The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-03-08
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEBATE on RECos srRuOrloS.
g HOUSE,


the amendment to the Constitution,
which was introduced on the 18th Of
February, and which had been referred
to the Judiciary committee: Provid.
ling that no person should be qualified
to hold the Office of President or Vice
President of the United States or OF
Senator or representative in the Ma
tional Congress or any Office held un.
der appointment from the President,
and requiring the confirmation OF the
Senate, who held office, civil Or mill
tary, under the latc Confederacy, or
who had voluntarily aided the rebel
lion, or who should hereafter.be guilty
of similar offenscs. ,r 81
Mr.. Mex, in condemning the policy
of the President, asked by what power
he imposed an oath on voters Mt elec-
tons, and by what authority did he
say TO the Legislature of sovereign
State, "You must ratify the constitu.
tional amendment before l accept you
as being in proper relations to the Union
over which l preside?' On what law
did he proceed to order convention
to remodel tho Consultation of State
which had never lost its power, and
then say to that convention, 'You must
repudiate yonr war debt and abolish
slavery before you can resume your
place in the. 2" Mr.. Mckee said
that he made no war upon tho Presi-
dent for these acts; they were ques-
tions for his newly acquired supporters
to reconcile to themselves but he
(McKce) would scorn tho most costly
jewel Of tho earth if put in his hand
by ono who had pluckcd it from the
crown in which it had been set. Il Mr..
Nc X 60 continuing. said By the law,
martial, the President exercised these
powers. These were matters which
the representatives of the people in tho
National Congress had the right to pass
upon. 1t belonged to them TO deter
mino whom and how the rebel States
should resume their relations to the
Union. a,r .r.. .H.l..
Mr.. McKee's speech was principally
directed to a criticism Of the Presidents
policy in the Same tone. Ho advocat.
cdtho adoption OF the amendment pro-
posed by him, as proper punishment
to rebels making them infamousin tho
eyes of the law, and putting the legal
stamp Of condemnation upon them.
Mr.. LOAN next ad dressed the House.
He argued that the Union OF States and
the existence of the nation were two
distinct things Tho union of States
might bo destroyed without affecting
tho existence of tho nation. When tho
eleven Southern States entered into
rebellion and inaugurated civil war,
tho union Of States de fdct0 dissolv-
ed just as much as if the rebels
had proved victorious and had had their
Independence acknowledged they had
held no political position since their
rovolt, except that of rcbellious sub
jects. He contendcd that they should
not bo restored to their former condi.
ton in tho Union until tho political
power in those States was confined ex-
clusivcly in tho hands Of loyal citizens
until equal rights and privileges
were extended to all their people-un-
Til their people gave evidence Of hatred
to the rebellion and love of the Repub-
lie until rebel sentiments, rebel gen.
erals, rebel banner, and rebel debts
were repudiatcd-and, until the love
of jGstice, Inv and order was 80 firm
ly established in the minds of tho peo-
pie as toglvo uhquestionablc assurance
of enduring peace; then, but not be.
forc, would no vote to readmit them
into the Union.
Mr.. THORNTON, Of Illinois, next
addressed tho House. The great quos.
iion to bc settled was question of
union or disunion--ahd in another
vicw, q question of centralized dcspo.
tism or national government with
delegated powers If the States that
attempted to seccdo were out of the
Union, either in fact or in law, then
the war had failed in its avowod OBJ.
] joct, ...
If they were not out of tho Union,
then the power of the general Govern.
mont being re-ostabished they were
entitled to bo restored and represented
in Congress, If a State could be re
duced to n territory as q punishment
for rebellion, where was the limitation?
AS well might refractory State be re-
duced to Il territorial condition tor q
slight offence, Any act Of legislation
declaring States to be territories, would
violate the Constitution. Such an act
would make the Government destruc
tive of the liberties of tho people, as If
secession had been successful. The
States of the Union must stand togeth-
or or the Union would perish, and be.
come school boys tale, the wonder
of an hour. If tho ties which bound
tho States together wcre severed. the
Union would become n gigantic corpse,
for the soul woul DO wanting there
The proper habitation Of the State was
in the Union, The Union of States
can never be rent asunder. Congress
could not drive the States out Of tho
Union, nor close the door of tho Union
against them. To do so would bo to
destroy n Countrywide brightest in
the history of man--and to darken the
light of hope now dawning upon it.
In the language Of Henry Clay, II am
within the Union, and defy any por-
ion of tho confederacy to expel me, or
drive me out of the Union" If the
rebellion had been successful, the scced-
cd States would not now form n mart