Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-03-21

policy of Congress, SO far from being that
of keeping eleven States out of the Un
ion, is to bring every one of the States
into harmonious relations with the Un
ion at the earliest practical moment thai
it can be done consistently with the pub
lie safety. And before that it ought moi
to be done, and God helping me, by my
permission it never shall be. Loud and
prolonged applause.
What, then, becomes of this complaint
against Congress? No authority to pass
upon this question. Was there ever a
more preposterous proposition announc
ed? Who is to pass upon it
In 1864-5, a little more than a year
ago, perhaps earlier than that, two gen.
tlemen presented themselves as Senators
from Louisiana. Mr.. Lincoln was then
President of the United States. Their
credentials were referred to the Commit
tee on the Judiciary in the Senate, OF
which have the honor to be Chairman.
Mr.. Lincoln was exceedingly anxious
that the State organization of Louisiana
shonld be recognized. Not one of US
took the ground that the State Gov
ernment of Louisiana was out of the
Union; but we took the ground that
the State Government of Louisiana
had been usurped, and it was necessary to
inquire whether a new one had been
set up that was loyal, and represented
the loyal people of Louisiana. We made
that inquiry, we examined witnesses, and
the Committee came to the conclusion
that the people of louisiana had origina-
ted government which we were justified
in recognizing. | was in favor of recog
nizing it, and of admitting the members
from Louisiana to their seats. / wrote a
report on that occasion. There was on
the Committee with me your other Sena-
tor, Mr.. johnson.
We were anxious to have these mem
bers admitted to carry out the views of
the President at that time.
Now, what did the Committee recon-
mend? Did we ask that they be sworn
as members of the Senate? l was anx-
ious that they should be. but we reported
no such resolution. We reported this
resolution:
THAT inasmuch as the State Govern
ment of Louisiana had been overthrown
by the rebels, and its inhabitants declared
in state of insurrection, that it would
be improper for either house to admit
these members to seats without a concur
rent vote of both houses as recognizing
the State organization, which had right
to be represented" [Applause
That was the resolution unanimously
agreed to at that time by the Judiciary
Committee. That is exactly what this
is now that the Committee of
Fifteen have reported. They have re-
ported that until Congress acts-both
houses agree-one house ought not to ad-
nit members.
Mr.. CRESSWELL-(to Mr.. Trumbull.)
Those States were declared in insurrec-
ion under an act of Congress.
Mr.. TRUMBTLL. Yes, they were de-
Jared in insurrection under an act of
congress, and we will declare them out !
f insurrection by the joint act of Con- |
'ress. Loud and continued applause.
On that subject let me read from a res
luton which passed the Senate of the /
United States at its last session, a little
nore than year ago. 1t declares that
7hen the inhabitants of any State have
cen declared in a state of insurrection
gainst the United States by proclama-
ion of the President, by force and by
irtue of the act entitled "An act to pro-
ide for the collection of duties on i'm
orts, and for other purposes, approved
ulg l3, 1861" they shall be, and are
ereby. declared incapable of casting
ny vote for electors of President or Vice
resident of the United States, or of
Getting Senators and Representatives in
ongress until said insurrection in said
tate is suppressed or abandoned, and
nd inhabitants have returned to their
legiance to the Government of the
nited States nor until such return to
legiance shall, be declared by proclama- :
on of the President, issued by virtue of
i act Of Congress authorizing the same. ,
Applause.
Now, there is a resolution declaring
lat these States, once declared by virtue J
an act of Congress TO be in rebellion,
lall not be again represented until a !
is issued by the President, /
pursuance of an act of Congress here !
ter to be passed and who do you sup :
ose voted for it Every member of the !
enate of the United States, excepting
lree and among them you will find the !
lmes of Doolittle, of New York of :
an Winkle, of West Virginia of John
n, of Maryland [hissing; of Nc .
ougall, of California, and so on-nearly :
Ie entire Senate. :
Mr.. CRESWELL. Dixon, among 9TH :
8. r
Mr.. TRUMBULL. No, Dixon was not :
en present. And to do that was usuIp- :
ion. 1t was not so regarded during the
of Mr.. Lincoln.
I ar SORRY INV friandc 70 bava dafaip 7
| you so long upon this point, it is the 8
'ry one which is charged upon Congress c
a usurpation. =
The provisions of the Freedmen's Bu- =
au bill were then commented on, the r
eaker contending for the protection of
e freedom of the negro throughout the r
ngth and breadth of the land, as the e
Ity of Congress, and claimed that the 7
DIVISIONS of the vetoed bill were less lib
al than those of the present law. and n
r. Cowan had either misunderstood or +
them. He again reverted d
the New York Speech of Secretary 4
ward, in which he said that gentleman h
d foreshadowed the Presidents policy, n
d in which he had remarked that the p
sven States now kept out of the Union i
re in full accord with the Govern
ent. Now, remarked Mr.. T., let US see Il
lat sort of loyal Senators the State of I,
'orgia has sent to Washington-Her- n
hell V. johnson and Alexander H. o
evens-the former a member of the re- 4
Congress up to the day it was put e
wn, and the other the Vice President Ii
the bogus Confederacy. n
These were the men that Mr.. Seward n
ought was in full accord with the Gov a
nment, but the speaker took occasion n
think differently. The present loyal h
vernon of Mississippi, also in full &C. Il
I'd with the Government, was a promiN W
MT General in the rebel army, and the o.
esent loyal Governor of South Carolina, "
mt from the rebel Congress at Rich N
md to preside over the destinies of his W
ate, and yet these are the men that Mr.. N
cretary Seward sets down as being in W
| accord with the Government. Put n,
sse men in power, and what protection "
We the truly loyal men who had rescued C
) Government from the Vaccinations n
the rebels. These were the kind of o,
N that Congress were keeping out, and
" intended to keep them out. Al II
dy were many of the Southern States no
Terned by men who had been active in W
our sons and relatives, and al j
l. L