, 1866-03-01
Hiss question for rs, and

1pon This noor. It's. question for rs, snd
,nty for us.
Looking, therefore. upon those two argnr
ments in this part Of the veto message ~ :
did. one distinctly indicating that no leaasla-
ton affecting the States which have recently
been in rebellion would meet with the appso.
val of the President while those States #efe M
consideration that We as members Of the sen
ate Lad rieht TO give TO this subject was 10
look at the papers presented and say WheIner
men coming here had the proper Credentials
from somebody, leaving the question to be
settled at the other end OF the avenue
right 10 be represented on this Aoos-Whllel
considered those two things as not only shad-
owed forth, but distinctly stated N
The veto message, should not hesi.
tate for q single instant to say that
where such rcaseus were given tor
ihe veto OF q bill. I could not, without sacfi-
icing all my seH.respect, and what Is Of more
cnnseuuencc, as far as am concerned, sac-
rijcins all the rights and honors Of the body
nf which am member, vote to sustain that
message, whatever good reasons might. DO
given In other parts q It, Under those cir
cuustances, md, I vii confess, influenced by
views and statements Of the President, the
Committee Of Eileen, which Is 50 denounced,
saw it to propose distinctly the proposition
In both Houses Of Congress which Is now
upon your table; md 1t Is this: -.
- That In order to close agitatloh- :"
To have no more dispute about 1t among
ourselves as to our own action
uupon Question which seems likely to dis
turb The action Of the Government, as well -
10 Quiet the uncart tointy which tsag1t ating the
minds Of the people of the eleven s'ates
which layo been declared to be- IN 'insurrec-
lion, no Senator or Representative shatl ha
any Of said States until Congress shaA have
declared such State entitled to representa-
That, sir, is sesunins the original PROPOSE
fion, substantially. Having been Instructed
to inquire Into the condition of these States,
and to report whether they, OF any, OF them,
ufepared to report on that question, VIC pro-
pose to report to the HOUSE ana tho seuate
| tlis resolution, providing that
| ..No Senator or Representative shall be hd-
mJtted into either branch Of Congress from
| uny of snid States until Congress- shall hare
declared such State entitled to such represen-
tation''
Originally, did not think that resolution
wns necessary bus now I do. Whys In Of
der that Congress may assert distinctly ITS
own rights and Its own powers iu order that
l t1G{E may DC no UlalNkc A4lS " A<1Ss Al tAI
mind of the Executive Of in the minds Of the
people Of this country: thnt Congress, under
the circumstances of this case, with this at:
tempted limitution of It's powers with regard
to Its own organization, Is prepared te
say to the Executive and to II II
subject they have, and they mean to e1
ercise, the most full and pleuary jurisdiction
they will be limited with regard to IT BY nt
considerations arising from the views OF 9th
elS than themselves, except 80 iaE as tncs.
considerations may affect the minds Of Ind
upon credentials and the character Of me-
and the position Of men, but upon the posi-
tIon OF the States which sent those men here
In other words, to use the language OK n
President again, when the question Is to
decided whether they obey the Constitution
whether they have q fitting constitution
their own, whether they are loyal, whethe
they are prepared to obey the laws as pre-
limInarY, as The President says It Is, to thei
admission, we will say whether those preliu
inary requirements have been complied With
and not be, but nobody save ourselves.
It WAS my very strong opinion and impres
. sion with reference to this matter that y
!, question. deem 1t as transccndfng II impol
fance the question Of the amendment Of IL
. Constitution which hns been under dlscussio
| for several days. lleem that In the preser
! condition of the country, situated as We ar
It transcends in importance every question
Where are are We, sirs Let LIS allow ou
selves to consider for moment II We al
not to inquire into and be satisfied Of the col
ditiou of these States, If we are not to fnquil
| and ascertain whether they are or are not
such a situation that they may safe
/ como here and govern (because when the
. conc here they come as rulers
! but If somebody else = to settle that que
: this: when State chooses to go out Of Il
| Union and make war upon 1t, 1t Is to proyit
: the meaps to }egis}ate: when the State b
. been conquered and is ready to come oat
? | again, 1t is to inquire 0fEomebody else Wheth
! tic State is IN q condition to come back, ar
j | who may come here with credentials from
military governor appointed BY the Pres
dent; without . word except to inquire as
! their qualifications.
Nr. President, this subject Is one qpe
, which much mlg ght be said, I have BET
: fore to be humbled-that am member
the Senate Of the United States I ha'
! deemed that the position vas great ono,
/ which any man, no matter what his poWe
might 10 proud, md with which bis u
most ambition might be we'll coutente
: what in the naturo OF representative Of u
> people, although h selected by the Legisl
: lures of the States; that Senators, Ill
{ Representatives, were sent here for the pu
/ pose Of gnnrding the interests
t The peoplo, and, although other officers wer
chosen for specific terms, and exercised, f
, the time. greater power, that. after all, tt
/ | protection Of this Government must be fouu
t In ita Congress- /; that public opinion was n
e ! presented here, the public wishes were rcpr
; | sented here, tho rightk Of the whole Poop
E we're guarded here, the money Of the poop
Il | was taken care Of here-l mem IN ConEteS
taking both Houses togesher--and that,
q | fact, all the essential powers Of the Cover
It ment, al that was to be done aes 1t the ve
o foundation, everything that was nee'
!. sary In order to protect our iot
/. Of government republican, aaa :, 70 !, - :
o the liberties Of the country, rrssso IN
"a faithfulness of the Senators and Represent
" tiycs of the United States, md in their pow
"a to Judge Of what WIGS necessary In order
r. constitute md regulate their own todit
!. But, sir, If this ia not 30, II they are conan
4 ! simply to a mere question Of papers, to a me
,. question Of credentials, to simply taking t
!. opinions OF others as 10 who are {
. titled to seats In this body, 50 far
,e ] States having the right to send them b
r. arc concerned, then I consider II
'e We are reduced to be mere creatures OF {
= cumstancc, nothings, nobodies; at my I'll
If We may be overwhelmed; ut any time
t mny lose or- power; ut my time We q
10 cease to be that check which the Cotsn
e ton intends We should be upon the Executl
ofthe United States and upon the otl
l. branches Of the Government !; at any ti1ne
;e may lose all Of which we have been SO jus
T. proud with reference to our own condition
J. ! assigned Us by the Constitution Of the Unit