Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-12-07
REcoNsrRucrInN.

RECONSTRUCTION.
In the Senate on Wednesday last, Mr.
SUMNER offered the following resolutions,
which, on his motion were ordered to he
printed;-
Resolutions declaring the true principles
of reconstruction, the jurisdiction of Con
gress over the whole subject, the illegality of
existing governments IN the rebel States
and the exclusion of such States with such
illegal governments from representation in
Congress, and from voting on constitutional
amendments.
Be il resolged, Ac., First. That in the work
of reconstruction it is important that no false
steps shall he taken interposing obstacles or
| delay, but thatby careful provisions We should
make haste TO complete the work, so that
the unity of the Republic shall lie secured on
a permanent foundation, and iraternal rea-
tions shall be once more established among
all the people thereof
Second. Thatth end can he accomplished
only by following the guiding principles of
our institutions as declared by our fathers
when the Republic was formed, and that any
neglect or iorgetfulness of those guiding
principles must postpone the establishment
OF union, justice, domestic tranquility, the
general welfare and the blessings of liberty,
which are the declared objects of the Con-
sutution, and, therefore, must be the essen
| tial object of reconstruction itself
| Third That this work of reconstruction
must be conducted by Congress, and under
its constant supervision; that under the Con
stitutiOn Congress is solemnly bound to rs
sumo this responsibility, and that in the per
lormance of this duty il must see that every
where throughout the rebel communities
loyalty is projected and advanced, while the
NJ.
| to the requirements of Christian common
wealth, so that order, tranquility, education
and human rights shall prevail within their
borders.
| Fourth That in determining what is Il
republican form of government Congress
must follow implicitly the definition supplied
| by the Declaration Of Independence and m
the practical application Of this definition,
and must, after excluding all dsloyal per
sons, take care that new governments are
founded on the fundamental truths therein
conianed-tirst, that all men are equal in
| rights, and secondly, that all Just govern
ment stands only on the consent OF the
governed.
FUth. That all proceedings, with view
to reconstruction originating in Executive
power, are in the nature Of usurpatiOn That
this usurpation becomes especially offensive
when il sets aside the fundamental truths OF
our institutions; that it is shocking to com.
mon sense when ii undertakes to devise new
governments from that hostile population
which has Just been engaged in rebellion,
and that all governments having such origin
are necessarily illegal and void
,Sirth. That ii is the duty OF Congress to
proceed with the work Of reconstruction,
and TO this end it must assume Jurisdiction
OF the States lately in rebellion except as iui
as that jurisdiction may have been already
| renounced, and il must recognize only tht
loyal States, or those States having legul
and valid "Legislatures as entitled to re-
presentation in Congress, or to voice in
the adoption of the constitutional amend
ments.
Mr.. SUMNER said: do not propose to
discuss these resolutions; have introduced
them as statement OF the case / see Nc
| chance for peace in the rebel States unit
Congress does its duty by assuming iuris
dictiOn over that whole region. These reso
lutions declare briefly the duty of Congres,
in that regard, and assign reasons therefor
have said have no purpose now to discuss
them but hold in my hand letter which
received yesterday from a friend of oui
cause in Texas, which is so important IN it.
statements and so direct in its bearing OF
the question raised by those resolutions, tha
with the indulgence of the Senate, ! will
| Ithu Uiltly from II.
Mr. MCDoUGAIL Of California. Allow IN,
to ask the Senator from Massachusetts. vii
the signature be read? VIII the name o
the writer be read?
Mr. SUMNER l shall not read the sigma
ture.
Mr. McDoUGALL. Ali l thought so.
Mr.. SUMNER | shall not read the sigma
ture because | could not read It without eN
posing the writer to violence, persecution oi
DEATH
Mr. DAVIS Of Kentucky, rose TO a point o
order. lie asked whether it was in ordei
for Mr.. Sumner to read letter. Whether i
was in order for him to Introduce the read
| ing of letter into his speech?
The CHAIR said MIR sumner had unqucs
lionably right TO make any letter part o
his speech.
Mr. SUMNER then read the letter, with
holding the signature, He said ii was writ
ten in Texas, November 10, 1866, and can't
to him yesterday. 1t states that the reall,
loyal men of Texas concur in thinking tina
the first move by the Republican party Il
the approaching session of Congress sh0ul,
be the passage of an act abolishing the Stat
governments that have been set up in tn
south, without authority of law; declaring
all the acts, except so far as, on revision
they may be confirmed by competent au
thority, to have been null and void from tn
beginning. The letter then goes on to dc
tail what the writer states to be the condi
ton of ailairs in Texas, the persecution o
Union men, etc.