Union ought to be abo
,,hed Sir the President right when he said trca
n trraa aaf attm luIp
WHY did he not carry ont this declaration what Las
occurred to change his position on this question:
will not gay that this ambition. which has tempted all
who have gone before bin, weighed Oh his mind to
tempt him; but il IA exceedingly singular that so far
from rendering treason odous by punishment be has
sadine traitors in the South Who else at any period
of the worlds history thought of taxing Rebel
red with the blood Of his countrymen, and Pacing him
in the position .of Governor OF slaterovefnor OF
state who has sought overthrow tle Government OF
,he Union, aud who invoked a despoiisn TO aid
I, him in doing II. IL tlat the way you
make treason odious among "ihnHl.a n. lis, IS 'nat
much Nobody has been able TO tell us
heretofore exactly what that pohey Nhs. We aii now
ever saw that was KIND ci Olcy ln suteu every
Rebel every Comprehend and every enemy OF the COY
erument Of tho United States both Iorcrn ami dOes.
tic Well Sir as that policy has become developed we
all precisely what II Is and why was so crate
l 20 the and hearts of every enemy o' ms country
IL was 10 less than this That these States should suer
nothing nor forfeit nothing by EeDellion Du' mat they
should DO admitted unwashed. and red Win the blood
OF their countrymen into full communion with honest
loyal men and into the counsels OF the Nation What
has brought about this changer Sr u nh points To
this iact that II will not do to tempt men IN TINS way
Why Sir this policy OF bringing these States into the
Union with all their rebellion and treason IN their
hearts is no better than treason itself lay down the
rue here, Sir and defy contradiction that II there
sry man. be be high or low. who is an advocate for
bringing traitors into the councils Of the nation. that
man 10 traitor in his heart; be ~ an onemy 10 the
toyerp ment and the nation; and nothing make It
app-ay differently. He who inyokes he aid Of unre.