Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-04-20
gBoo9 gr FREMONT SANDTSKY COUNTY OHIO APRIL 2 1866
RECONsTRUCTION-A OF TEN
EESSEE. ,f .-r--. a.,
Speech of Hon. r. P. Buckland,
In the House of Representatives, March 24 1866.


In the House Of Representatives, Mdrclt24, 1866
The House. as in Committee of the Whole on the stat
of the Union, having under consideration the Pres:
dents Message --,f-. -.-.. ....-
Mr.. BuCKLAND said: Mr.. Speaker, thus far
have been a silent listener to tie able and in
teresting discussions in this House upon thu
important and intricate questions arising out O
the present condition of the States lately in re-
bellion against the national Government, con
tenting myself with voting upon the variou
propositions as they have been presented &C
coIding to the best lights before me- / hav,
watched and waited anxiously, hoping that tn
distinguished gentlemen " no shape and contro
the legislation of this body would be able t,
agree among themselves, and present for ou
consideration and adoption practical measure
for settling and removing the difficulties now
weighing heavily upon the nation and creating
intense anxiety in the public mind for the fu'
ture integrity of the Republic. But, sir, appa.
rently we are now as far from solution of thes,
difficulties as we were at the close of the frs
week in the session. We have had numerou,
propositions, many learned and eloquent
speeches, theories upon theories from the grea
intellects Of the House, and the Constitution hai
been expounded and construed by the most ex
perienced statesmen and the profoundest law.
yers but, unfortunately, scarcely any two o
these distinguished gentlemen to whom we hav,
a right to look to lead US out of this slough or
to solid ground agree upon any one points,
Each one seems to be so perfectly sure that he il
right and all who differ with him wrong, thai
his conscience will not allow him to swervC
from the path of duty marked out for himself
When doctors disagree, who shall decided
When gentlemen of SO much learning and ex.
perieuce differ widely, it is not at all strange
that common minds become confused. IA
We must get out of this dilemma in some
way. 1t has sometimes happened in the army
that the rank and file understood the situatioi
and what was necessary to be done better than
their officers. On one occasion a commanding
officer gave orders to his engineer to bridge
stream with as little delay as possible. The
learned engineer went to work getting up his
plan on scientific princ1 les but before he had
completed it, the soldiers, without his knoYl-
edge, had completed the bridge, which answered
the purpose Just as well and perhaps better than
the engineers bridge would have done. A it,
tie common sense is sometimes better than
much learning without any practical, sense
with it, 4ai77 or sr.f I'll. .r-f
believe, sir, that even our distinguished lead.
ers might receive some profit by occasionally
listening to suggestions from gentlemen of les
learning. | believe there is at least fairshart
of common sense in this House outside of the
brilliant circle within which the discussion o.
the more important measures has heretofore
been mostly confined, and hope it may here
after be permitted to exercise its proper infrt.
ence upon the great questions of .reconstruc-
tion Among the first things done by this hon.
orable body was to place all papers and propo-
sitions pertaining to that question in the keep
ing of a Joint committee, without discussion,
and we have to wait the action of that commit
tee before we can move at ALL ] think the ap-
pointment of such a committee was a very
proper and necessary thing to be done in ordel
to insure prompt aud harmonious action il
both branches of Congress. The people, how,
ever, are becoming very impatient at the delay
and do not understand why Congress has MOI
adopted some definite plan of recoRstruction.-
They do not understand how difficult it is ever
for great minds to agree upon important ques
tions. They do not appreciate the fne-spur
theories of gentlemen as TO the present status 0
the rebellious States. They know very wei
that certain States attempted totake themselve'
out of The Union and form separate and indie
pendent government, and that the Government
of the United States, through IFS President anC
Congress, proclaimed that State had no righ
to secede, and that the United States must b
preserved intact. They have a pretty distinc
recollection OF the sacrifices they made in live
and in money to sustain the Government anC
they know that the Union cause, after four year
of terrible war, was completely triumphant
that an armed rebellion has been entirely sup
pressed, and thatthe attempt to sever the Uui0i
has failed. They fought to preserve the Union
They have done all that patriotic people coult
do, and now they expect Congress tc pass sucl
measures as will secure the Union from futuT,
harm. You may call them dead States or live
States, or what you please, but most people be
lieve that the States are, in some way, in tn
Union, and they care as little about your call
ing them dead States conquered States, or liY
States as they do about the important question
whether Forney is alive duck or @dead duck.
do not propose to enter very extensively
into discussion of these questions as to th
status of the rebel States. | do not eonside
myself capable of throwing any new light upol
the subject, nor do | consider it necessary for
proper determination of the question whethe
the people of State who have been in rebel
lion against the Government of the Unitet
States are IN a condition to be restored to thei
practical relations with that Government AM
entitled to representation in the Congress G
the United States. ] object to the resolution
on Tennessee reported from the committee, be
cause they present theories and issues not ne
cessary to the proper decision Of the questio
whether Tennessee is entitled to representation
in Congress. p, --ef.z.- .e.H5 g-- -sss-
| will ask permission to read the resolutions
ResoIred by the Senate and House Of RepreseHtaLiec
IN Congress assembled That whereas the people oil Ten
nessee have made known 10 the Congress OF the Con
ress of the United States their desire that the const
tora relations heretofOrs existing between them and II
limited States may be fully reestablished, and did, O.
the I'd day of February, 1865 by large popular vote
adopt and ratfy constitution of government, repubi
in form, and not inconsstant with toe ConstIato
and laws Of the United Stases and State government
has been organized under the provisions thereof Thlc
said provisions and the passed 10 pursuance Thereof
proclaim and denote loyalty to the Union and whersa
The people of Tennessee found to be in condito
10 exercise the functions of State within this nion
and can onl exercise the by the consent of tbs Ia
making power of the United Ststes Therefore, 10
Pssotued That the State Of Tennessee is hereby de
clared to be of the United States of America on
eoual footing with the other States upon the expires
condition that the people Of Tennessee viii maintain an
snorce in good faith their existing constitution and law
excluding those who have been engaged in rebellio
against the United States from the exercise OF the eeC
tive franchise for the respective Perlods OF ne
provided for and shall exclude the same persons for tn
ike respective periods of time from eligibility to oiet
and the State of Tennessee Eha never assume or pa
any debt or obligation eontIac,ed OF incurred IN s,o
claim fro the United States, or make any allowance
compensaton for slaves emanepaed or liberated in an
way whatever which conditions Bhall be rafihed by u
Legislature of Tennessee the people thereof IS II
Legislature may direct before this act shall take eec
Mr.. Speaker, the first objection 1 make is t
the assertion that the people Of Tennessee ca
only. exercise the functions of State by con
sent Of the law making power Of the Unite
States. Now, whether that be true or not j
regard to the people of Tennesse, it is entirel
unnecessary to assert it in determining th
question. whether Tennessee is entitled to reI
resentation in the Congress of the Unite
States, and can do no possible good, unless /
he to make or declare void all the acts done b
the present government of Tennessee. The res
olotion recites that the people OF Tennesse
have adopted constitution and established
State government and passed laws which Prc
claim and denote loyalty to the Union. Bl
the resolution virtually says that all the acts
the Legislature heretofore passed are null an
! void. This was undoubtedly the intention, f
in subsequent part of the resolution it Is rt
ouired that the Legislature of Tennessee shs
re-enact all its laws DISTINGUISHING rebels, dc
| and furthermore it requires the Legislature
repudiate all rebel debts, although such deb
are expressly repudiated by provisions Of Il
! constitution. Does any one suppose that II
| enactment of Legislature can add any force
| a constitutional proyision2 Certainly no Law
| yer will make such a claim. Then, again, it
made condition tHat the State OF ,Eenness