The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-08-04
MIR. Cooks Speech.


Congress :, and as it contained the points on
which we presume it is intended, during the
pending canvass, to defend the action of our
radical congress before the people, it may
not be inappropriate to give some account
of it.
On tie subject Of excluding the southern
states from representation in Congress, the
line Of defeaee is this In 1861 the govs
ernmer Is of the southern states were foreibly
seized pom by rebels and traitors, and their
powers perverted to promote gigantic con-
spiracy to overthrow the constitution and
governm ent of the United States. For four
years those states were in fact, though net
legally out Of the Union. Then, after
frightful expenditure of blood and treasure,
the rebellion was crushed. Nine tenths of
the people of these States, though defeated,
were still rebels, and all their state governs
ments. and machinery remained in the hands
of ren still rebels at heart. What to do
with these states full of conquered, but not
converted, rebels? In all these states there
was one important element-the freedmen
| who; amid storm and obloquy, had been true
to the North. Shall the government at once
receive back these states, with their governs
ments in the hands of rebels, reekinc with
the blood Of loyal men-admit their repre>
sentatives into Congress-, and turn the freed
men and the few despised Union men within
their borders over to the tender mercy of
F, these rebels at heart? Congress said no.
ments must be deposed, by the military
| power, AID the governments put into the
hands of loyal men. Next, all those who
| took part in the rebellion must be dislran>
chiscd; Sd. New governments must be Or
| gained, elected by loyal men, who shall
give guarantees for tie future good behavior
Of their states-these guarantees TO Be in the
| shape of ratification of the constitutional
! amendments proposed by the last Congress.
| 1T is due 20 NJ. c. to say that he is in favor
| of going beyond the constitutional amend
ment and adding negro suffrage to the guar
antees demanded, but as he can't get that
row, he is content to take what is offered.
On compliance with these terms, Congress
would consent that the military shall he
withdrawn from those states, and their repre-
sentatives admitted to Congress.
The reason why men perfectly loyal, who had
been elected representatives from those states
had not been admitted TO seats IN congress
was, that under the decision Of the Supreme
Court in the Dorr case, the moment repre-
sentative was admitted to congress from
state, hat act would constitute such a full re-
cognition of the state government as at once
to release it rom the control of the military
power and congress.
Tennessee had been admitted because she
had complied with all the terms. Her gov
eminent was in the hands Of loyal men :; sh.
bad incorporated in her constitution a pros
vision DISTINGUISHING forever all who had
taken part in the rebellion or sympaihi,cl
with Il; and she had ratified the constituiion.
al anCn1nent, She had done tbs though
she had 40 900 rebel voters to 10000 lo;al
voters, and $4,000 freedmen ready to be made
voters. The security Of the Union mon Of
Tennesse consisted in the fact that the rebels
there were forever DISTINGUISHED by coustitu,
tione' provision, and no pardon ofthe rresi-
dent could re-iEyes. them With the right to
vote or hold Office.
Mr.. Cook insisted on the vital Importance
Of returning men l. congress who should de-
terminedly adhere to this plan ofkespjng tie
rebel states out until tley gaze the required
guarantees for the safety of the freedmen AMI
Union white men. If enough democratic
congressman at The north should be elected
to constitute majority united with the con-
gressmen elected from the rebel states. he
had no doubt, on the assembling Of the next
congress lin Dec. lsG7) Andrew johnson
would recognize them as the regular congress
and .he Loyal representatives from the
north you'd be EXCLUDED; the govern
ment wbuld 90 into the hands Of traitors, and
the rel elIion would in reality have triumphed.
Before the 'Uuion" men Of the north sub
rDitted to snch result, he pre- lic;cd :. civil
war to which the war Just closed WAS child
play.
On TIC subject Of finances. NJ. Cook cx.
pressed himself decidedly opposed to the
present national banking system; he was in
favor Of the government alone issuing paper
money, making it 4 legal tender in all cases,
and convertible into bonds somewhat on the
plan proposed by Mr., \. Campbell's highly
crginalIseLe:ne of finance.
He had also oppo.ed the tariff bill of the
late session, expressing himself opposed to
any other protection except such as is incl
denta!ly afforded by tariff adjusted with
lew TO revenue.
In thus attempting to give the salient
points CT Mr.. Cooks speech, as fairly as We
can from mere recollection, for we took no
notes, our purpose has not been to as.ai or
contrOvert them. To do so would swell this
aricle Beyond reasonable limits, while our
purpose is to 90 over the ground ahundantly
hereafter, when we have more sca-room. 4
few points, however, suggest themselves that
may be 100! for though, in this connection
Does the power lodged in the goye-nrcn.
to subac rebellion extend Beyond that so
that, adcr 4 rebellion in certain states is
overcome, the government can 90 on, under
the constitution, and accomplish certain
other desirable objects, such as to bestow
suffrage on negroes, regulate the law of
primogenture in certain states, &C., &c.
Is there any power in the constitution to
destroy state, as, for instance, if a state
should forever refuse 10 accept certain con
ditions, unknown to the constitution, but
made zine qta non by congress of its recog-