The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1866-02-15

Ex-senator Trumbull, of Illinois, in
speaking upon the Freedman's Bureau bill
said in relation to the Constitutional amend
ment abolisling slavery:
have no doubt that under this provision
Of the Constitution we may destroy all these
determinations in civil rights against the
black man: and if we cannot. our constitu-
tional amendment amounts to nothing 1t
was for that purpose that the second clause
of the amendment was adopted, which says
that Congress- shall have authority, by ap-
propriatc legislation, to carry into effect the
article prohibiting slavery Who Is to de
eide what that appropriate legislation is TO
hc The Congress of the United States.
And is it for Congress to adopt such APP
propriatc legislation as it may think proper,
so that it, he means to accomplish the end.
If we believe a Freedmen's Bureau ncceS-
sarv, if we believe an act Furnishing any
man who depriveS a colnred person of any
civil rights on account of his color neCeS-
Sarv-if that is one means to his freedom,
! we have the constitutional right to adopt
/ it. If in order to prevent slavery, Congress
deem il necessary to declare null and void
! all laws which will not permit the Colored
/ man to contract, which will not permit him
+ to testify, which will not permit him to buy
and sell and to go where he pleases, it has the
+ power TO do so, and not only the power, but
L
is provided to be done by this bill. Its pro-
visions are temporary; but there is another
bill on your table. somewhat akin to this
which is intended to be permanent, to eN
tend to all parts of the country, and to pro
tect persons of all races in equal civil
rights.
Again he says;
have not said anything in my remarks
about reconstruction. Ihave not attempted
to discuss the question whether these State:
are in the Union or ont of the Union, anC
so much has been said upon that subject
that am almost ready to eNclaim, with on,
of old know not whether they are in tht
body orsOut of the body; God kuoweth."
! is enough for me to know that tie State or
/ ganzations IN several States Of the Uniol
have been usurped and overthrown,and tha
!. MP to the present time no State Organlza
ton has been inaugurated in either of then
which the various departments of Cox
/ ernment or any department of the Gov
/ ernment has recognized as placing tn
States in full possession of all the consti
tutional rights pertaining to States in ful
communion with the Union.
The Executive has not recognized any ons
for he still continues to exercise mIlltar,
jurisdiction and to suspend the privileges c
= the writ of Eabeas corpus in all of then
Congress has not recognized any of then
as we all know; and until Congress and tn
. Executive do recognize them, let us max
use of the Freedmen's Bureau, already e
tablished, to protect the colored race 1
their rights aud when these States shall h
admitted, aud the authority of the Freet
mems Bureau a court shall cease and d
;. termine, as it must when civil authority
fully restored, let us provide, then. by otht
L laws for protecting all people, in their equ;
civil rights before the law. If we can pas
such measures they viii receive ExecutiN
d sanction; and it shall be understood that
II is the policy of the Government that IL
rights OF the eolored men are to be protec
u ed by the States if they will, but by til
= Federal Government if they will not; tha
at all hazards and under all circumstanc'
/ there shall be impartiality among all classt
n in civil rights throughout the land. If v
can do this, much of the apprehension ar
= anxiety now existing in the loyal States wi