The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-10
House of Representatives.
WASHINGTON, Jan. ord, 1901.
STEVENS RECONSTRUCTION BILL.

business in order, to the consideration OF
the bill reported by Mr.. Stevens on the 3oth
of ApriI. 1885, from the Joint Select Com
mittee on Reconstruction, to provide for re-
storing to the States lately in instruction
their full political rights, the question beng
on a substitute proposed therefor by Mr. Ste
vens on the 18th of December, 1866. Inc
substitute having been read.
Mr. Bingham rep. Ohio) made the point
of order that, as the 9Th section provided for
the admission of Rebel States on compliance
with conditions prescribed, the substitute
nust he referred to the Committee OF Recon-
struction.
The Speaker overruled the point OF order,
rs that bill had been reported from the Com
mittee and was before the House, subject to
amendment. -,
Mr.. Stevens proceeded to address the
House in support of the substitute. He SAID
he was anxious that this bill should be pro
ceeded with until final action upon 1t. He
desired that the House should, as early as
possible. come to some conclusion as to what
should be done with the rebel States. This
was becoming more and more necessary
every day, and the late decision of the Su-
preme Court of the United States had rem
dered immediate action by Congress on thee s-
Establishment of Governments in the Reb
ell States absolutely indispensable. That de-
cision, though perhaps net so Infamous rs
the bred Scott decision, was far more dan
gerous in its operation on the lives and lib
critics of the loyal men OF the country
1t had taken away all protection from every
loval man, black or white. residing in any
ofthe Rebel States 1t mad unsheathed the
daooer of the assassin and the knife OF the
Rebel against the throat of every man who
dared to proclaim himself now or heretofore,
n loyal. Union man. If the doctrine OF that
decision were true, there never was people
in such terrible peril as the loyal peopleo
the South, white and black. Unless Congress
proceeded at once and did something to
protect those people from the barbarlans that
are now numbering the whites and putting
into secret graves hundreds of thousands OF
colored people it would be liable to the just
censure of the world for its neglect, its cow
ardicc. or its want of ability. This bill was
an enabling act, to enable loyal men In the
Rebel States to form governments and to
put these governments into loyal hands, so
that they might protect themselves. The
Military authorities now commanding dared
not order any General commanding a de-
Dartment in States which had never been re-
stored from state of conquest, and every
one of which was held this day as conquered
territory, to enforce the laws of the country.
One of the most astrocious murderers ever
let loose on Il community, Watson, had been
lately liberated under this very decision of
the Supreme Court because the Government
extended its construction, perhaps properly,
to the conquered States as we'll as to the 10y
al States. This Watson, whose case Mr.. Ste
yens briefly outlined, was discharged by or
der of the President under that most iniqui-
tous and injurious decision. If that decis
ion were according to law, then it became the
more necessary for Congress to proceed and
take care that no such construction should
open the door to larger injuries than have
been already sustained. The people hal
done their duty nobly. Had Congress the
courage to do its duty Or was it to be de-
tered by the clamor ofignorance, bigotry
and despotism from perfecting the resolu
ton He believed that in Persia, in the
past, and in Turkey, in the present, they
were as free as the freedmen of this country
now are He would not SANDER his native
land, but would reform it. Twenty years
ago he had denounced it as despotism, that
100000 whites should govern 100000
blacks He pronounced it no nearer free
Republic now, when 25,000,0OO of privil-
eyed class undertook to exclude 100000
from all participation in the Government.
No Government could be regarded as free
which did not allow all it's people to partic-
ipate in the formation and execution of its
laws. Such a Babel-like confusion was caus-
cd by the intermingling of pardoned Rebels,
kissing Copperheads and apostate Republic
cans, that 1t was difficult either to under
stand the questions asked or the answers
given. Speaking of the President, he said
that although the President was Comman-
der-in-Chief of the Army and the Navy Con-
gress was his commander, and, please God, he
should made to obey. The President and
his satraps should know that this was gov
go 10 md hot
was the people Unless impartial suffrage
were introduced in the Rebel States, every
one of them would be sure to send solid
Rebel representation, and cast solid Rebel
Electoral vote. They, with their kindred
Copperheads of the North would always
dictate to the President and control Con-
gress. And the people of the North would
be the perpetual vassals and slaves OF the
South Mr. Stevens modified the third sec
ton of the substitute so as to provide that
the Commissioners for each of the Rebel
States should be appointed by the Supreme.
Court of the District of Columbia, instead of
being elected by Congress.
MR.. AsHLEY's AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Ashley of Ohio, moved an amendment
for the substitute proposed by Mr.. Stevens.
It was ordered to be printed.
The first section declares that the State
Governments organized in the lately rebel
States, excluding Tennessee, are not valid,
constitutional State Governments, and that
their acts are void.
The second section authorizes the organl-
zation of constitutional State Government in
each of such States-all male citizens over 21
years of age residing therein for six months,
irrespective of race or former condition OF
servitude, to be electors.
The third section imposes on electors an
oath declaring that the person was, on the
4th of March, 1864, willing to comply with
the requirements of the Presidents Procla-
nation of Dec. 8, 1868 was at all times
thereafter opposed to the continuance of tine
rebellion, never treated Federal prisoners
otherwise than as lawful prisoners of war,
and will henceforth bear faith and allegi-
ance to the United States Government. 1t
imposes on the delegates elected to the State
Conventions provided for, an additional oath
that they have never, voluntarily, borne arms
against the United States; and had never
held any office, civil or military, under the
Confederate Government.
If the Convention agree to adopt the Con-
stitutional Amendment, it is then to select
five citizens, distinguished for their loyalty
and fidelity to the Constitution and Union,
who are to act as Provisional Commit tee
of public safety for the State, until Cons I'll
tutional State Convention shall assemble al I'd