The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-04-22

session Of the Government, as before
they weat into H. rebelion. The Presi-
dents policy had rather respected traitors
more than the establishment Of an independ-
ent Confederate Government could have
do1e. II he frefsdeat's policy xas carried
out it would not only put the eleven southern
States in the hshds of rebels, but the time
would not be long before rsbels would have
complete control OF the Government in all
its departments. It was no wonder that
every rebel from JET. Davis down to evsry
sabaltesu, including b0shwhAckan, isy-hawk-
efsend guefiflas, was An earnest and devoted
admirer Of the Presidents policy. It was
iust the policy for them, because it was the
which they professed, through their papers,
to be ready Is die 81.
Mr.. Smith was the next 70 address the
HOUSE, He proposed, hs said, to discuss the
present condition of the States and the coun-
try, the persons Of the President and Con-
gress. He said that the secession ordinances
were null and void, and that all the aets pass
% BY Congress in four years Of war were
based on the ground that the rebel States
were not out of the Union, and could not get
out of the Union. IL did not follow because
the rebel Sthtes were admitted TO the right Of
representation, they should be allowed 70
take seats in the Senate and House that had
never beea asked by the President or any
other loyal man, what could Congress do
contrary to what had been done. The policy
lnaueurated by the late President Lincoln
had been carried out by President, Johnson,
and under It the southern States had formed
their organization. How was thst policy to be
changed, or what change was there to be
made on it.
Mr.. SchoGeld asked if it made any differ
ence whether q man who had been engaged
in the rebellion was admitted as q representa-
tive, or man who had okbeen engaged in
the rebellion, but Who would vote exactly as
the ex-rebels would vote?
Mr.. Smith replied that he did not see how
that difficulty could be avoided.
Mr.. Smith then referred to the question OF
the conflict between the President and Con
gress. He asked why, if the President had
no power to do what he had done, Congress
had not undone it, and done something that
would have been better? What was Congress
going to do in its place? State governments
must exist, and there must be the same sort
Of machinery TO carry it on, but it was said
the Southern States must repudiaie the rebel
debt. That had been done. And it was
said, too, that they must ratify the Cons,itu-
tional amendment abolishing slavery. That
had been done 1t was then said they must
elect loyal men to Congress. How did Con-
gress know it had been done in every in
s,ance2 Who had tried that question? The
Committee on Elections, which was the
proper authority on that subject, had said
nothing upon it.
Mr.. Scho6eld asked why Mr. Smith did
not introduce such measure.
Mr.. Smith said he would do 50.
If they we're 80 fond OF blood, Mr.. Scho.
field asked why he had not done it some time
during the last four months
Mr.. Eldridge inquired if Mr.. Smith sup
posed Congress had the power to pass laws BY
which those men could be tried and condemn
ed, or whether they must not be tried and
condemned under laws at the time the crime
vas committed.
Mr.. Smith said, A. matter Of course, they
must be tried by the laws at the time the crime
was committed. but Congress could FIX the
means by which they could be brought to trial.
Other speakers followed, and the House
adjourned.