Weekly Trinity journal., 1866-03-10
NUMBER 8.

SENATOR Coles VIEws.-A large. enthusas-
tic and harmonious assemblage of Union men
met at Sacramento on the cath of February
Cornelius Cole, L. S. Senator elect, delivered an
able speech upon the condition of the rebel
States, vindieating the action Of the Congress-
ional majority on the subject of reconstruction.
We quote from the Senator's speech
8: On the very day of the assassination of Mr.
Lincoln, the treatment of leading traitors came
under discussion at the White House. 1t grew
out of his visit to Richmond and the address of
General Weizel to the Eirginians, published that
morning in the Washington Chronicle. The Pres
ident remarked, in substance, that since the war
was ended, many of the principal Secessionists
were acting as if they had staked nothing on the
contest, but he (Mr. Lincoln) thought there was
stake up on both sides, and that the traitors
had lost He had already that day aunullcd the
proclamation of Weitzel, which invited many of
the disovalists of Virginia, by name, to partici-
pate in reorganzing civil government in that
State BY reference to that proclamation, it will
appear that Mr. Lincoln was on the last day Of
his life, opposed TO restoring the leaders of the
rebellion TO power. That the existence OF the
Government had been at stake on the Union
side. everybody was conscious but it is not so
clear in the light of recent events whether the
Confederates lost anything IN the late conflict or
not or to use the apt figure of Mr.. Lincoln,
whether there was really any stake up on their
side.
stBut why such hot haste in this matter? 1t
required many years to construct the Union, ana
can it be reconstructed in day. Four years
and over the seeded States remained under
another and hostile Government, and it certainly
cannot be injustice to them should they remain
out one, two, or, if need be, four years longer.
The United States can easily afford them Gov-
ernment as beneGcent as the one furnished by
Jefferson Davis, with which, unfortunately, they
/ were but too content. If we wise architects,
our new Union, at no distant period. will be as
much more magnificent than the old one as is
the new Capitol at Washington more magnificent
than the old editice destroyed by the British
Like that erected upon the same site, it will be
far more extensive, more convenient, more beau
tiful and will be adorned by Liberty herself, as
is the new Capitol by the statue of that Goddess.
If on the other hand, we proceed with too much
expedition, and fail to perfect our plans if we
do not lay well the foundation upon the rock of
freedom, must expect our structure to crum-
BILE and go down, to the everlasting disgrace of
its builders. NAbove all let us see TO it that the
quicksands of slavery are removed from the foun-
dations. Let US avoid the mistakes our fathers
made, and ours shall be an everlasting structure"
Onr new Senator defines his position at great
length. He says, q The question of negro suf-
frage is not in any tangible form, before the
American people at this time, and with it, as
yet, we have but little to do. The first great
question is to the present condition of the
several States that were lately confederated to-
gether in the crime of destroying the republic"
At the close of the address Senator Porter, of
Contra Costa, arose, and after few ntroducto-
ry remarks, offered the following, which
adopted with unanimity and enthusiasm:
Resolped, First, that Congress, and not the
President has the power to provide for the ad-
mission of States which have sundered the rela-
tions and repudated the obligations of States in
this Union Second, that the President is not
justified in making the admission of Senators
and Representatives from the rebel States a con-
dition precedent to the signing of bills necessary
to carry into effect the provisions of the national
Constitution.