Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-18
CoNcRrsSIoNAI.

WASHINGTON, Feb. H.-HoUsE-The House, TO-
day, was devoted to speeches. 400
Mr.. Cook, of Illinois. argued that the power OF
recognizing the seeded Estates as being Sin the
Union rested with Congress. The military power
can safely be withdrawn, and these States viii re-
main peaceably in the Union of their own accord,
without being forced. ThekUnion and freedom
do not requre military power to protect civil gov
eminent, and it should be recognized that no
military power has the authority to set.aside the
enactments and judicial decisions of State that
was in the Union while those were necessary.
Mr.. Lawrence the following resolutions:
Resolred, That it is the deliberate sense Of this
House, that the condition of the States lately in
rebellion fully justiies the President in maintain
ing the suspension of the writ of babeas corpus in
those States.
Resolued, That it is..the deliberate sense Of this
House, that the condition of the States lately in
rebellion fully justifes the President in maintain
ing the military position in, and consequent con-
troll Of those States and that he is entitled to the
thanks of the nation ford employing the war
power for the protection of Union citizens and
freedmen in those States; that notwithstandin
the act of secession, no State was out fthe Union
but all State Govern ments were destroyed in the
rebel Government was overthrow. the people
were left without State Government that 1t Is
the duty of Congress to guarantee republican
State Governments, and that until this Is done
there can be no lawful State Governments. Inc
Territories will at once control them, and the Ma
ton could impose no terms, nor even judge when
it would be safe to admit Representatives. The
President alone may set up State Government
without any control by Congress. 1t would be
fearful power in hands less trustworthy than those
of our respected Chief Magistrate. He demand
ed in the name Of the Constitution and the people
that Congress as an agent of States had right 10
guarantee them Governments. The war power
had right to, and did set aside the rebel STATE
Governments. If any other State Govern-
ments are existing in Southern States, 1t mus
because, either first, that the origininai govern
ments continued; or ssecond, that they were
suspended or third, that the new goyernmen ts
had been lawfully set up. He proved that.the
original State governments were abandoned, OF
the authority of the Constitution, 1.-The law o.
nations, of Madison, of the Supreme Court, O.
| Lincoln, and of President johnson.
He arioted many authorities to support his po-
| sition. The original governments could not b'
resumed without the authority of Congress, for nj
| Stat Constitution provided mode OF doing So
| The nation has right to live and the incidenta
| force to set up a new State government, wher
destroyed, is a means of continuing the nation
| life. The President sustained this view by call
ing Conventions in the rebel States to set up new
| State governments, and by prescribing qualifica
| tions for electors. He could noesdo this If th'
| original governments continued.
Messrs. Raymond and Hubbell's speeches con
| cluded thus The President declared his recon
struction policy an experiment and would aban
don it if necessary.
Mr.. Lawrence said in the course Of. his.remarks
itdepended on the people Of the rebel States wher
reconstruction would be complete;i 1t would b'
completed when loyalty returns-when the gov
eminent is so practicable as to secure obedience
to law, with security for the future assured then
can restoration be completed. He would welcome
the Southern Representatives when they can conn
| with aguarantee ofpeace and security, and hbert!
| in work in suppressing the rebellion and savfni
| the Union and giving freedom to a!raee; he wa
proud to follow faithfully johnson, and let eaet
| Department perform its functions now, and follow
| the policy marked out by the people.