Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-03-09
CONGRESS- First Session.
WASHINGTON. March 8, 1895.
SENATE,


Mr.. VAN WINKLE presented the joint resolU-
tion of the West Virginia Legislature, asking Con
gress to pay the war claims Of that State growing
out Of the equipment. %Tming and paying Of the mi
Mr., TRU MBULLpresented the petition OF officers
Of the Illinois Central railroad asking that iron used
in the construction Of railroad bridges and o'hersu-
Mr.. WILSON introduced the petit N Of army
officers for an increase Of pay which referred to
Mr., MORGAN, fr, IN the committee on Finance.
rcpO. ted back the petition Of the New York Union
League Club skiing that Congress appropriate, for
the relief Of Mrs. Lincoln the Of salary for the
full term Of Office for which Mr. Lincoln was elected.
Mr.. MORGAN asked that the committee be dis
charged, the subject having been acted upon. 1t
Mr., POLAND presented a joint resolution to
amend the Constitution by disqualifyng from vot-
ing or holding Office. all who have taken part in tho
rebellion. The resolution was referred to the COM
mittee on Reconstruction.
Mr.. HENDERSON introduced the following;
ResOIoed, LIST, That the late rebellion was a con-
test between freedom and slay"ry. to perpetuate
human bondage against the influences Of progress
siVe civilization which il was feared would soon
manifest itself in the political action Of the Geyern-
ment, and portion Of the people Of eleven states
attempted to withdraw themselves aud their States
from the operation Of such influences.
I'd, Wcen the laws Of the land were resisted in
this attempted secession it the provinces of Con
gress to provide for calling forth the military 10 ex
ecute the laws Of the nation. When insurrcction
was Encouraged Congress alone had the power and
was charged with the duty TO suppress it.
Sd. Whether the insurrection in these eleven
States has been suppressed or not is to be determined
by Congress, and not by the Executive alone. IL is
for Congress to decide, not only whether armed re-
sistance to the National authority yet exists, but
whether the causes Of the rebellion have been re-
moved and II OtTemOved II IS for Congress 10 adopt
such constitutional measures as will remedy existing
evils and prevent if possible the recurrence Of such
wars in the future.
4th In this attempted secession the people of these
eleven States suffered the poli mi connection estab
lshed by their State Governments with the Federal
Government to be severed and in this condition of
things the States themselves are without such Re-
publican forms Of Government as the one cOntem-
plated in the Constitution, and il becomes the duty
of the United States, and not Of the Executive to
guarantee such forms. The people of these States
who voluntarily severed their egiance to the Fed
eral Government and willingly transferred their al
far as they were able become alienaed and denation
allied, and il is for Congress to determine to what
extent they have succeeded in such efforts at alien
alton and the rights they are now entitled to as cit-
S. The Union is not restored until State Govern
ments in these States, Republican in form, shall
have been established aud recognized by the Feder
al Government, and it is the opinion of the Senate
that such governments should at once be organized
upon the true principles Of Republcanism the con-
sent of the governed That while we recognize in
full force the great truth that the people of these
States should not be taxed without representation
in Congress, we cannot forget that we are now ask
ed to accept Republican in form State COnstitU-
tions which deny representation TO nearly one half
Of their entire people, and yet inict upon them the
burdens of taxation.
9Th. That the committee on Reconstruction are
hereby requested TO- inquire into the expedency and
prOpriety of providing by law for the Inauguration
and re-establshment uf State Governments in the
seeding States on the principles contained in this
resolution,
The above were ordered to be printed.
Mr.. MORRILL, made speech in favor of the
Mr.. WILSON approved the pending measure, but
feared it would be defeated He opposed the forcing
Of universal suffrage upon the states by positive
iayy Rttfl nj thara hp four Hva pf ia
sion, and universal suffrage will triumph peaceably.
He believed, too, the measure in the COnsttu
ton it would bring suffrage To the white men Of this
country within fiye years, and that when suffrage
did come under this circumstance it would, in the
language Of Mr.. Lincoln, come to stay; it would be
fixed forever in the general policy Of the coun'ry-
Mr.. WILSON was discussing the various PROPOSE
Ons on the subject of representation now before the
Senate and maintaining that Congress could not, by
joint resolution or by law, regulate suffrage In the
| several States, when he was interrupted by
MIR. YATES, who desired to a ka question, said:
would like to ask the Senator from Mas, achusetts
whether. by the constitutional amendment, every
man made free is not free as that Senator or my
SELF or in other words whether be is not entitled to
| the same rights and prveges-by which | mean
civil as well political privilegesas the Senator
myself2 Whether he is not one of the people Of the
United States, ono of the citizens of the United
States and eutitled 10 the rights and privileges with
him or with myself, or with any other Of the
| people of the United States2 | mean by the force
Of the constitutional amendment abolishing slavery
|
| sovereignty, into the body polite Of the United
States that proposition, as think the Senator from
Massachusetts will admit for he cannot deny i ac-
cOrding the standpoint from which he sees things
and from which ! see things, will not ask him
| the question whether, under the Constitution
as it now exists, States. have Jurisdiction
Ststcs. But will ask him the question whether,
when come to an organic alteration in the COnst-
| tuition of the United States, and when we have in
view the security of the rights of all the citizens of
| the United States-and of course mean citizens
without regard 10 race color, as these words be-
eve, according to the opinion Of the Senator from
| Maryland (Mr. Johnson, have no longer any mean
| ing under the Constitution o. the United States
| whether now we propose to establish an act by the
| operation Of an amendment to the Constitution
whether we propose it in tho power of any State to
disfranchze any portion of the American people ?
This is the question for the proposition now pending
submits to the people of the rebel States to decide
whether the freedpen are to have their
rights or not. Does the Senator from Massachusetts,
or any other Senator, prentend to say that under
esentation will be decided by tho citizens of the
rebel States, by which mean not ONLY white cti-
zens, but mean the people of the United States
The people SS' as fPS have GTe,SD the m
whether you will permit, in new organic act of the
Constitution portion Of the people of the South
ern States and rebels and traitors at that, to
who shall be represented upon the, floor Of the
Senate? These are the questions. ! do not put
them for the sa o! embarrassing the Senator from
Massachusetts,, but put them for my own informa-
ton, as have not yet decided whether shall sup
port the amendment or not. The fact is, the ques-
fions have disturbed me to some extent, and
would like to have them answered.
. Mr., WILSON-.I will endeavor to answer the
question of Mr. Yates frankly. | will say to begin
WITH that the Constitutional amendment which was
proposed here by the Senator from Missouri (hr.
Henderson, and reported by the Senator from Him
Ois (lr TrumbulD, adopted by Congress and ratified
by the people, was never understood by any man in
the Senate or House Of Representatives, or by the
public prees of the country comforting upon Con-
gress the right to force suffrage any state of the
Union. l say, further, thatif had been supposed
tn gave that right, it would never have pasSe
Congress or received the sanction of the States. will
say, sir, that Think beyond doubt or question, it
clothed Congress with ample and full powers to pro-
tect the civil rights and mmunites of every eman-
cpated slave in the country the slaves is free
as am that the child emancipaed in his cradle to-
day is as free as the Senator from Illinois myself,
and as much citizen of the United States as either
Of u.s. But Sir, citizenship never did, in this coun-
try carry with it the right of suffrage or the right to
hold office. man may be citizen and not have the
right of suffrage. There are men in Massachusetts
who have been citizens for forty years. aud have not
the right of suffrage to-day.
HOUSE.
On motion Of Mr.. SCHENCK, the Senate Joint
resolution appropriating Sl5 900 To reimburse Miss
Clara Barton for money expended by her, and to aid