Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-06-21
die, Salisbury, Sherman, Van Wrinkle,
Williams and Yates.
Reconstruction.
SPEECH OF SENATOR POLAND.

1
+, iect of reconstruction, has already been
alluded to in our columns. That our
readers may become fully acquainted
with the views of the Senator upon this
important question, we copy the speech
entire from the Congressional Globe
The section Of the reconstruction amend
ment to the Constitution, relating to the
apportionment Representatives in Con-
gress, being under consideration, sena-
tor Poland said
Mr.. PRRsIpENT-The few observations
which / propose to make are addressed
10 the general merits Of the proposition
which is before the Senate, but some OF
them are addressed to the very point OF
this pending amendment, ION the appor-
tionment of representatives in the
House.) read IN morning paper that
, II was expected that ! would present
some important and new views upon the
subject, The views that ! shall present,
Mr.. President, may be important In the
sense that almost any view that any
man may present who has vote to give
, on such a subject is important; but that
, I shall be able to say, after six months
discussion OF the subject, anything new
, is more than expect.
l MIR. President all the questions in
. volved in the proposed amendments TO
, the Constitution have been so elaborate
, " and ably discussed on former occa-
> sains during the present session that l
' do no not feel at liberty TO attempt to
: argue them at length and in detail. L
y do not propose to do more than to state,
in the shortest and plainest manner | am
: able, some of the reasons for my action
y upon the propositions submitted TO US
by the committee.
l. The clause of the first proposed amend
G ment. that mo State shall make or en-
d force any law which shall abridge the
A the privileges or immunities of citizens
r Of the United States secures nothing
:, beyond what was intended by the origi-
J. nal provision in the Constitution, that
W "the citizens of each State shall be en-
s, titled to all privileges and immunlties
E. of citizens in the several States.
70 But the radical difference in the social
; systems Of the several States, and the
great extent to which the doctrine Of
J. State rights or State sovereignty was
ri carried, induced mainly, as | believe, by
ne and for the protection Of the peculiar
N system Of the South, led to practica
~ repudiation of the existing provision OF
this subject, and it was dsregaTded II
" MANY Of the States. State Legislation
ep was allowed to override it, and as no eX
press power was by the Constitution
I'd granted to Congress to enforce it, it be
,o came really q dead letter. The great so
- cial and political changes in the south
w ern States wrought by the amendmen
o. of the Constitution abolishing SLAYER.
CHI and by the overthrow of the late rebel
At lion render it eminently proper and nee
IN essary that Congress should be investe
90 with the power to enforce this prOvisio
'" throughout the country and compel it
W. observance.
Die Now that slavery is abolished, and tn
I'D whole people Of the nation stand upo
mt the basis OF freedom, it seems to m
,te that there can be valid reasonable or
w. lection to the residue OF the first pre-
''' posed amendment:
es- "NOr shall any State deprive any pei
Sc son of life, liberty, or property withou
ent due process of law, nor deny to any pei
al son within its jurisdiction the equS
10 protection Of tie law"
'he' 1t is the very spirit aud inspiration
re our system of government, the absOlu1
lite, foundation upon which it was esta
ate tablished. 1t is essentially declared
in the Declaration Of Independence and
5u all the provisions Of the Constitute
''' Notwithstanding this we know thi
ere State laws exist and some of them
ote very recent enactment, in direct yiol
ton Of these principles. Congress hi
already shown its desire and intentiC
Us. to uproot and destroy all such parti
State legislation in the passage Of VIII
ole is called the civil rights bill. The po'
APP er OF Congress to do this has be-
ing doubted and denied by persons entitl'
INV to high consideration. It certain
seems desirable that no doubt should
I'll left existing as to the power OF COngre
to enforce principles lying at the We
the foundation of all republican Cover
on. ment if they be denied or violated
=, a the States, and cannot doubt but tn
49, every Senator will rejoice in aiding
ca remove all doubt upon this power
cer, Congress.
we'd The second article Of the propos
so amendments involves many consider
,ye tions, and opens much wider field
ona discussion. suppose it is the purpc
gu" of the Union Republican majority
uhl- Congress, when they shall have agre
feel upon articles of amendment to}the &c
lely stitution to be proposed for adoptiC
oil. to say to the Southern States which
,on+ coded, joined the confederacy, and wag
,S war against the national governme
hao that as preliminary to their again
ere- coming acting members of the nation
ness Union by their Senators and Represel
SEN atives in Congress, they must adopt
ohio ratify such amendments. Indeed, one
49, the bills reported by the committee,
INC companying the proposed amendmen
SER proposes this directly, and is part
n in the committees plan of reconstruct
but 1t is objected in the outset to this y
icer the States and people who have
- ~ manned loyal TO the government duri
W the war for the suppression OF the
10 bellion have no right to affiX such
ere any condition whatever to their retuT
.om- that having laid down their arms a
ticu. ceased active hostilities against the
ms ton, and acknowledged their allegial
I 1f,,,,. 80, abf.fy Ia