Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-12-21
Mr.. Blaine's Speech.

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Mr.. Blaine's Speech.
In the House OF Representatives on thu
t0th. Hon. ThaahLeus Stevens introduced Il
series Of resolutions referring tie several
topics ofthe Presidents Message to the APP
prot,riitc committees. After the reading
ofsae resolutions. Mr.. Stevens gave way
ttMr Blaine who spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, the popular elections off
1867, have decided that the lately rebellious
S<,tes shall not be readinittcd to the privi-
leye OF Misrepresentation in Congress on any
less stringent condition than the adoption
of the pending constitutional ansenttnA.iit;
but those elections lave not determined
that the privilege Of representation shall
be given to those states as IN immediate
consequence OF adopting the amendment.
I,r that respect the decision of the loyak
people has been rather negative than AFFIRM
alive; expressive ofthe least that would
be accepted rather than indicative of the
most that might be demanded Had the
southern States. after the adjournment OF
Congress. accepted the amendment prompt
~ and in good faith, as u deiilitive basis
oil adjustment, the loyal States Nvouh have
indorSel it as such, and the second session
of the Thirty-Niutli Congress would have
been largeiy engaged in perfecting the de-
tails for the fun and complete representa-
ton Of all the States Oh the new basis of
apportionment.
The southern States however. have not
accepted the amendment rs a basis OF adj
jlstm mt, but have on the other HAND veiie-
m.ntly opposed it; every one of them that
has thus far acted Oh the question. with the
exception of Tennessee. having deiiantiy
rejectcdit. This absolute and obdurate re-
fttsal on tl.c'wsft of those States to accept
the amendment rs the condition of their
rcraning the-privilege of representation,
certainly relieves Con" ress from whatever
promise or obligation may have been orig
inllly implied IN regard to admitting them
TO representation in consequence of adopt
ing the auyendlYclE. This promise. or inn
plication. or whatever You choose to'terA
it, was. by universal understanding. con-
ditioned on the southern States accepting
the amendment in good faith, as was sig
ni4ieantly illustrated in the case of Tennes-
see. Having reused so to accept it. the
promise. if ever made is assuredly no long
err binding ON the Congress Of the United
States T=Iz1T.=.
But even if the constitutional amendment
should be definitely accepted. South as wcH
a> North, as the condition oh which the
rebel States should regain the privilege of
Congressional Representations, the actual
enjoyment oftliat privilege would of ne
cessity be postponed until the terms of the
amendment could be complied with. and
that would involve a somewhat uncertain
period of time. For take it for granted.
a. did when voted for the constitutional
amendment. and as | presume every other
gentleman Oh this floor did. that we were
not to be guilty Of the supreme folly OF de-
clarin@ that the basis Of Representation was
SO unfair rs to require correction by con-
stitutional amendment. and then iorthWlth
admit the southern States to the House
tstV. Al sll.irn MT
Representatives. Ii the constitutional a.
mcndment is to effect Il correction in the
basis OF representation, it should effect it
at once. If the southern States are to be
deprived of their undue share of represent
tatives. based ON their nOn-vOting popull-
ton, they should be deprived of them at
once, and not be admitted, even Temporal
ry, with the old apportionment, by which
they would continue to exercise III the
House Of Representatives and in the Flee
toral Colleges the same weight ofinfiucnce
enjoyed by them before the rebellion.
The population Of the States recently
slavc-holding wis by the census of 1890 On
~ 1920 O00. of whom s. OBS. 100 were " htes
and /, 20i.000 negroes. The population OF
the free S<stes by the same census was 49,
20l ; 10 HON only 231 900 We're negroes
1t wouidAuNrtlly be maintained BY any one
that the late slayehoiding States, taken as
whole, have done any thing more than
hoal good their population of 1850, while
in the free States. despite the losses of the
war. the ratio OF increase has never been
more rapid than since that year. Ii is
speaking with all moderation To say that
the population OF the free States is to-day
25,000.09o. ..r
Surprising the constitutional amendment
to be adopted, therefore. as the basis of re-
admitting the southern States to the priv
leye OF representation, il would he Il cruel
IN ,cecry oftlie whole aim and inteut OF that
amendment To usher those States upon Til,
iloor with the full number Of Representa-
tivcs assigned them by the census of IstD.
when tl,rce-iilhs Of their slaves and all
their DISTINGUISHED free people of color were
allowed them in fixing the basis of appor-
tionuient. Were they 50 admitted to-day
the aggregate number OF Representative
from the late slave States would be eighty
five, and from the free States one hundred
and Understanding House Of two hu.;-
.rctfamd forty-onc in all. And yet ii those
two hundred aud forty-one members were
divided between the free and slave States
on the basis of the representative popula-
ton rs directed by the constitutional amend
mpnt. the slave States would lave but fifty
eight members. while the free States would
nave Que hundred and eighty-three.
A corresponding change woild be wrought
in TIE Electoral Colleges. We're the Gov
prn n.nt to permit an election for President
and Vice President in 1860 on the basis as
signed by the census Of 1850. the late slave
st lies would have HIS electoral votes, while
the free States ouldhave lbs. i'u' on the
,c:,,al ba sis contemplated by tho eonsttu-
pLonal amendment, tile-lHe slave States
wonia have bnt 81. while the free States
woul haze 225. On the old basis the free
Stat 5 would thus have a MAJORITY OF IS.
Will on the basis ofthe scon$l Hu h'iiai
n nent,meM they would have a minority OF
~: d net difference of II electoral votes
in fslvoi. of the free staia~.
n In view of these results which are the
,nlainsst arithneticai deductions. it could
mot BE expected that the free States. even
if thay- were to adhere t,stli. const ittional
.,nemialeut rs the tlltfinaruui OF adjustment
LII ....a,s,,at 10 L,aNn HE laIalY rphci lois