Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-10
VOLUME XXXIII.

| laws was ever submitted TO the judgment o.
the people. We have passed law giving
! the right Of suffrage to all men in the Terri
| tories. Let Us now authorize the Outlawed
States to become republican by freely form
! ing their Constitutions by the action Of all
their freemen. If they then deprive any
/ portion Of the people Of their equal rights,
| let them be content with their present e1te-
rior condition until they shall become fit to
discharge the duties Of true republicanism.
Thus will the elective franchise be proper
ly bestowed on all within the rebel States.
The loyal men will be protected. Now they
are prescribed without regard TO color. Re
ect this bill, and / see no way Of ever Civ
ing equal rights TO the South. Reflections
like these have induced me to propose a
direct vote (which hope will be allowed)
on the vital question which alone can give
protection 10 the colored race and the loyal
white in the rebel States. Left, as they are
now, without the protection Of the ballot
box, overwhelming evidence shows that they
are the mere serfs and will be the victims of
their former masters. The objection to the
insertion Of such imperative provisions in an
amendment to the Constitution does not ex-
ist 10 this bill. In the Constitution it would
have operated equally in every State.
While that would have been just it was
not deemed possible In many of the free
States deep seated prejudice, the offspring Of
ignorance aad habit, obstrueted the cause Of
Justice. In copperhead States, where justice
10 the colored race has no domicil, and in
States nearly balanced, such reform was
thought to be impracticable at present.
Those States had done nothing TO forfeit
their rights and authorize the nation to i'm
pose such new conditions.
Nor had the workings Of our institutions
shown such provisions 10 be absolutely ne
cessary for the protection Of that class or
the safety Of the country. The deprivation
Of the elective franchise to so few, though
great wrong, was not thought dangerous or
intolerabIe How different the condition Of
the rebel StatesI The concentration Of the
whole political power in the hands Of few
tyrannical and disloyal men has shown itself
dangerous to liberty and fidelity to the Gov
ernment, and unless restrained must soon
again produce bloody Instructions. Their
right TO dictate the terms of their participa-
ton In national affairs all agree 10 have
been forfeited, and whatever different theo-
ries are held, all concur in the main conclu-
sion, whether Republicans, Copperheads,
Apostates, or that unamiablc hermaphrOdite
race called Conservatives; as the conditions
of readiustment are to be fixed by the Gov
ernment, none can deem it severe if we put
the loval freedmen on an equal footing at
the polls with the disloyal white man. If
the wise management Of the Government Of
the country; if the protection Of the loyal
men in the rebel sections if the election of
patriotic Union men TO the State and ma
tional offices requires the full enfranchise-
ment Of the colored race; ifjustice to all de-
mands it, why shall We hesitate?
The only way in which Congress can
grant such power by legislation is through
acts, as provided by this substitute.
When these people become States Congress
cannot either alter or amend their State insti-
tutions A constitutional amendment can alone
reach it. As Congress can dictate any mode
Of reconstruction which itdeems best, it may
pass enabling acts authorizing these outlaw
ed districts to form republican State govern
ments fit to partake in the government of |
The nation. In forming such governments |
Congress always fixes the qualification of |
the electors. 1t has lately, as / have said, |
given the right of suffrage TO the colored |
race in the Territories. This bill is intend |
cd to give the loyal colored men, as well as |
loyal white men, 4 right to participate in I
.he Government under which they are to |
live; il excludes none but the most guilty /
rebels that is necessary in order to enable |
.he loyal men to live in the land Of their /
birth; otherwise the proud, prosecuting re-
bells will exile them from their native land. |
Such is the united evidence of all the true 1
men Of the South.
When this is done we shall have done |
but partial Justice to the descendants Of an
oppressed race. God may yet visit us with |
further punishments Certainly we deserve /
It. Why have we net given them home
iteads? Their rebel masters owe it to them. |
As all agree that Congress must restore the |
lost States, let it be done upon true prin-
,iples. Republics must stand upon the ba-
lis of universal suffrage. Any departure |
rom that is a departure from republicanism.
Exclusion for crime does not violate the |
rule.
The bill treats the Confederate States as
Every branch Of our Government treats |
hem. They are all under military surveil- |
ance. No statesman looks upon their pres |
mt governments as anything but temporary, |
imposed by arbitrary power until the people |
could form free governments. 1t provides /
hat within six months conventions shall be |
called for all the free male people of the |
States above the age of twenty-one years |
with certain exceptions on account of crime |
to form constitutions TO be submitted |
10 the judgment of the people. Upon |
.he ratification Of such constitutions |
hey may be admitted into the Republic, |
always, that such constitutions |
Shall not violate the fundamental principles |
Of republicanism by discriminating against |
citizens in favor Of any other under similar |
Now, sir, il there be any State that does
not desire such organic law, let it remain in |
a state of pupilage until it shall have learn |
ed the elementary principles Of justice and
freedom.
All who choose to deal fairly by all men
may thus be represented in this body in the |
next Congress Those who do not choose to
give equal rights TO all men, will, with my |
consent, never enter this hall except as DEL
agates.
A large class Of rebels under oath re-
nounced their allegiance to the United |
States, and swore allegiance to the Confed- |
crate States Of America. / consider such |
oaths void. But the subjects of il. haue no |
right so 10 treat it. This bill opens door |
10 enable them TO ahsolve themselves from |
such oath without perjury. The time fixed |
Is snort enough. Inc lONal men snOuAu nave /
some time TO consolidate their government |
| assure you, gentlemen, that without such |
the fate Of the Union men in all |
the ten Of the eleven States will be deplora- |
bic. | rejoice that Tennessee has provided |
against such horrors, and that she has a |
with energy 10 enforce it. Those |
temporarily excluded from the elective fran |
chise by the sixth section are excluded |
because they have committed the highest |
felony. They may thank the tender mer-
cv of Congress that the punishment Is so
light. Had they been left 20 ANDREW
JOHNSON as he was they would have
mounted the block, or fed to foreign climes.
The balance Of the bill provides for the |
admission Of Tennessee, which deserves spe-
cial favor As the birthplace or residence Of |
one Of the most extraordinary men in his |
time that has ever appeared on earth. / do |
not pretend that she is loyal. believe this |
day that two-thirds Of her people are rank |
aud cruel rebels But her statesmen have /
been wise and vigilant enough 10 form a
Constitution which brides ioentious trai- |
tors aud secures the State Government TO the |
true men, And she has an Executive tit 10 /
ride upon the whirlwind. know that two |
thirds Of the congressional distriess will send |
Us secessionists which will greatly impair |
our two-thirds vote But she has two or
three men in her delegation who would have /
saved Sodom In the Senate al least one