Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-11
aGuion aud dispatch.
FPIDAY. JANUARY n. 1867.
REORGANIZATION OF THE
SOUTH.
A spicy Debate in the House Of Repre-
entatives-RadieaI Policy Towards
-. a..srh uuyg Wawvuaa.o fsnf Wr

J lhere was a uNely DEBATE ID tue mouse
Of Representatives on Saturday, the 9Th
inst, chiefly upon the proposition TO stultify
Congress, as NJ. Stevens calls 1t, by allow
ing the unrepresented States to vote upon
the constitutional amendment, condition
| precedent to their restoration. We give a
portion ofthe debate
Mr.. Spalding-Will the gentleman allow
[ rae 10 ask him a question?
/ Mr. Stevens-Yes, cir.
Mr.. Spalding the gentleman have
the goodness 10 say whether, in his judg-
ment, the adoption Of the constitutional
amendment has any bearing whatever on
/ the reconstruction Of those States2
Mr. Stevens-Not the least, except so
far a. il provides that when we find these
States ct for admission they shall not over
whelm as by a representation based upon
the negroes who are not voters. That in
my Judgment, Is the vital feature Of the
constitutional amendment. Ii contains
other wholesome provisions but It's great
feature is, that il cuts away their power to
oVerrule rs when they shall have formed
proper constitutions and shall be deemed fit
for admission 10 representation. The idea
that the constitutional amendment contains
anything contemplating submission TO the
action Of the Southern States, is altogether
! idle II need not go there. If we once
| adopt it, and they choose 10 adopt i, why
| ask them 10 ratiiy it2 They come in as
any other State would come in, under the
constitutional amendment, as amended, and
they are bound by it, whether they ever
glaora d, yatfftr e or NOT ogI- tbo,, 20
vote upon il would stultify ourselves.
We do not propose to recognize the pre-
sent organizations as valid. We propose
to regulate them; we do not propose TO
ask them 10 regulate anything We pro-
pose to say 10 those communities, You
have no government; We repudiate all
your pretended governments. Go on and
! form such governments as Congress has or
dered you 10 form" That is what we pro-
pose to do.
Mr.. Spalding.-I beg leave to ask the
| gentleman ene question.
Mr. Steyens.-Certainly.
Mr.. Spalding.-I ask whether he con-
| CURED in the majority report Of the Com
/ mittee On Reconciliation, submitting this
amendment for the approval of the House.
| / would also like 10 know whether he voted
for the admission Of Tennessee.
Mr.. Stevens.-Yes, sir. / voted for the
admission Of Tennessee without regard to
the amendment sent forth, which was no
| amendment then. Tennessee had formed
| a constitution and submitted it to the peo-
| pie, and they had ratified 1.-THE only
/ Rebel State that had done 80. On full ex-
/ animation ofthat constitution, my colleague
/ here knows, and all the laws passed under
! il, the committee came to the conclusion
/ that IL was a republican State, and we co1ld
/ safely admit it. Her adoption of the con-
stitutional amendment before the act of ad-
/ mission was a matter Of no Importance
I not the least in the world.
/ Mr. Niblack.-I wish 20 inquire Of the
! gentleman from Pennsylvania whethersthe
! joint resolution admitting the State Of Ten
nessee to representation in the two houses
| Of Congress, did not place it upon the
/ ground the State had adopted the eonstitu-
/ tional amendment, and whether Congress
did not sanction that view in the act, and
! that 10 adopt the constitutional amendment
would entitle any Of the Rebel States 10
/ admission
Mr.. Stevens-The preamble to the Joint
! resolution admitting the State Of Tennessee
recited many Of her good acts, among the
rest, a. an Indictment 10 admit her, and as
an evidence Of her loyalty, that she had
! Just adopted the amendment to the consti-
| tuition but nobody ever thought Of giving
a vote on that ground. No one thought of
| voting for it because she had done it, but
il was one Of the evidences of her loyalty.
| Mr.. Niblack.-I beg to ask the gentle
man whether Congress in that matter did
not stultily itself according to the views he
hiss promulgated
Mr.. Stevens Congress did not submit it
] % Tennessee az all. Tennessee did il be-
fore Congress passed the joint resolution.
1t was the voluntary act Of the State OF
| Tennessee, melted thereto by the impetuous
young gentleman who is Governor Of that
State. Laughter. It was sent here and
was incorporated as one Of her good things,
to palate the great many foolish things
| she had done That is the whole of that.
Mr. Niblack-The gentleman will pardon
me. My recollection is that il was trans
mitted to the Governor of the State of Ten
uessee, who called a special session Of the
| Legislature, and that Congress waited with
| breathless anxiety 10 hear the result and
when we received werd by telegraph that
/ Tennessee had adopted the constitutional
amendment Congress made haste to admit
/ Tennessee on that ground. This is part OF
the history Of the country. Such is my re-
collection, and / think gentlemen will agree
with me.
Mr. Stevens-I have not that recollec-
ton, but do not undertake to contradict
the gentleman from Indiana, when / do not
recollect. All ] have 20 say Is, that we
recognize Tennessee as a State. The com
mittee recognized Tennessee as State. We
agreed she had done all in forming hei
constitution which State was required 10
do. The gentleman's fact therefore, hasno
pertinency.
may as well say to the gentleman that
he knows we took the ground that these
disloyal States are not State organizations
known 10 as, but are captive provinces
and have in their capitals certain municipal
institutions for the purpose Of going on
from day to day, which We do not propose
vet to disturb, but which are referred to in
my enabling acts.
When they form constitutions and pre-.
sent them here, and the Congress Of the
United States shall believe them 10 be re-
publican in form and founded upon prin-
Ciples of justice, l presume Congress will
he very glad 20 admit them 20 representa-
ton. | will say, however, here and now
that l shall never vote for the admission o
another State containing one Of the pro-
visions of the Tennessee State government
The gentleman, ! suppose, knows what
that it,
Mr.. Maynard-I confess do not
| Laughter
Mr.. Stevens-Why, the exclusion o
negro suffrage.
Mr.. Mavnard-Well, sir. ! will say il
regard 20 Tennessee that so far "a her treat
ment of the black portion Of her popuIa
ton and Of the late Rebel population i
concerned. she has been entirely impartial
that is 10 say, she givee 90 the freedmen
and the late Rebels the enjoyment Of al
civil rights and denies them only IN,
right 60 vote, 20 hold Office and serve OF
iuries The probability is however, tina
she viii very soon adopt the principle tina
this Congress has already adopted in refer
ence 90 this district-not Of universal sui
frage, not Of negro suffrage, not Of impair
tal suffrage, but of loyal suffrage, giving
the right 90 vote 90 all who have showI
their LOYALTY 90 this government irrespect
i've Of color
Mr. Steveus-That is the part Of IN,
constitution Of Tennessee which shut m,
ewes % az the time the vote was taken, G
DO not know whether NV friend from Ten
nessee shut his,) the idea that loyal negr,
Is &c be put upon the same footing with
Rebel laughter Il is an outrage II
the constitution Of Tennessee
Mr. Maynard-Wil the gentleman per
mis- noe 10 say that Tennessee has done
great deal more for the negro than IL don,