The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-05

never rejoiced but when the rebels won
q victory. And IL / use harsh language.
it will be only in reference to measures,
not men, for never make personal as
saults upon any one. fatsa eil
Mr.. Trumbull then proceeded tOsay
that the Congress of the United States
had been arraigned for its action. 1t
had been charged i'm this city with usur-
patton, and the charge had been reite-'
rated in the city of New York. (The
/ speaker here remarked that for fear of
Illustrating any one, he preferred to read
the language adopted by the Secretary
of State I'm his recent speech In New
York, charging the Committee on Re-
construction with design OF keeping
out of the Union eleven States.)
Continuing his remarks, Mr.. Trum-
bull said ne read that passage to bring
before the audience the distinct charge
against the Congress of the United
States which he intended to refute by
facts. A speaker in this city charged
Congress with usurpation in the design
of Keeping out Of the Union these eleven
states. If Congress had any such design
it certainly would be guilty Of usurpa-
ton, but the assertion lacked truthful
ness What are the facts? The war
closed during. the recess Of Congress.
The President of the United States gave
encouragement to the formation of state
governments in the rebellious states.
80 doing? [Cries Of "That's IL! That's
1t W] aft
do not complain Of his action, how
ever. / should be willing that the peo-
| pie Of these rebelIious states, without
| IN,
else, would get together and manifest
their devotion to the Union, and set up
a State government in harmony with
the Constitution, and send loyal men to
Congress. ] would welcome them to
their seats. [Cheers. Before the meet
ing of Congress several Of these State
governments were organized. On the
first OF December Congress assembled,
and the question arose whether we
should recognize these governments.
Was 1t proper for your representatives
to inquire into the character of these or
| CARNATIONS or not?
Suppose the Common Councilin the
city Of Charleston had got together and
called itself the Legislature, and selected
two men rs Senators in Congress. Were
they to be received II they took the oath
without enquiring who sent them there?
Senators can only be selected by the Leg
islature-must we not then inquire if
there be Legislature
Mr.. Trumbull contended that Congress
had only done that, and, In this connec-
ton, referred to the Joint Com mittee Of
Congress. He was not member of that
Committee, but he understood that it had
been taking testimony in regard to the
condition of these eleven States Cen
erals Grant and Thomas. and the rebel
General Lee have been examined, and
witnesses procured from all sources. A
resolution had been adopted in Congress
calling upon the President for all the
Information he possessed touching the
reorganization of these States, but to
this day the resolution is unanswered.
This Committee is laboriously at work.
and will soon report, and they will report
either that they are loyal, and give facts
to prove 1t, or they will show that they
are tiisloyal, and give reasons satisfactory
to the loyal people of the nation.
say then, that Congress is proceed
ing with all dispatch, and the policy Is
to bring every one of these States into
harmonious relations with the Union
at the very first moment consistent with
the dignity and safety of the nation.
Until then 1t will not be done. GCheers. I
| What then becomes of this question
about Congress? Has 1t not the author
ity to pass upon this question? Who
has the power? Suppose South Caro-
lima during the war, had elected Senators
and sent them to Washington. What
would you have said If Congress had re-
ceived them Who was to decide The
President Of the United States? What
has he to do with IL?
= .
would as soon receive Representa-.
tive from Botany Bay. Laughter.
Was not Congress the authority to de-
eide upon it? The Constitution SAYS
each House shall judge of the qualifica-
lions ofits own members, and whenever
the State is organized and constituency
established, then Congress declares who
shall be admitted. The State Govern
ment Of Tennessee was at one time
usurped by the enemies of the United
States. Now it is said there is a govern
ment there. Who says so? WHY per
haps you say so. Is that to satisfy every
body else? Can't Congress decide it ?
And yet that is called usurpation! ii
Mr.. Trumbull here spoke of the case
occurring little over year ago, of the
Louisiana Senators. Their credentials
were referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary, of which the speaker was
chairman. Mr.. Lincoln was anxious
that the State Government of Louisiana
should be recognized. The speaker
wrote a report on the subject, and the
Senate determined that the governments
of these States had been usurped and
overthrown, anda resolution wasadopted
declaring certain States in rebellion. and
that the people were not qualified to vote
for electors for President and Vice Presi-
dent, &C., until the rebellion had been
declared suppressed in a proclamation
of the President, made in pursuance of
an act of Congress hereafter to be passed.
Mr.. Trumbull alluded to the fact that
this measure met the approval Of every
Senator In Congress except three. inclu-
ding Morgan Of New York, DoolittIe of
Wisconsin, and even McDougal of Cali.
fornia. Laughter. taf1 ,l7
Senator johnson, of MARYLAND. had
also voted for 1t. (The mention of Mr..
Johnson's name was greeted with misses.
but Mr.. Trumbull promptly interposed,
saying that he would be obliged to the
audience to abstain from any manifesto
tons Of like or dislike. He was NOT
there to bring odium or disrespect upon
anybody.) This is exactly what the
committee has reported now in the
shape of q concurrent resolution. Until
both Houses agree upon some basis of
admission of members from the revolted
states no other course was practicable !.
for one House might decide to admit