Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-01-18
NUMBER ~.

of the State of Tennessee, but II the State
of Tennessee was not a State within this
Union, as the learned gentleman insists.i
then Andrew JOhnsonrwas not citizen OF
the United'States, and not eligible to tller
Dfilce which he holds9CsurF1
But what follows II the doctrine contend
ed for by the honorable gentlemen is errone7,
Gus? Why, that the Union has never been
dissolved; that the attempt TO break ibupD
has tailed; that the sacrifices of ourO brayeI
and heroic army have preserved 10 us this
glorious heritage of our fathers; that not q,
single star has been blotted out, and that
the flag which floats over this Capitol OF then
people Of all the States, with every stari
still blaZoned on its ample folds, still conTT
OF all the States. !" '',''." ''D.'I''' ''.'ia
sir, more than this; il these States are ino
the Union, ii they have never been out Of
| it, as l. contend, then, sir, they are in the.
| Union as equal States, with all the rights
and privileges which belong 10 States In
this Union and are entitled to be Representa-
ed on this floor by the same authority as,
the States of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Sir,
| there was much In the able speech OF the
gentleman from Pennsylvania which seems
ed to me not equal TO the dignity OF the
great question which he discussed. His all
| lusion to ''Copperheads," and the imputa-
| tion of purposes Of bad faith In regard to
the public debt, could lend no weight 70 his
argument, and were only calculated to-
arouse feelings of bitterness and recrimi-
| nation, which are not calculated to aid IN
the elucidation ofgreat constitutional ques-'
tions, or to develop wise and healthy legis.D
lation. The allusion of the distinguished
gentleman to the late Chief Justice, filled
me with pain aud surprise. No purer name
or more upright ndhonestj jurist adorns the
| long list of the great men of America, Of
whom we are so Justly proud. With char
acter unsullied, and conscientious devotion
to duty, he discharged every trust with the
strictest fidelity. His eminent learning
and services will be remembered and lchen1i
ished by the good and yirtuohs as long as,
our history and American Jurisprudence
shall be studied.
/ am, sir, in favor of the admission OF
members from the States now unrepresent-
ed on this floor. The people of these States,
it seems to me, have acquiesced with great
unanimity and with sincerity in the coudi-'
tion of things which the war has brought
upon them. They have abandoned slavery
and surrendered it up as one of the things
of the past, never never again to be re-es-
tablished. They have abandoned the claim
to any right, or pretense OF any right of
secession, and with entire unanimity ac-,
knOwledged the supreme jurisdiction Of the
General Government in all matters which
have been vested in it by the Constitution
of the United States. They have resolved
for the future to be true citizens OF the
Union. .-.. .....l.-... ......-, q.
And now what should be the conduct Of
this Government toward these people ?--.l
Shall state of discord and raerimoniousi
feeling, almost as intense asthat which eX7,
listed during the war, be continued? Is 1t
by such means as these that fraternal rela4i
| .; fn ha "a fha
tions? No, no; let all those evil feelings
give way before the peaceful smiles OF a
once more united and patriotic people,
Let us as far as possible forget the past, and
generously welcome the return of our
Southern brethren. Let no mean partisan
or sectional feelings or jealousies longer
keep us asunder. Let it indeed be union
of hearts as well as Of hands, 10 hilH
Representing as LIDO, as intelligent, loyal
and patriotic constituency as any within
the Union, feel it not only duty, but a
pleasure, to give my feeble aid in binding
up the wounds of the country, and to make,
use of every legitimate means of once more
cementing the bonds of Union, which i
trust NAV be perpetual. Sir, the surest
means of preserving our cherished Union
is in the exercise of mutual charity and
forbearance in faithful observance ot-the,
just rights of the people of the several
States, and a considerate regard for the
feelings, habits, views, and, it may be, the
prejudiees of the different sections, so far
as che same do not violate the Constitution,
of the Unired States.
/ Sir, slavery is out of the way; pray let
us not quarrel about what policy the States
may see fit to adopt in regard to the .ques-i
tion of suffrage. | have never been the
friend or advocate of slavery. L have al
ways regarded it as an evil, but an evil
which, in my opinion, the States alone
could remove but it has ceased to exist
and certainly no man who could in the least
influence the public mind will be found
wild enough to advocate its re-establlsh9
ment. The discussion of the question Of
slavery which has for so many years dis
turbed the deliberations of the American
Congress, and which has been the parent OF
so much excitement and sectional bitter
ness, should no longer disturb our deliberau
tions. rra1qsa risiIi-1-rff eds az 4..tiaiU
i Sir, no one will be more gratifed than {.
i myself to witness an advancement IN the
i conduct, intelligence, and virtue Of the
emancipated race, equal to the most SAN
guine anticipations of those who have so
i long demanded their freedom. Whether
the colored race, by their industry, moral
ity, and good conduct shall show theme
selves worthy to be admitted TO the exercise,
and enjoyment of more political privileges
than they now enjoy, is, a question which
must be left to the exclusive Judgment OF
the States in which they reside: Formy0
self, as Representative from the State Of
Ohio, disclaim any right whatever to in
terfere in these questions In any Of the
States and as a citizen of that State, I am
free to say, while have no i'll feeling to-
ward the negro, shalt ever oppose con-
ferring upon him the right of suffrage in
| A)illOg II'T q
But sir, / repeat 1t, these are Questions
which must be left to the exclusive deter
inination'6f the several States; and the ats
tempt to deprive certain States from being
representation this floor because the negro
is not allowed to vote Within such States Is
a bold conspiracy TO stibvert one Of the
plainest rights which belong tUthe States.
If You do not intend that these. States shall
be Represented IN, this Congress, pray, sir,
tell me in what Congress they are TO be
representedg What DO you propose to do
/ with them in the mean timef aAfe they 10
be held las Poland Is held by Russia, as
Hungary is held by or as Ireland is
held by Great Britainp Are the principles
4 OF the old Constitution TO be Abandoned
i and the whole character of our systemOf
i government changed, In order that the
\ white men Of eleven States may De disfran-
chised. and theinegro clothed with political
\ rights2 is 1t possible, sir, that Within the
4 limits Of our Republic white men ,gillc0nis