Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-07-07
SPEECH OF MIR. 8 rEvENs.

will sink deep into the hearts Oh tnc ioya'
people. lie said:
Mr. Speaker, we may, perhaps, congratu-
late the House and the country on the ap-
proach to completion of a proposition to he
submitted to the people for the admission OF
an outlawed community into the privileges
and advantages of a civilized ana Tree gov
ernmcnt. When / say that we should re-
joice at such completion, 90 not tnerepy
intend so much to express JOY at tne supe-
rior excellence of the schcme-as that ehcrc
is TO be n scheme-a scheme containing
much positive good as well, am bound TO
admt. as the omission Uf many better
things. In my youth, in my manhood, III
nv old age, had fondly dreamed that wheh
any fortunate chance should have broken up
for while the foundations OF our lnstltu'
tions. and relieved us from obligations the
most tyranncal that ever man imposed In
tho name of freedom, that the Intelligent,
true and just men of the Republic-true to
their prof ssions and consciences-wouid
have so rcmodclcd all our institutions us to
have freed them from every vestigc of hu-
man oppression, of inequality of rights, of
the recognized degradation Of the poor and
the superior caste of the rich. In short,
that no distinction would be tolerated in
this purified Republic but what arose from
merit and conduct This bright dream has
vanished "likc the bascless fabric of q vision"
l find that we shall be obliged TO be content
with patching up the worst portion of the
ancient edficc and leaving it, in many of its
parts, to be swept through by the tcmpcsts,
the frosts, and the storms of despotism. Do
you inquire why, holding these views and
possessing some will of my own, accept so
imperfect proposition? l answer, because
l live among men and not among angels
among men rs intelligent, as determined,
and as independent as myself, who, not
agreeing with me, do not choose to yield
their opinions to mine. Mutual concession,
therefore, is our only resort, or mutual hos
tilities. We might well have been justified
| in making renewed and more strenuous ef
forts for better plan could we have had
the cooperation Of the Executive. With
his cordial assistance, the rebel States might
have been made model republics, and this
nation an empire of universal freedom. But
he preferred restoration to Reconstruction"
lie chooses that the slave States should re-
main as nearly as possible in their ancient
! condition, with such small notifications as
hc and his seven ministers should suggest,
without any impcrtiment interference from
Congress. He anticipated the legitimate
action of the national Legislature, and by
rank usurpation erected governm cnts in the
conquered provinces, imposed upon them
institutions in the most arbitrary and uE-
constitutional manner, and now maintains
them as legitimate governments, and inso-
lcntly demands that they shall be represen-
ted in Congress on equal terms with loyal
and regular States. To rcprcss this tyrany
and at the same time to do some justice to
conquered rebels requires caution. The great
danger is that the scceders may soon over
whelm the loyal men in Congress- The haste
urged upon US by some loyal but impctuous
men, their anxiety to embrace the represen.
tativcs of rebels; their ambition to display
their dexterity in the use of the broad man
tic of charity; and especially the danger
arising from the INSCRIPTIONS use of pat
ronage and from the oily orations of false
prophets, famous for sixty day obligations
and for protested political promises, admon-
words will suffice to explain the changes
made by the Senate in the proposition We
sent them. The first section is altered by
defining who are citizens of the United
States and of the States. This is an excel
lent amendment, long needed to settle con-
tlicting decisions between the several States
and the United States 1t declares this great
privilege to belong to every person born OF
naturalized in the United States The sc.
cond section has received but a slight alter.
ation. wish it had received more. It con
tains much less power than could wish il
has not half the vigor of the amendment
which was lost in the Senate. 1t or the
proposition offered by Senator Wade would
have worked the enfranchiscment of tho
colorcd man in half the time. The third
section has been wholly changed by substi
tuting the ineligibility of certain high Often
ders for the disfranchscment of all rebels
until 1870. This / cannot look upon as al
Improvement. 1t opens the elective fran
chise to such as the States choose to admit
In my judgment, it endangers the Govern
ment of the country both State and national
and may give the next Congress and Presi
dent to the reconstructed rebels. With thci
enlarged basis of representation, and eXclu
sion of the loyal men of color from the bal
lot-boY, see no hope Of safety unless in the
prescription of proper enabling acts, whicl
will do justice to the freedom and cnioir
cnlranchiscment rs a condition precedent
The fourth section, which renders inviolabl,
the public debt undergraduates the rebel debt
will secure the appreciation of all but traitors
The fifth section is unaltered.
You perceive that while sec much goot
IN the proposition | do not pretend TO bt
satisfied with it. And yet l am anxious fo
Its speedy adoption, for dread delay. Tho
danger is that before any constitutions
question shall have been adopted Congress
, would be flooded by rebels and rebel sym
pathizers: Whoever has mingled much il
deliberativc bodies must have observed th
mental as well as physical nervousness o
many members, impellng them too often t
injudicious action. Whoever has watche,
the feelings of this House during the tediou
I months of this session, listened to the impa
tient whispering of some and the opel
declarations of others, especially when sucl
able and sincere men as the gentleman frpn
Ohio propose or move to crafty persona
predictions by breaking the ranks of tn
Union forces and presenting to the enemy
ragged front Of strag9lers, must be auxiou
TO hasten the result snd prevent the demora
lization of our friends. Hence, say, let u
no longer delay; take what We can get now
and hope for Better things in future legisla
= ton, In enabling acts on other provisions.