New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-02-11
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

TIE HECOssTRuCTtDN BILL
The House resumed the consideration Of the mil pre-
scented by Mr. stevens from the Committee on Recon
strucon to provide FOR the efficient government Of
the insuuectlonary states
Mr. BANKS N}ep., Mass) being entitled 10 the floor
said that 10 had been his FIRST intention TO support tile
BILL but that on reflection II seemed 10 him necessary 10
withhold his vote from IL. He believed that the States
lately in rebellion st States They had been made
states by the action Of the people aud Of the General GOV
eminent and they could never to Dc States until
the General Government had consented 10 that cOnd
ton That consent had never been given There was
nothing in the theory Of the international law or Of
the facts which deprived that section Of the
country OF It's legal existence as 5taos; t
had by many acts from 1861 To tie Close OF the
deprived the people OF those states Oh ther right
therefore the case stood left the states recognized
legal existence and the people at present without power
10 participate In the Government under when uley I'VE
lie understood the condition OF ne people 10 Dr t.
I'm international law there three conditions OF
rd 1 St ~ eSe The latter Vas the condition Of the
people Of IL not peace II was not war
ing measure az he should do. II seemed 10 him that
bin which placed those states under military or martial
for purpose IL made frame Of civil government 10
be administered by the regular army without any restrict
army. The regular army Ia administering tnht power,
to be without responsibility to the Constitution TO
Congress or the people Of the country, but was 10
he responsible only 10 the commander OF The army
He had another objection 20 the bill There was not
word or line in the body Of the bill that limited It's
operation, that looked 10 the establishment OF any
other government than that OF the regular army HIS
experience compelled him to say that he did not think inc
administration o the officers of the regular army wOuld
tend the establishment OF republican government
lie had never known tendency TO the recognition
OF the rights Of the people OF repubheansm or democracy
through the intervention or administration OF the regular
arIny and he did believe II this bill should be passed
with It's unrestricted and unlimited power II would nave
any other effect an 10 crush ont the spirit OF loyalty ana
the spirit of repubcanism far had any existence
in those States His belief was that the hope OF recon
structon Of this country and the restoration OF IepuD
ucnu throughout
masses of the people-thc unedueatcd, tue poor Tue
poweress masses Of the people Of these States He be-
eyCd that the influence OF the Regular Army would nc
with the arstOcTacy and against the democracy, ana
Tins under fbis hill they would be deprived of tie only
base they had for the restoration Of loyal democratic
government in the country II there was any hope Tor
the Government OF the United states ana nc sometimes
honet was in HE millions of the poorest the
most Ignorant the least powerful OF the people OF the
South, and they had anything to fear from any portion
OF the people 10 from the mpacable enemies VINO
were welded TO the doctrines and privileges OF the arts
tOcracy lie wished in whatever measures should be
odontGd 10 place himself with the democracy and against
the 1-Ocracy OF those States and he feared that the ma
chincry Of this bill would not tend 10 that end lie had no
fear of Grant; the contrary he sorry TO cay
that he believed cen Grant was the only man to whom the
country could turn In Its present disturbed condtol
might, through this BILL place bin in position which
would lead either TO his sacrifice or 70 course OF con-
duet which friend OF his would like TO suggest Tor MS
adoption If Gen. Grant acted with the President IN inc
execution Of the law Congress would not have nuc 70
hone Tor miles, the President changed his course and II
he acted against the President he would have against
him the higher officers Of the Government and the lower
Officers OF Ills command and between them he would be
sacrificed lie trusted the bill would be amended so rs
70 relieve 10 Of the feature to which he objected 10 eI
simply give 10 the Southern states all the military power
within the control OF the Government, and TO let
Il be accompanied with proposition 10 establl,sA
popular civil government, based upon the loyai lol
ton in ono or more Of those states preeedeht
condition to the exercise Of mtay PtTe south Mr.
Banks expressed his convection that no excursion VI
suffrage 10 the lower CLASSES could deplye ,ne
cracy Of this power or their control OF pubic oplnon
The South would continue 10 be unit under INC propV