The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-03-22
CsngFeSE important Resolution Introduced
liz Dc. NieHart. ~ -

the repur2LIon4Ol pslhS one. Oh the most Cot-
servatiye members OF the present Congress,
on the 16thacreated quite a sensation by
introducing the following preamble and req
Mr.. stewart introduced the following jciDt
yonaIutions which were referred to the Joint
Committee on Reconstruction
WHYExAs, In consideration fthe pres.
eut distressed condition of the country it il
sminently proper that all legal and cousti-
tutionaI means should be employed for quiz
citing the popular excitement, the removal
Of all unreasonable pIejndices, and the OH
liberation Of all hostile feelings growing out
Of the late unhappy civil war /; and
WHEREAS One of the most prolific sour
CA of uufriendIy sentiments is the coIIf1icr
of opinion existing on the subject of negro
suffrage and,
WHRREAs, Il is now most evident that
there is now no probability whatever that
Senators aud Representatives IN Congress
from the States whose people were lately III
instruction will tie permitted to occupy the
seats to which they have been elected, until
such States shall lave complied with Ger
tain fundamental conditions. a portion Of
which are hereinafter recited and,
WHRREAs, 1t is unreasonable to expect
the re- establishment of harmony aud good
feeling so long as the eleven Southern
States, whose people were recently in in
surrection, are kept back from resuming
sheir ancieut relations To this Government !;
therefore be it
Resotced, 1st, That the people of said
Ststes, recently in iEsurrection, as aforesaid,
shall be recognized as having fully resumed
their ancient relations with this Govern
meut and their chosen Representatives shall
be admitted to the two Houses of the Nation
al Legislature, when said States shall so
have amended their Constitutions AZ to do
away with all distinctions of civil rights
and disabilities among the various classes
of their population, by reason either of race
or color, or previous condition Of servitude !;
3D. Repudlate all pecuniary Indebtedness
which said State may have heretofore con-
tracted, incurred or assumed during the late
unnatural and tire ,sonabie War; Sd, To
Weld all claim to compensation on account
of the liberation Of their slaves; and 4th.
To provide for the extension of the elective
franchise to all on the same terms aud Con-
ditious making no distinctions on account
Of race, color or previous condition Pr0Ci-
ded, That those who were qualified to vote
10 the year 1860, by the laws of their re-
specti We States, shall not he disfraneaised
by reason Of any new conditions which have
been or may be prescribed since that year.
Re$oLctd. That after the aforesaid coudi-
tiODs have been complied with, and the
same shall have been ratified by majority
Of the present voting population Of the
States, including ali those qualified to vote
under the laws thereof as they exis,ed in
1860, general amnesty si'ai be proclaimed
iii regard 10 all persons III such States who
were III any way connected With armed op
position to the Government Of the United
States, wholly exon0ratug them from all
pains or penalties 60 which they may have
become lable by correction with the rebel
lion
Resolrld, That ia view of the thorough as
similation OF tine basis Of suffrage in tire va
riOus States Of the Union, all other States
not above named shall be respectfully re-
Quested to incorporate au amendment Iuto
their State Constitutions, respectively cor
responding with the one specified.
In the above resolution it il not inseud-
ed To assert cooGCive power on the part Of
Congress in regulating the right of suffrage
in the different States iii the Union, but
only to make u respectful and earnest ap.
peal to their OVID good sense and love Of
country, with a view to the prevention Of
serious OWLS now threatened, and to the
peaceful peTpetnatiou of the happiness and
true glory of the whole American people
Mr.. Stewart in offering the above, made
briet explanation. He said he had been u
careful observer of the current of events
since Congress assembled, and he had come
to the conclusion that the proposition he
had submitted corresponds with the pre-.
vailiDg sentiment in tie public press He
offered this without expressing an opinion
as to the propriety of negro suffrage which
he had studiously avoided ON all occasions
here.
Mr. Pomeroy asked mir. Stewart if he had
not once said something about its being a
white mans government?
Mr. Stewart replied that he had only stat
ed that the fact of this being white mans
government was not to be scoffed at or dis
regarded. He still said so. MIR. Stewart
continued his remarks on the resolution -
He said he did not pretend to be wed ed
to any particular portion of what he had
submitted, but that he endorsed the general
proposition He wanted the Sonth 10 have
an opportunity to vote on it. When they
refuse, it will be time enough TO answer
propositions, but, until they do refuse he
thought it unjust to take from them the right
to decide for themselves lie would state,
Furthermore, in presenting this proposition,
that he found it to be III accord with the
letters written on the 18th of August last
TO Gov Sharkey which he was authorized
to state were genuine, as published lie
had no reason to believe the President had
changed his views since the letter was pre-
sented to the Mississippi convention, for the
reason that the convention refused to re-
ceive communications from Gov. Sharkey.
The question was now presented to the
people Of the State or any other State. The
President did not feel himself authorized to
submit the question. He (the President}
did not feel authorized TO demand it as a
condition, because 1t was not one of tho is
SUES made on the war. 1t was questions
outside, upon which She people of the South
had no opportunity Of passing
Dir. Williams, Of Oregon, was glad to see
such proposition coming from Mr. Stew
at. lie would inquire from Mr. Stewart
whether the Committee of Fifteen report
ed i plan If reconstruction emhodylpg that
position, lie (Alr. Stewarl would vote for
keeping the Southern Representatives. otrt Of
Congress until that plan VAS accepted
MIR. Stewart said he woald vote for the
proposition he had Offered, if adopted 10y the
committees.
Mr.. Sumner. rise to welcome in the
Senator from Nevada.
MIR. Stew art-A new convert TO the ne
cessity for coIored suffrage on this f,or,
have lnaintaIneG that cuiored suffrage Sas
the only guarantee for future pe..ge ana Sc
curity ia Tina country. have insisted dat
iC was 8 necessity, and that without ii your
national debt is inperI!!ed your freedmeo
will lie in constant peril, aud this Republic
cannot enjoy permanent peace.
Mr. Sunmer--l welcome with open arms
the Senator from Nevada [Great laughter. ]
Mr. Wilson, desire simply to say that
thank the Senator from Nevada fer offer