The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-02-27
THE MILITARY BILL.
REMARKS OF HON. j. r. WILSON

REMARKS OF HON. j. r. WILSON.
Mr. WILSON, Of Iowa. Mr.. Speaker, the
bill now before the House does not embrace
all upon the subject OF reconstruction that l
should be glad to have embraced in It. But,
Sir, it seems to me that this is the last oppor-
tunity we shall have during the present SEES
sion OF Congress to enact anything upon this
subject: and | feel the importance of some
affirmative action upon the part of Congress
with which to antagonize the policy estab-
lished by the President Of the United States.
Therefore, Notwithstanding this bill falls
short of what desire, shall vote TO concur
in the amendment Of the Senate; and, sir,
before | am called upon to cast my vote.
propose to state some reasons upon which
will base 1t.
The Committee on Reconstruction reported
to this House bill, which was passed and
sent to the Senate for the purpose, as they
told us, of affording protection to the loyal
people of the rebel States We are now told
that the bill thus reported by that committee
and passed by this House will not afford that
protection. Why, then, dad that committee
report it to this House; why did it ask us to
pass il, il il was not sufficient in its provi-
sions TO afford the protection the committee
told us it would2 We took the committee at
its word, and passed the bill for the purpose
Of protecting the loyal people of the Southern
States, as the committee assured US it would
protect them. And now, after that action,
after we have followed the lead of the cons
mittee, we are told this morning by the
chairman of the committee on the part Of the
House, Mr.. Stevens and another member
of the committee, Mr.. Boutwell,, that the
measure will afford no suca protection, and
that it is q mere piece of Legislative mischief.
/ cannot understand this singular conduct of
the members of the committee. | cannot see
how these two positions are 10 be made 10
harmonic. | leave that task to those who
occupy them. ] believe to-day, as believed
when | voted for the bill on its passage, ths,
its provisions viii afford the protection de-
signed by those who support it. Therefore |
shall vote for it again to-day.
Now, sir. | wish to call the attention Of the
House, and especially the members of the
Committee on Reconstruction who are OPP
posing this bin, to enc feature of the case as
it is presented to us; and | also call the at
tenton of the eloquent gentleman from Ten
nessee Mr. Stokes to the same point. The
third section OF the bill as it passed the
House, and it remains in the bill as res
turned from the Senate, reads as follows.
"That il shall be the duty OF each officer
assigned as aforesaid to protect all persons
in their rights of person and property, to sup
press Instruction, disorder, and violence,
and to punish, or cause to be PUNISH, all dis.
turbers of the public peace and criminals,
and to this end he may allow civil. tribunals,
to take jurisdiction of and to try offenders,
or, when in his judgment il may be necessa-
ry for the trial of offenders, he shall have
power to organize military commissions or
tribunals for that purpose, anything in the
ron tpfiN nd lax af Id
to the contrary notwithstanding; and all leg.
isative or judicial proceedings, or processes
TO prevent or control the proceedings of said
military tribunals and all Interference by said
pretended State governments with the exer-
else OF military authority under this act shall
be void and Of no effect
Now, sir, one of the rights in the enjoys
ment of which the people Of the Southern
States are to be protected is the fright of
the people peaceably to assemble and TO Pc
tition the Government for q redress Of griev>
ances.n This is one of the rights which the
military forces of the United States are TO
protect or enforce in the insurgent districts
Now, sir, let the loyal people of Virginia.
white and black, assemble in convention in
such manner rs they may elect, frame con.
stitution OF government republican in form
and fact, disfranehise such portion of the reb-
Ell population as they may see proper; secure
by their constitution the right of suffrage to
white men and black men loyal 10 the Gov
eminent Of the United States, and present
their constitution TO the Congress of the
United States for acceptance, and they will
find friends enough here to receive their pe>
ton. consider their constitution. affirm their
action, and guarantee TO the State of Virgi.
MIA the republican government thus formed
by the true loyaists of the State. This bill
presents "a liberal plan to the loyal people of
that State upon which they may act under the
protection OF the military arm of the Repub-
lie III the formation of q State government of
just such character as may to them seem
| best.
But il may be said, as was remarked bv
the gentleman from Massachusetts, (Mr.
BOUTWELL, that the loyal people will no, be
| lett thus to act of their own will, because
the local authority is in the hands of the
| rebels, who now possess the local govern.
ment organized under the direction of the
President of the United States. This is
mistake. One of the leading features of the
bill refer not merely to the preamble but
to the body of the bills to declare that in
all the repei states there now exists no legal
governments. II no legal government ex.
ists there, | want to know by wha. authority
any persons administer or can administer ~
powers of a local civil government there
to the oppression of the loyal people? The
governments there are declared To he sat
aside by the very terms of the bill; and. ar
1t is the hrst proposition ever presented tn
Congress IN which this body and the Senate
have declared the illegally of governments
established by the President of the United
States in these States. This alone ;s sniff.
Gent to commend this bill to every one who
refuses to acknowledge the usurpations OF
} the President in the establishment Of the
, governments whose existence is DESTROYED Inv
this bill. It is made the duty of the military
force mere 70 protect the people in the en-
Joyment OF Their rights. The door is open
} wide enough to admit the LOYALTY Of the rebel
States to complete and permanent control 81
their several States. The setting aside ot
the presidential organizations which nretend
to govern, while they really Cypress the loyal
citizens OF those States, is a great no;n,
, gained. We should mob throw this opportu.
nifty away because it does not bring To us ali
that we desire. We maynow painye much
and all in the right direction. We NAV NOV
relieve the loyal of the oppression OF the
disloyal, oyerturn the pretended governments
OF the rebel States, place the ballot in the
hands OF all OF our friends, and teach those
! who have been basking in presidential sun,
shine that Congress is yet power which can
, and will control the work OF recoustruct;on
Mr.. Speaker, there is another reason vby
we should adopt this amendment of the Sen.
r ate. II gentlemen will carefully read the
case OF Luther rs. Borden, Z Howard's Re.
3 ports, page 4S, they will find there is to>dav
lodged IN the hands Of the persons occupyino
the positions of Governors in the rebel
states power to present to the Pres;dent .
, case in which the Supreme Court Of ths
+ United states could declare the recognition
ny the President of existing governments
there binding upon all departments az ths
} General Government. - 'ne
expired. @''A'e nA1
Mr.. BrsaHax. ! hope the gentleman.