Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-10
A Representative Speech.
Thaddeas SteUens at the Close of
Congress.
THE RADICAL TEXTBOOK.

sylvania, the acknowledged leader Of th'
Radicals, asked and obtained the consent o
the House to deliver his views on the bill
entitled an Enabling Act for the Rebellion.
States, and 70 suggest a substitute prepared
by himself Permission having been grant
ed, he proceeded as follows:
Mr.. STEVENS. Before making the re-
marks have 10 submit, desire to indicate
some amendments that / wish 10 have made
in the bill. And that they may be properly
understood, / propose 20 include in my re-
marks the bill as / desire 10 have it read
when perfected, and which will be as fol-
lows
WHEREAS The eleven States which late
ly formed the Government called the Con-
federate States Of America, have forfeited an
their rights under the Constitution, and can
be reinstat0d in the same only through the
action Of Congress; therefore
BE Il enacted By tie Senate and House Of
Representatives. Of nc United States Of Ameri-
ca, is Congress assembled, That the eleven
States lately in rebellion may form valid
State governments in the following manner:
SEC ?. Ind be Il further enacted. That the
State Governments now existing de facto are
hereby Acknowledged as valid governments
for municipal purposes until the same shall
be duly altered, and their legislative and ex-
ecutive officers are hereby recognized as
such
SIC 3. Ind be Il further enacted, That the
President Of the United States shall within
six months, and as often thereafter as he
shall deem proper issue his proclamation
directing conventions 10 be called TO form
legitimate Constitutions for the respective
States. lie shall direct an election to be
held on certain day 10 choose delegates to
a convention, which shall meet at the time
fixed by him, at the capital Of the State, and
form State Constitution, which shall be
submitted TO a vote Of the people, and if
ratified by majority Of the legal voters,
shall be declared 10 be the Constitution of
the State
SIC. 4. Ind be Il further enacted That the
persons who shall be entitled 10 vote at both
of said elections shall be as follows: All
male citizens above the age Of twentv-one
years, who have resided one year in said
State, and ten days within the election dis
trict.
SEC. D. And be Il further enacted, That the
word citizen" As used in this act, shall be
construed 10 mean all persons Except In
dians not taxed) born orduly naturalized in
the United States. Any male citizen above
the age Of twenty years, shall be eligible
ns delegates to said convention.
SEC q. Ind be Il further enacted That all
persons who held Office, either civil or mill
tary, under the Government called the
Confederate States Of America" and who
voluntarily swore allegiance to said Govern
ment are hereby declared 20 have forfeited
their citizenship and 20 have renounced al
lcEjance 10 the United States, and shall not
be entitled TO exercise the elective franchise
OF hold Office until three years after they
shall have fled their intention or desire 10
be reinyested with the rights of citizenship,
and shall swear allegiance to the United
States and renounce allegiance 10 all other
governments or pretended governments;
the said application 30 be filed and oath
taken i'm the same courts that by law are au-
thorized TO naturalize foreigners.
SEC. z. And bet further enacted, That no
Constitution shall be presented to or acted |
on by Congress which denies to any citizen
any rights, privileges or immunities which |
are granted to any other citizen in the State. |
An laws shall be impartial, without regard |
90 language, race OF former condition. IL |
the provisions of this section should ever be |
altered, repealed, cxpunged, or in anv way
ahrogated or disregarded by any State, this !
act shall become void Gs 20 said State, and
the State shall lose lis rights 10 be repre-
scented in Congress. There shall be three
officers of election at each Of the polls; two |
of them shall be called inspectors, who shall |
receive and deposit the votes i'm the box |
when undisputed. IL any vote shall be |
challenged, the other officer, 20 be called |
Judge shall decide the question. il the in |
spcctors disagree The officers shall be cho- /
sen as follows; On the morning Of election, |
at the hour Of nine o'clock, the legal voters |
present at the polls shall nominate three or |
more candidates, and proceed TO elect by |
dividing into two or more bodies, according |
20 the number of contesting parties, The |
majority shall elect. The officers thus cho- |
sen shall appoint two clerks, who shall truly |
record the voters when the votes are receiv- |
ed and the votes when counted by the Off |
GERS aforesaid. And fraud in conducting |
the election shall be deemed a misdemeanor, |
punishable by fine and imprisonment, at the |
discretion of the courts
SIC. s. And be u further enacted, That |
whenever the foregoing conditions shall |
be complied with, the citizens Of said |
State may present said Constitution 10 |
Congress- and il the same shall be APP |
proved by Congress, said State shall be |
declared entitled 30 the rights, privileges
and immunitics and be subject to all the |
obligations and liabilities Of a State within
the Union. No Senator or Representative !
shall be admitted into either House Of Con- |
gress until Congress shall have declared the |
State entitled thereto.
Notwithstanding surrounding discourage
ments, the eNhortatiun, 4" BE not weary in |
well doing encourages me to make one
more perhaps an expiring--cfIort TO do |
something which shall be useful 70 my fell |
low men; something TO elevate and enlighten |
the poor, the oppressed and the ignorant in |
the crisis Of human affairs. ! do not feel |
that this august body, this grand council Of |
a nation Of freemen, has done anything |
worthy Of its glorious opportunity, worthy
Of it8 duty 10 immortal beings whose desti- |
nies for good or evil, for happiness or woe,
il holds in its hands; when l reflect with
how few acts Of justice, with how few wise
enactments, most Of them seem content to
close our labors and disperse 20 the periphery
OF tho nation in search OF cool shades, par
ling trout streams, and to see our bulls and
beeves.
beg il to be understood do not claim
right to speak this rcproachfully or COM
plainingly; especially when / consider my
own life, too much of which has been spent
IN idlercss or frivolous amusement and find
myself almost ready to yield before every
man is secured rights and impartial privi-
leccs / cannot avoid feeling humhled
cannot escape the pangs of self-condemna-
tion. Sir, is this 20 be the poor result ofthe
labors of an assembly clothed with the SOW
ercignty Of the only real republic that ever
existed, and which, from its position, It's
trials and the inspired teachings Of the
fathers. ouglJ 30 be wiser and juster than
the Amphictvouic Council, OF any other as
scmbly, ancient or modern? Congress has
certainly done some good legislation to aid
the white man, ii he choose. % protect the
poor of all races OF oolors. But nothing has
been done 90 enable any hut the white man
10 protect himself How precarious and
worthless Is that protection which depends
wholly on the will Of others, and leave ones
self dclenselessl In a peaceful, well gov
cmed republic, the only protection consists
IN the right to participate in the govern
ment: 20 aid in the formation Of organic
laws; 10 have 4 voice in the election Of oih-
Gers, and to influence the legislation OF the
country.
They must have the ballot, OF they will
continue, virtually, 10 be slaves: they will
be servants and tools Of the rich. But give
them political power and they viii find
a. H.. choir hURH