The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-09-27
COL. DICKEY'S SPEECH.
Continued

But am travelling from my line of argu-
ment. l tell you there is whore we begun
Congress put themselves upon record as to
the principles upon which the war was fought.
After the battle of Fort Henry, Fort Donel-
son, and Belmont in the west, and other en-
gagements through Virginia, on the 4sh of
March, 1862, congress acted on this very
question of representation. Once In III years
the census is taken, as you all know, and
there is an apportionment, according TO the
census, of representation to the several states
1t was taken in 1860. During the summer
of 1861 congress was busy, and did not ap-
norton representation !; but in March, 1862,
the congress of the United States, after all
these rights had been forfeited, as Gen. Logan
says, passed an act of legislation, declaring
the congress to consist of 24l members. and
should thus be apportioned to all the states.
Did they then say to these states In rebellion:
You have forfeited your right OF representa-
ton No, gentlemen ; no such thing was
ever heard OF. The soldiers had never heard
any such doctrine taught, either. And the
republicans had taught no such doctrine
They had the control of that congress. That
congress assigned to Mississippi, South Caro-
lima. Texas, and other states TO each It's share
of that representation, and provided by law
for their representatives. No member OF
of representation was really gone,-gone for
ever. | tell you this is a new doctrine
this is new divice this is new faith
taught, that these people have forfeited their
right of representation. Congress recogniz-
ed that right on the 4th of March, 1862, and
went on to specify and assign to all these ex-
cluded states their seats, to each Its proper
number. How q man can get up, and, In the
face of history, say that we sll thought, dur
ing the war, that these people had forfeited
ali their rights, and should have nothing but
what should be given them by the American
| congress, is exceedingly strange.
1t any man thinks that the doctrine Is the
tight one, can say to him that Mr.. Lincoln
ever maintained such doctrine. On the
contrary, he held to the doctrine | teach, that
the Union was indivisible in its natnre,- was
| perpstual,-t last forever. He further held
to the doctrine that the states, even during
the tcar, were entitled 60 representation and
| will prove it to you beyond all question:
GVoice-"Let's have the proof" | will give
you the proof. [ never make any sweeping
declarations without giving the proofs, and
| don't misssate matters In Septem Der,
1862, Mr.. Lincoln came to the conslusiou
that as d means Of carrying on the war efec
lively, and of weakening those engaged in
war against the United States, he would, by
a proclamation, emaucipate the negroes in
certain states which were in rebellion. He
issued that proclamation, in which he declair
| ed that, on the 1st day of January then next
which would be 1868, he would issue proc
| lamation by which he would emancipate the
slaves In all those state and parts of states
| where the people should on that day be in re
| bellion. On that day, he says, will pro
claim to the world in what states and parts .
states the people are in rebellion. Now
mark the words that follow: "The fact,
says he, ''that any state shall on that day b
represented in congress by members chosen
in good faith by maj ority of the qualified
voters thereof, In the absence of strong coun
tervailing proof shall be deemed conclusiv
evidence that the people of that state are nc
IN rebellion" That is the hinge on which h
made the proclamation turn. He saws TO tn
people engaged IN rebellion, where maiorit
OF the state had forced the others into rebe
hon,-he says to them: If you lay down you
arms, and do what you ought to Go accoydIn
to the constitution, send to congress repr.
sensatIves, and have them take these eeat
IN good faith, on the let day of next anuary
- A voioe,-"Why were they not in the
seats ?' Because they were engaged in a
internal rebellion, trying to destroy the q.
ION, and refused to take their seats; Will
we of the army were trying to make theI
take their seats. [Cheers. They have q
over it now ; the ''boys in blue, "as Gen She
man says, whipped them until they got Ell
tirely over that idea.
10 follow my argument: The question ,
the present day is, are these men to forfe
their rights to representation, and, if SO, {
whas time during that war do you think the
forfeited them? President Lincoln had n,
the sagacIty to find that proposition out
He did not know they had forfeited thos
rights. He did not say in his proclaima tior
"lt you will lay down your aims, not onl
} will not emaDcipate your slaves, but will r
commend congress to reclothe you with tb
powers you have LOST; he did not say tina
+ want to get at another doctrine of Ger
Logan's, which is sound, Let me call YOU
attention to the fact that, in 1861, the Amer
can congress had bill pending before i. fc
the purpose of contiscating the property
rebels, and there was provision which VIC
thought to be unconstitutional, and Loga
thought so, too. Members-among the,
Logan-rsised the objection that that hi
was unconstitutional. Mr.. Stevens, of Pen,
sylvania, said the members who raised the
, objection were the advocates of rebels,
and that rebels who had defed the consult,
ton and rspudiated il could not be Above
TO come there by their advocates and plea
the constitution in bar of any action congres
might choose to take. Gen. Logan rose an
SAID: ION that take no issue but I as
Mr.. Stevens, how can the members of co,
gress who came here in this hall, and tax
upon themselves the oath to support the cor
stitution of the United States, violate tbs
constitution in their own action, whetbe
rebels complain of it or not?" That is th
question Logan put to Thaddeus Stevens, an
which now put to him.
i How can members of congress, after tak
ing that oath, violate that constitution by =.
fusing to any state the right of representation
given by that constitution, by refusing to al
low them to fill the seats which they are re
CURED by the constitution to fill with sena
tors and representatives, if their representa-
yves are duly elected, and properly returna,