The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-13

| MI tOOIAOCS NIL Dtuk uUuI yICluIuf
| the foor) said he expected to be scoIdeC
| can Union being one of states once
formed, he did not know of any power
in the state or Federal Government tt
once state always q state, the gentle
man was right. If hard epithets ap
piled to him, they also applied to the
true theory was that all pretended acts
null and void; that the states attempt
ing to secede had their vitality impaired
but not eXtinguished, and their func-
But gentlemen said all the states which
passed ordinances of secession were dead
Who killed these states? Who dealt
the blow! Did Jefferson Davis kill
them, or the eleven confederated states
Where is the destroying angel?, He
held there was no element of destruc-
ton in them. AS in the beginning, so
now-they are living states in the
American Union. He repeated, he had
asserted the position Of the President,
and every assault upon him was an as
sault upon the President.
wi. DluSlulll IcSuMCus Ho ktuttc-
man from Indiana had notified the
House and the country that the Presi-
dent held that once state always a
state. But the President had asserted
no such thing; nor did the President
assume that the rebel states, having
surrendered to the victorious legions OF
the Union, are entitled to representa-
ton without let or hndrance. Would
| ln H. a. a
merest platitude, that If five thousand
men in South Carolina chance to be
represented in convention for the pur-
pose of coming back into the Union, the
residue of the unrepenting rebels have
a right to be represented as state?
Mr.. Voorhees, replied, the easiest and
most absurd argument was to suppose
an absurd thing. General Grant did
not find such state Of affairs, and he
was willing to take his word. When
five thousand men were found repre-
sented in convention 1t would be time
to consider that question.
Mr.. Bingham, resuming, said the
gentleman from Indiana stood behind
the shadow of a mighty name. He was
not certain that General Grant touched
the borders of South Carolina. The
gentleman said he was satisfied with the
testimony of General Grant, but he
could not be thus satisfied because Gen.
Grant has not given suoh testimony.
Hewas not Killing to concede that those
who gave aid to the rebellion should be
entrusted with the great interests in the
keeping of the republic. The only
safety to the Union is In the hands of
its friends. The purpose is simply to
take security for the future, but not ask
indemnity for the past, The gentleman
himself voted for what he wanted--se-
curity for the future-by casting his
vote in favor of the constitutional
amendment, prohibiting the assumption
of the rebel debt. If they could demand
that one security for the future, could
they not take in more for the benefit Of
all sections? 1t did not appear to the
gentleman, when he read from the
Presidents message, that therein the
President reproduced from the author of
the Declaration of American Indepen-
dence the truth that the true intent of
government is "equal and exact justice
to all men," This constitutes the
watchword of the Presidents message.
But OF this the gentleman was oblivious
when he made his speech. In the first
Congress of the confederation a motion
was made To limit citizenship to white
freemen. Four-fifths of all the people
were there represented, and in ITS the
deputies rejected it with scOrn, and ex-
Guided it from the fundamental law, and
therefore it never found place i'm the
Constitution and laws of the United
States. Having one measure of secu-
rlty, we may reqnire ANOTHER, and the
purpose OF the Constitution Ia "equal
and exact Justice" He thanked the
President for uttering this watchword of
the purer and better days of the repub.
lie. 1t applies equally TO the white and
black man.
The time was when it was unsafe for
a citizen of Massachusetts, or other
Northern sete, to be found In the streets
of Charleston or Richmond; because in
spite of and in violation of the Constitu-
ton of the United States, all guarantees
OF that instrument were disregarded. 1t
was time we take security for the future,
so that no more attempts may be made
to dismember the Republic He repealed
with scorn the assertion that he co-ope-
rated with any party whioh imposed
or unjust burdens ON any state
Of the Republic. He undertook to say
that the President would cooperate in
into the Constitution that
which will perfect it, so that we may
reap the great end for which the Consti-
luton was ordained, and to make q
more perfect Union, promote the public
and establish justice as now
written in the front of the Constitution,
we'll might the President say, '.equai
and exact justice to all men,"
He repelled every intimation that the |
here have manifested
lie slightest disposition to in terfere with
The just prerogatives of the President, or
% make up conflict with him, II the
lay ever Games when he will find no
except among those who, in
S64, were buried so deep that the hand
If resurrection can never lind them,
hen God help the President, and save
lin from his friends. Applause
The Speaker promptly interposed to |
heck the disorder, and reminded those |
Who produced it that neither such APP
or disapproval would be per-
nitted.
Mr.. Bingham, resuming, examined,
title more closely, the Presidents posi-
ion. He had understood, all his life,
hat difference in words was nothing
t they agreed in substance.
The express position Of the President
vas in exact accord with the position of
his House, that the functions of the in
states were suspended by
heir own act. They cannot assert their
lights or claim representation on this
DOR until the representatives Of all the