The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-05-26

the rebellion. one of Its instruments was
numbering Mr., Lincoln. You will not think
u strange that compliment fraught with
such associations should not be coveted. Be-
sides, as the head of department, NV uub-
lilo duties have BEEN simply executive.
after four years of war, the AUTHORITY OF
the federal government was established
throughout the whole territory of the Unised
States, at sacrifice of over 800, 900 lives Of
loyal soldiers, and q cost OF more than So.
ooo,ooo,0 900. Every household in eighteen
loyal states is mourning its loved ones slain
by rebels. A tax which may last for gener-
atoms Is laid upon the food, and raiment
and necessities of every family; and, the
price of their daily bread, the 10000, 900 in.
habitants OF the loyal states feel, and will
continue to feel, what it costs to upold their
government against rebellion.
1.-The Office of president devolved on Mr..
johnson after the death of Mr. Lincoln, on
the 18th day of April 1865. Thirteen days
before that time, Richmond, the seat of the
Erebel government, had been captured and,
six days later, the rebel commander-in- chief,
Robert Z. Lee, routed and vanquished, sur.
rendered his army as prisoners of war to
Gen. Grant and the forces under his COM
nand. By these rapidly succeeding events
the official authorities gave themselves up as
prisoners of war.
The presidents annual message to the
present congress thus clearly states the con-
dition of the country and the question there
by imposed upon him
81 found the state suffering from the effects
of civil war. Resistance to the general gov
ernment appeared to have exhausted itself. The
United States had recovered possession of their
forts and arsenals, and their armies were in oc-
cupation of every state which had attempted TO
secede. Whether the territory within the limits
of those states should be held as conquered ter
ritory, under military authority, emanating
from the president as the head of the army, was
the hrst question that presents itself for discus
sion.' ,"
Mr.. Stanton quoted at length some of the
presidents messages concerning the reopen
| ing of courts, postofices, and ports, and con-
| tinued
SPY some it was thought just and expe-
dent that the right of suffrage in the rebel
| states should be secured in some form to the
| oolored inhabitants of those states, ethsr as
| universal rule, or to those qualified by ed
ucatloD, or by actual service as soldiers, who
| ventured life for their government. My own
mind inclined to this view but, after calm
| and full discussion, my judgment yielded to
adverse arguments, resting upon the practi-
| cal difficulties to be encountered in such a
measure, and to the presidents conviction
| that to prescribe q rule of suffrage was not
| within the legitimate scope of his power
The plan of Organization embodied in the
| proclamation to the people OF North Carolina,
and the instructions to the provisional gov
| ernor of that state, exhibit the system and
principles prescribed by the president for the
| substitution of civil authority in the place of
| universal military rule in insurrectiOnary
| states. In this plan, two things represented
| in the proolamations and the presidents iu-
| structions are worthy of special notice:
| "First-That the organizing power is spe-
officially and absolutely restricted to people
| who are loyal to the United States, and nc
| others. This is il accordance with the view:
often declared by Mr.. johnson from the com
| mencement of the rebellion, and under mos
| impressive circumstances
| Second-The choice of delegates was not
only limited to loyal people.and no others, bu
constitutional guarantees were required In re
| speot TO the emancipation of slaves and repu
diation of debt.
"a second reason for such guarantee in re
| spect TO slavery is stated by the president IL
| his message, namely: The necessity ct evI
| dence of sincerity in the future maintenance
of the Union. These views, expressed by th'
president in his message, received, and con
| tinue TO receive, my cordial acquissencs, and
| support. Who are loyal people, is Ii queesioo
that ought not to be difficult of decision.
I'm thus distinctly recognizing the consti
tutional right of each house of congress Il
judge of the election, returns, and quaiItca
| tions Of It's own members, the president haI
| conformed to the plain letter of the consttu
ton. II being the function of each house to
Judge of the election, returns, and qual!hca
| tions of its own members, the obligation is I'M
piled of taking testimony. weighing evidence
and deciding the question of mem bership.-
| What testimony has been taken, or what evl
| dence presented, on the question, TO either
| branch of congress, or what judgement IS t,
| be given, Is not known TO me, nor have tn,
| right to inquire.
besides the steps taken BY the executive
to restore the constitutional relations OF the
states. his annual message called the atten
ton Of congress to the necessity OF securing
the security of the freedmen, reminding con
gress that, while he had no doubt that th
general government could not extend the cleo
tive franchise, it was equally clear that goot
faith required the security OF the freedmen II
their liberty and their property, their righ
to labor, and their right TO claim the just he
turn of their labor; and observing further
that the country was In need of labor, and thu
freedmen in need of employment, culture, ant
protection. In connection with this subjec
the president urther remarked:
&c Slavery essentially monopoly of labor
, and, SUCH locked the states where II prevaIle
against the incoming of free industry. Where la
Dor the property of the capitalist, the whit
man excluded from employment. or had bu
tire second best chance Of finding 1t, and the for
eign emigrant turned away from the region wher
his condition would be SO precarlous,' sc.
The views of the president in relation t.
the freedmen received, and continue to receive
my hearty concurrence. They have guide
the action of the war department, and wer
substantially advocated in Its annual report
, In what | believe an honest desire to conform
f to them. a bill was passed by congress, regu
iating the freedmen's bureau; but the pro
visions OF the bill did not meet the president
: approval, because he believed the power con
S ferred upon him, and upon the agents appoin
t ed by him. and upon the agents to be appoin
g ed by him, to be unwise and unconsritutiona
g Concurring in the object of the bill, and r.
c garding the power as temporary and safe i
Q his hands, | advised its approval; but havin
+ been returned TO congress- with the president
objections. and having failed to receive tn
nesdful support it is no longer living meas
| ure nor the subject of debate or of ditferenc