The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-03-22

The stewart-FOote Resolutions.
In the Senate of the United State
on the 10th inst, Mr.. Stewart, o
Nevada, offered series of resolutions
said to have been prepared by Hon
Henry S. FOote. We append the reso
lutions and debate upon them:
WHEREAS, In consideration Of the presenf
/ distracted condition of the country, it II
eminently proper that all legal and consti
tutional means should be employed fol
quieting the popular excitement, the re-
moval Of unreasonable prejudices, and tbs
obliteration Of all hostile feelings growing
out of the late unhsppy civil war; and
WHEREAS, One Of the most prolific source:
Of unfriendly sentiments is the conflict o
opinion existing on the subject of negro
suffrage; and
| WHEREAS, It is now most evident thai
there is now no probability whatever thai
Senators and Representatives in Congress!
from the States whose peopls were lately il
iasurrection will be permitted TO occupy
the seats TO which they have been elected
until such States shall have complied with
certain fundamental conditions, portion oI
which are hereinafter recited; and
| WHEREAS, Il is unreasonable to expect
the re-establishment Of harmony and good
feeling so long as the eleven Southern
States, whose people were recently in insur-
rection, are prevented from resuming their
ancient relations to this Government; there
| fore, be il
ResolDcd, First: That the people of said
States, recently in insurrection as aforesaid
shall be recognized as having fully resumed
| their ancient relations with this Govern
meut and its chosen representatives shall
| be admitted in the two Houses Of the Ma
tional Legislature when said State shall
have so amended its Constitution as to do
away with all distinctions as to civil rights,
the disabilities (?)among the various classes
| of its population; by reason either of race or
color, or previous condition or servitude; to
! repudiate all pecuniary Indebtedness which
| said State may have heretofore contracted,
/ incurred, OF assumed with the late unna-
/ tural and reasonable war; TO yield all
| claim TO compensation on account of the
/ Liberation of It's slaves, and to provide for
| the extension Of the elective franchise to
| all, on the same terms and conditions to all,
making no distinction on account of race,
! color, or previous condition; prOUided, that
| those who were qualified TO vote in the year
/ 1860 by the laws of their respective States,
/ bualA AOk bt NisAIdAful " ANd7o4 VI al
| new conditions which have been, or may
| be, prescrib bed since that year.
! Rcs0lUCd, That after the aforesaid condi-
I tions have been complied with, and the
same shall have oeen ratified by majority
| Of the present voting population OF the
| States, including all those qualified TO vote
/ under the laws thereof, as they existed in
| 1860; general amnesty shall be pro-
claimed in regard to all persons in such
| State who we're in any way connected with
/ armed opposition TO the Government of the
! United States, wholly eXonerating them
! from all pains and penalties to which they
may have become liable by connection with
| the rebellion.
Resolved, That, in view of the thorough
| assimilation Of the basis of suffrage in the
various States of the Union, all of the States
not above specified, shall be respectfully
requested to incorporate an amendment into
| their State Constitutions, respectively, cor
responding with the one specified. In the
| above resolution it is not intended to assert
a coercive power on the part of Congress in
regulating the right Of suffrage in the
different States Of the Union; but only TO
make a respectful and earnest appeal to
| their own good sense and love of country,
with view to the prevention of serious
! evils, now threatening, and to the peaceful
! perpetuation Of the happines and true glory
! OF the whole American people.
! Mr.. Stewart, in offering the above, made
q brief explanation. He said he had been a
careful observer of the current Of events
since Congress assembled, and he had come
to the conclusion that the proposition he
had submitted correspond with the prevail
| ing sentiment in the public press. He Of
fyred this without expressing an opinion as
to the propriety Of negro suffrage, which he
/ II a.
here.
Mr.. Pomeroy asked Mr.. Stewart If he had
not once said something about its being a
white mans government.
Mr.. Stewart replied that he had only
stated that the fact Of this being white
| mans Government, was not to be scoffed at
or disregarded. He still said so.
| Mr.. Stewart continued his remarks on the
| resolutions. He said he did not pretend to
| be welded TO the particular portions of what
] he had submitted, but that he indorsed the
| general proposition. He wanted the South
! TO have an opportunity to vote on it. When
! they refuse il will be time enough TO an
] swer the proposition. Butuntil they do re-
| fuse, he thought it unjust to take from them
| the right TO decide for themselves He
| would state, furthermore, in presenting this
| proposition, that he found it to be IN accor-
! dance with the letter written on the 18th Of
| August TO Gov Sharkey, which he was au-
] thorized 10 state was genuine as published.
/ He had no reason to believe that the Presi-
| dent had changed his views since the letter
! was presented 10 the Mississippi Convention,
/ f5y the reason that the Convention refused
| to receive the communication from Gov.
| Sharkey. The question was now presented
| TO the people OF that State or any other
/ State The President did not feel himself
I authorized to submit the question. He lthe
1 PresldenD did not feel authorized to de-
4 mand il as o condition, because it was not
| one Of tho issues made in the war. Il was
| a question outside, upon which the people
! Of the South had no opportunity OF passing.
Mr.. Williams, Of Oregon, was glad to see
| such q proposition coming from Mr. Stewart.
| He would inquire from him whether, if the
| committee OF fifteen reported plan Of re-
| construction embodylng that petition, he,
/ Mr.. Stewart, would vote for keeping the
| Sorthern representatives out of Congress
| until that p an was adopted
Mr.. Stewart said he would vote for the
proposition he had offered, if reported by
| the committee.
Mr.. sumner wall rise TO welcome in the
! Senator from Nevada, Air. Stewart), new
[ convert to the necessity for cOlOred suffrage
| on this floor. ] have maintained that COLI
| 1red suffrage was the only guarantee for
! future peace and security in this country.
have insisted that il was necessity, and
| that without it your national debt is inl-
! perilled. your freedom viii be Ia constant
peril, ana this republic cannot enjoy per
maueut peace, and, sir, welcome with open
| arms The Senator from Nevada. LGreat
laughter.
Mr.. " Wlson-I desire simply 20 say that
thank the SeuEtcr from Nevada for offering
this proposition. haYe no doubt 1t will
receive the favorable consideration ei the
Committee TO whiSh il has been referred, as
( well as of the Senate and Of Congress.
am in favor, for one, and believe the coUn-
try is IN favor, Of settling this whole ques-
ti6u by universal liberty, universal justice,
universal suffrage, and universal amnesty.
Mr.. Henderson said he was gpder soma
obligations 90 the Seustor from Nevada, 81 d
he desired 20 express them. lie stated that
shortly aNaF the date oi the letter OF Gov.
Sherkey the President had expressed the
views contained in tlcf letter IN private
conversation, 50 that il the sdrocscy Of ne
Gro suffrage, made man a radloai, lnd a
Irrobin, and a fanatic, he wanted the coun-
try Il know that the President was radi-
cal.
The resolution was ordered 70 be printed
and referred 70 the Committee on recon
struction.
Files BY the Africa give sn interest
ing debate in the English Parliament
on the navy, in which Sir Morton Peto
and others called attention to the ex-
j rellence of our irrr,-clads for coast de