New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-21

The SPEAKER presented message nom the President
transmitting in further ponse TO the House resolution
the IN inst reports from the Secretary of the Navy
Secretary OF the Interior and Pos,masterGener. IS to
the clerks and employees Of their Departments and
whether any have served the Rebel armies. Laid
the table.
DEBATE on RECONSTRUCTION.
The SPEAKER announced that, BY order Of the House,
no business would be IN order to-day except debate on the
Irsdeuts annual message, in Committee Of The Whole
Mr. MORRIS N. Y. took the Hoor and made speech on
the subject Of reconstruction. II might well be, he
thought that the Joint Committee Reconstruction
only ~ the several Instruments made essential In per
feeling the series Of acts in the great drama OF events rem
dercd necessary the nation and 10 restore II to
homog neous concord. And might also be- that those
schemes seycray indispensable 10 check the growth
of he poisonous shoots likely 10 spring from the remain
ing Of the recently eed tree OF tTeasoDabe planting
lie laid down tho following propositions and supported
them by argument:
en States had respect abridged the powers or the u
,isdicton of the Government Of the United States.
Those incidents had changed the relations OF the re,
voting States toward the General Government and had
affected some Of their nights.
The relations thus changed and the rights thus affect
ed can be restored TO these States only by the legislative
branches Of the Government.
L. These relations and these rights should be restored
AZ speedily as the interests of all the parties concerned VIII
permit 10 restore the Southern States 70 their normal
condition without any restrictions would DC neid 10 MAKE
no distinction between virtue and vice, would be contrary
10 precedent conflict with analogy repugnant 10 Justice,
and in opposition TO the teachings of the Baltimore
platform the repeated and wellknown sentiments OF
The present Executive Of the nation, Of his predecessor
and Of both branches Of Congress. he regarded
it as of little moment whether the Governments
Of the eleven States considered dead suspended
or only deranged whether they treated as in or
out of the Unon for in either view 1t required inter-
position 10 reconstruct, restore or resurreet them ke-
construction was the natural fruit of the Rebellion,
and if the fruit was bitter il 10 DO attributed to its
wicked planting and its most perncious culture Recon-
strcon involved such weghy interests that no DESIRE
be ever worthy for speedy restoration would justify
a sacrifice Of them. What he asked, would the rebels
have exacted had they been the conquerors And shoud
such conspraos be received back with unwashed hands
vet dripping with the blood OF the loyal slain III they
were posterity and the universe would pronounce tho
Thirty-ninth Congress as infamous as mbccle. lie
would compel the ebcous inhabitants of the eleven States
TO protect the loyal within their borders would re-
qure them send loyal men TO Congress- would exclude
every traitor educated at the expense Of the Government
or who had held office under il and sought its over
throw from holding any position Of trust under the
Government or exercising the elective franchise.
He would do this il took army Of two millions OF
men, and this being done the traitors should still thank
God and ndugcnt Republic that their conditions were
made easy. .
Mr. PATTERSON IN. b. was the next speaker He said
that the able aud proIaoted debate IN the House ana
Senate on the subject of Reconstruction had been OF an
extraordinary character involving largely the first truths
in political phill ophy, and recalling rather the solemn
and discussion in the Convention Of 49, than the
forensic encounters Of ordinary Congress. The people
the whole country had followed these debates from day
day with profound sense of the reach and magnitude
Of the principles involved in the issue. No gayer more
difficult question had ever perpexed legislative assembly
Providence had deyolyed Congress the task of per-
petuatng the Republic and insurng the liberty and wei
fare of IT'S entire population this and future generations
PosteIity would hold this Congress accountable for the
improvement of this splendid opportunity Of civil
liberty IL tho offspring of the age, and
had been brought 10 birth in these times amid
the shock and agony Of revolution for the realza-
ton of grand and benefoent purposes in the Divine
economy. The Machiavellian dogma Of the "ninety
days" philosopher that IT mattered not whether or how
Congress acted in these unsettled and pregnant times was
gerous teaching II paook too largely OF servity
blind to peril and oblvons Of principle and which dreaded
being josled from its honorable by the shock Of con-
tending parties. In this transition PERIOD when mistake
might be fatal to liberty the people would not bo lued
into security by any Crcean form of speech nor would
they long submit in patience the narrow ambition and
unthinking zeal which attributed 10 question OF tenn
poray policy the Importance Of essential principles ana
staked the permanent welfare Of the country upon per-
sona triumph. They demanded wise but decisive action
and held in healthy contempt subtle daectcs ana musy
precedents which there power to enforce Justice
and public safety TO them the natural and supreme
law and by them the work of Congress would be tested
They would consent that Congress should put liberty
20 sleep upon any procsean bed made by the fathers
much less strnnge in the castof garments OF ITS own
childhood American liberty being equality before the law
and the protection of person and property NO emancpa
ton complete that did not secure these primary rights
the freedmen. Nothing less would satisfy pubic opn-
ion or accord with the spirit Of the amended Constitution
Political heresy should be excluded from places OF power
and never again permitted TO scatter Its poison into the
fountains of legislation. IL the simplest dictate OF
legal justice and political prudence that the leaders OF the
Rebellion should be LalitheJ forever Iom tho halls Of