The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-05-23
RECONSTRUCTION.
Speech o1 Hon. John ". LOnsyear.
Nay 1lth. lS66.

4 In The closing debate in the House on tie
! llth inst, upon tie Constitutional Amend
ment reported hy the joint Committee upon
i Reconstruction. Hon. John ". Longyear
. Of this Congressional District, spoke as
follows.
Mr. Speaker the questions before the
House are not so much whether the REBEL
. ioUs States are in or out Of the Union; or
/ whether the Government has or has not
the right 10 impose conditions upon -heir
return to working relations with IT, Those
questions have already heen settled bY the
uniform action and declaration OF the ex-
eculive. legislative, and judicial branches
of the Government.
The Supreme Court as i0ng ago as 1862.
decided in the decision OF the prize cases.
, Blacks Reports CSC co., that "the
present civil war between the United States
and tie su-ctl-eI bohleucIa'e states mas
2-a character and magnitude as 20 give
the United States the same rights and pow
ers which they might exercise in the case
Of a national or foreign var and. quoting
Naitei for authority. tile court further Ge-
cl4rei THAI " a ciyl war breaks The bands
of society and Government. or AZ least sus-
pends their force and effect"
The Thlrty-EiLhtn Congress at It's first
session. and while tie war was still flag
rant Jy solemn enactment declared the
state governments n those States subver-
ted and Overthr0wn and imposed con
dti0ns upon their reconstruction. THIS
enactment unfortunately did not receive
the Signature of the President, although he
approved Of all lis provisions Ia the proc
iamatiOn which he issued soon after its
passage. The same thing has been as
sumed AMI acted upon by Congress and by
each House ID numerous other enactments
and resolutions since thar tme many Of
which received the sanction Of the late
President Lincoln.
The present incumbent of the Presiden-
tial chair. while be remained the Andrew
Johnson of Tennessee for whom the great
loyal masses OF the nation gave their sui-
frage for Nice-Presideut OF the nation IN
1864. both before and since his elevation
70 that office av. and since i,y tho haul Of
treason he became elevated 10 be the chief
Executive OF the nation, has declared that
all government IN those States and IN each
Of them had ceased % exist: and not only
that, but the right To regulate suffrage and
10 impose conditions on the efforts of those
who had been i'm rebellion TO reconstruct
State governments existed in tie national
but ofl-repeated declaration of President
Johnson upon this point In each Of his
famous prOclamations appointing provis-
ional governors for the several States in re-
bellion, occurs this remarkable passage:
" Whereas, The rebellion which has been
waged by a portion of the people OF the
United States against the properly cOnsti-
tuted authorities OF the Government there
on, IN the most violent and revolving form.
bul whose organized and armed forces have
now been almost entirely overcome. has
IN lis revolutionary process deprived The
people OF the state Of North Carolina, etc.
OF all civil government"
The President In each OF those pr0clama-
tiOns also assumed 10 regulate suffrage ana
eligii .lity 20 Office as follows:
P-0ciied. That at any election that
MAY Ny lercAlCr ncid lor choosing dele
GATES 10 any State convention, as aforesaid,
20 persons shall he qualified rs an elector,
or shall be eligible as a member OF such
convention, unless be shall previously have
taken and subscribed 10 the oath OF amuCs-
~ as set forth In the Presidents prOcl4ma-
ton of May Q. 1864 and is voter qualified
a prescribed by the constitution and laws
OF the State OF North Carolina. etc, On
/ force Immediately before the 10th day OF
May 1861. cor otherwise as the case was,
tie date Of the sO-caled ordinance OF Sc
/ CessiOn.
! These declaration and acts of,the pres
ent Executive We're made and done, too,
after active hOstilities had ceased, and the
armed force of the rebellion had surren-
dered 10, or been broken and dispersed by
the superior force of the National Govern
ment, events upon the happening OF which
ss 1a.4 Q flsf
rights here and elsewhere the states IN re-
bellen at once resumed all their rights rs
States OF the Union, including, OF course
the right OF representation in Congress and
the right to regulate suffrage aud office IN
their own way.
Without stopping. then. To discuss these
/ quesuuns upon prlncIpir, 1 ASSUME, -
proven by authority Of all the coordinate
branches OF the national government, the
following propositions:
l. That as a result of the rebellion. all
civil government was destroyed in those
states which were engaged in il.
?. That the people Of those States can
erect new state. governments only BY VIZ
tue Of the authority and the consent Of the
National Government, and upon such
terms and conditions a. the latter NAV pre-
scribe
;. And IN this connection the National
government may regulate suffrage and
eligibility TO office. and make and establish
such other regulations as may be necessary
for its future security aud perpeuity.
/. And II makes no difference in this re-
speCt whether such regulations are estab-
lished by statute or By constitutional
amendment. The loyal people who los
their Representatives and Senators con
slitute the Congress for the time being, have
the power 10 propose constitutional amend
ments and enact laws tor the common
welfare have equal power through theii
Legislatures OF conventions 10 ratify aul
make etIectual such Constitutional amend
ments.
He who attemps 70 argue against tbes'
| propositions does 50 against the uniform
current and logic OF the swift-passinG event;
Of the last I've years aud their inevitable
consequences. and will ind all bis high
sounding rhetoric return 20 him empty, hk'
echo from adamant.ne cliff IN q des0lat'
I forest.
| do not propose 10 discuss the question
, here. whether the power 10 prescribe sucl
, regulations and conditions : IN the Execu
tive or in the Congress. I believe it is il
: Congress. The people believe il Is In Con
gress. and the great masses OF the loyal peO
pie both North and South are looking q
Congress to-day for protection and Sc
curly. and for one, intend 20 90 my dur
toward them in that respect TO the best @
NY ability.
I The only question really open for discus
sion j., what regulations and condition
are necessary; ami what shall be impose
10 insure the future domestic tranquility 0
q the people. and The security AMI perpetuit
I OF our national existence
. Tie amendments and bills reported b
ibe Committee on Reconstruction iall l.
short Of the expectations OF the people
3 and / may say are snort oi what / ma
= have desired. The fact Is, the pe0p.e ar
\ always ahead OF their legislators IN matter
, Of reform. But 80 iar ~ the report goes
Is N the right direction. aud viii lot re
ect II Tor the sole reason that u does 10
= 20 tar enough. The constitutional amend
/ ment proposed by the committee. With
4 single objection. meets my hearty approval
That objection is the third section, a0d
IS lot that il does not 20 lar enough. DO
2 that IL goes too lar. OUt that Il comes 70
p late | Wnuii li-franrhiSe every VOlQQtar