Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-03-17

of Senator Creswell on the life ana
character of Henry Winter DAVIS. de-
liyered in the House on the I'D OF Feb
fuary.
On motion of LATHAM the Senate
amendment to the joint resolution Civ
ing the consent of Congress to the
transfer of the counties of Berkeley and
Jefferson to the State of West Virginia,
was taken from the Speakers table and
concurred in.
WASHINGTON, March S.--SENATE.
POLAND presented loint Eresolution
to amend the constitution by disquali-
fying from voting or holding Office all
who have taken part in the rebellion.
The resolution was referred to the COM
Mite on reconstruction.
HENDERSON introduced the follow
ing: ....-+-ro., 81 81 Is tsa.ls 1858
Resotued, That the late rebellion was con-
| test between freedom and slavery, to perpetu-
ate human bondage against the influences OF
| aprogresslve civilization, which 1t was feared
| wOuld soon manifest itself In the political ac-
| ton Of the government; and that a portion of
the people of eleven states attempted to with
draw themselves and their states from the
operation of such influences. When the laws
were resisted in this secession, it was the prov
ince of Congress to provide for calling for the
military to execute the laws of the nation.---
When instruction was inaugurated, Congress
| had the power, and was charged with the duty
| te suppress it. Whether the insurrection in
| these eleven states has been suppressed or not,
is to be determined by Congress and not by
the Executive alone; it is for Congress to de-
! eide not only whether armed resistance to the
| national authority yet exists, but whether the
causes OF the rebellion have been removed
| and if not removed, it is for Congress to adopt
such measures us will remedy tn existing wis
and prevent, il possible, the recurrence of sucl
WAYS in the future. In this attempted seces
sion, the people of these eleven states suffered
the political connection established by thei
state governments with The federal govern
ment to be severed, aud in this condition o
things the states themselves are without sucl
republican forms of government as the on,
contemplated in the constitution, and
becomes the duty of the United States an,
not of the Executive to guarantee sucl
forms to the people of these states VIII
voluntarily abjured their allegiance to tn
federal government and willingly transferre'
that allegiance to hostile de fdcio govern
. ment. and have, as far as they are able, be
: come alenated and denationalized; and it j
for Congress to determine to what extent the
have succeeded in such efforts of alienation
and what rights they are n ow entitled to a
citizens of the United States. The Union
now restored until the state government
! in the states shall have been established an
recognized by the federal government an
it is the opinion of the Senate that such GOV
u elnments should at once be orgnized upon tn
true principles of republicanism-the conser
of the governed. That while we recognize il
!, full force the great truth that the people
: | the States should not be taxed without repre-
sentation i'll Congress, we cad not forget ths
@ we are now asked to accept. as republican
form, state constitutions which deny represeI
tatiOn to nearly one half of their entire peopl
aud yet inflict upon them the burdens of tax,
e ton. That the Committee ON Reconstructio
y are hereby requested to inquire into the exp
:, diency and propriety of providing by Ia fl
" the reorganization and re-establishment
: state governments in the seeding states {
, the principles contained in this resolution.
o The above were ordered printed.
y House. On motion of ScHENCK, til
e Senate joint resolution appropriatin
SIS, 900 to reimburse Miss Clara Barto
for money expended by her to aid i
the further prosecution of the scare
Il for missing soldiers, was by unanimou
consent, taken from the Speaker'stabl,
8 read three times, and passed.