, 1866-02-16

talking where he may wander, unless be Is In
The habit Of: arranging his thoughts better
than am NINE When 7 commenced this
discussion supposed that In the course o1
1HentJ mi nutes or bali. ~ hour, could say
Ill I wal ted to say, ind I should hare said all
hare been led affdc and astray by thc collat-
eral matters that hare arisen here, untu l
hare probably exhausted the patience Of the
Senate; certainly bare exhausted my own
strength; but win say to the Senate that
have not even flushed that wh1ch1 intended
Believing that might well discuss under this
resolution The power Of Congress IN relation
to the situation OF these confederate States at
this time, and necessarily connected With It,
= hat IL Hou1d be wise 10 do, had thought
Of taking some notice Of the opinions ad-
varced BY the honorable Senator from Mary
land [Mc. Johneon] a while ago, and The hon.
Cowan1, IN reference to the; principles upon
which We are acting, But, sir
Mr.. JOHNSON aud others. Let us adjourn,
and you can 20 on tomorrow.
Mr. FEssEsDES: No, III. President, viii
no. speak two days. I beg the honorable
utely all have To say on the subject now aud
take come other occasion, than to hare an ad-
journmfnt on my Account
Mr. JOHNSON. an Eo7y for that
MIR. FEssESDES. And really. Mr.. President,
l do not know that It would he just or right
to the Senate under existing circumstances for
me TO speak upon any other subject than that
which Is Immediately under the consideration
Of the body: I do not approve OF travelling
into matters that are collateral, because It d
simply syaillug ourselves Of place here to
gise utterance to ideas that DO rot perhaps be-
fore, my pxn rule, particularly IS have not
strength enough ielt to. do Otherwise; but I
wish to Bay ID closing that commend this
joint-resolutIon to the careful consideration
Of the Senate. It Is not all that We could de-
sire 1t is not a1I that our constituents could
now all perhaps that It might accomplish;
but 1t is IN Important step ii the right dircc:
tioK. It gives the sanction Of Congress In 80
many words to an Important leading, ehec-
tive tdea. It opens way: bF which tho
Southern nd-to speak Of It as the South
right and Just. / see shat the bonorahle Sen:
afor from Delaware (Mr. Salisbury looks at
| me as irhe thought that that .Was not q very
safe supposition !; but have hopes, great hopes,
| Of those who were recently Coniederates
and believe that now, that they haTe been
tent they might desire with lmpun!ty. and
when their attention is turned Of necessity In
the right direction. the road will seem SO
| pleasant to their feet or at any rate VII! seem
! 20 agreeable to their love OF power, that theg
viii be willing to walk IN the direction that
| we hare pointed. If they do, what Is ac-
complishedy In process Of time, under the
constitutional amendment, f. It should be
adopted. they are led to enlarge their fran
ch1sc- That necessarily viii lead them to
consider how much further they can 20,
what IS necessary in order to fit their people
for It's exercise. thus leading to education,
thus leading to i greater degree Of ciyillza
tion. thus bringing Up an oppressed and down
trodden race TO an equality, i capsule q
white brethrcn-chililren ot the same father
| And, sir, il this Is done, I've cannot hope iori
In day, bu1 Ii in few years this is accom-
pllfhed, and accomplished by the steady ant
Silent operation Of this Constitutional proyis
ion which applies itself to the interests and II
| the love Of power Of mcn,} some OF Us ma.
hone to liSe-1 probably may not: but th'
to see the time when hy their own act ami
under the eject OF m enlightened stu Is o
their own interests, all men may be place.
| upon the snnc broad Constitutional lerel, En-
| joyfng the same rights and seeking hapoines
10 the same way and under the same advanta
| res; and that Is all that ire cpu1d ask.