The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-01-12
RECoNsTRUCTI0N.
Speech Of Hon. ]. B. Grinnell,
OF IOWA,
In the House Of Representatives.
JANUARY 4, 1867.


NJ, Gr;unell.-Mr. Chairman, the Presi. |
liant Of the United States did not in his last |
meassee commend the proposed cnn14ta6on.
n amendments TO the rebel States, nor did
he promise that on their adoptionthey shcaA
have representation in Congress. Such |
nl.ds. would have been made without an.
fhor;fy. and have been IN untrue reelection OF
he spirit of the radical govsrning power OF
this country 80
Congress is committed to the amendments
=. nroper-a fret iastall msnt-bnt has made
no promise that being couplied with the
millions late in arms against the Government
shall be permitted to take stheir place W tns
family again. Prudence and stssesmansAsp
will ask what is the spirit and the sentiment
what the local laws. Of the people We would
endow with political rights and equal priv.
Ieges. The newer States of the Northwest
osye their hundred thousand majority and rs'
tnrned an almost united Union delegation,
not in pledge or concurring in the opinion
that iustice would restore States where q sor-
aid motive only was presented in security tor
;mnartial Justice. The returned soldiers and
the people in great masses, in conventions,
and ut public discussions, declared that they
Tho fousht our battles and we're our tried
friends should never be left TO the caprices
and crueltes OF their late rebel masters un-
protested with ballot.
I zee before me the gentleman from His
no;s. the Nestor of this House from the
Northwest, who comes back here endorsed
by majority OF near ten thousand, to whom
might safely appeal in corroboration OF the
understanding of our people.
Mr.. Washburne, of lliino,s.-lf the geu-
tleman from Iowa refers to ne, | will state
frankly that made no such pledge. On the
other hand, | stood to the doctrine enuncia'
ted in the report which he holds in his hand.
hold to it yet, and il | had been 10 my sea-
and was detained from ii by indisposition
when the vote was taken for the admission
of Tennessee, j desire TO state here that
should have voted as my friend would have
voted If he had been here, against the adj
mission.
Mr., Grinnell. confirms entirely to
the sentiment entertained by the State OF
Iowa, tina. gave $1,000 Union majority,
where the LOYAL press seems to be unani-
nous AS to our having made bargain. Not
one of of them ever held that they we're
| hound to receive these States upon the mere
adoption Of the Constitutional Amendment,
and am thankful to my friend for this tes-
| timony, and the report of this minority will
stand as a permanent document as develop
ing the truth in regard to this question OF I'M,
| partial suffrage in the constitution of every
| State desiring admission.
The waves Of public opinion, rolling higher
| day by day and week by week proclaim II il
| no settlement Millions of freedmen know
that their civil rights cannot be assured with
out suffrage in States now ruled by the spiri,
| of barbarsm. Tried loyalists who fed for
their lives, learuedvjudges, ex. Governors and
| legislators, who have come back to their
homes. from which they were driven BY this
war of traitors. now ask. s.Shall it be said oil
| the Ameacah people that, alter fighting for
| four wears at the sacrifice of hundreds OF thou
sands Of precious lives. they are now ready to
surrender to conquered enemies, who. having
| in vain tried to destroye the Constitution
| now claim it's protection = They have "febe
! State Governments in each. rebel Legisla
lures rebel parish officers, rebel police, a
| rebel public sentiment. which sustains a rebe
press, rebel church, anda rebel bar, and
swarms of ex rebel soldiers ready, when the
| proper time arrives, to precipitate The
| Southern people into another nevoiution.
Inc un-ist.s .~~.irenny of our enemies II
| proof of this. Their press pupnsnes rneii
| shame Of selling men into slavery. BY the
! court records the late lords of the lash g<
| UNPUBLISHED for the murder OF men struck
| down wearing the scars of the valiant soldiery
! and even their Aoses-''they wot not what
has become Of him"--who has changed his
| Israelites, discharges the criminal held for
| trial. In Texas the remotest State, where
thousands Just free, died BY violence the las,
year. Gen. Sheridan testifies that The trial
| Of white man for the murder oil q freedman
| would be farce.
A nearer State illustrates the spirit, where
| the light from the torch of the incendiary al
most ilumiues the dome OF this Capitol. il
must be said by that Christian patriot, Judge
| Bond, in reply to the prosecuted poor
when we think that all the outrages OF
| which you complain, and the burning oil
| twelve churcheS and school houses could tax e
place, and all the pulpits remain a. silent az
| if the millennium had dawned, it is marvel>
ous" Not only refusing to provide schools
| for those whose fathers have cleared away
the forests and reaped down their fields, they
are intolersnt of the purest benefieence oil
I the teachers who come to the victims of sla-
very, delivered by the valor and blood Of our
soldiers, TO brighten the future Of the down
cast end rescue them from ignorance and
| crime. They even doonn,o the cell and to
wearing the ball and chain devoted instruct.
| or on the charge of vagrancy.
| Small homesteads in numerous cases have
| been taken away from their happy occupants
| by the greed Of psrdoned rebels, and Dor
| der State, that svsiled itself of the military
| service OF thirty Thousand Of the eolored
race, imposes a fine by law of FIVE dollars,
and takes from its owner his gun, though he
bought it OF the Government, and bore il
| during the war. That state, which is the
adepted home of the now royal prisoner al
| Fortress Monroe, forbids, BY statute, negroes
from purchasing or leasing real estate excep,
| in corporate cities and towns; and thus in
various forms do the States ill up the meas
| ure Of niqaity That neither of the States
have cheer ally modified their laws; that the
murderers of the eoiored race by thousands
| 90 UNPUBLISHED, aud that the more than saw.
| age butcherles at Memphis and New Orleans
attest the spirit Of the people what have we
| TO do but T. hear Of the call Of God that we
now lay tn foundation deep and strong. sub.
| iecting the conquered neither to Danish men,
nor to execution, but to laws which ARD i'm.
| partial. and their execution to our friends
| rather than 20 our enemies.
| Happily for our country, the rebel Statet
spurn the provisions OF the Constitutional
amendment, which relieves the Government
from an obligation to keep open the I'M Piled
conditions, if ever made. 1t spares uF the
/ dangers which would attach TO the return oil
| rebels in spirit, SO early, and the shame Of
being party to giving the rights of millions
Of prescribed race into the keeping of ,rait-
ors to their country with that motive only to
ensct impartial justice, which is found in a
| promised increase of politica! power.
Had their evil spirit been exercised by .
sense Of their poverty, consideration OF
| their crimes and the clemency Of the Gov
eminent, the great party of freedom nigh,
have been divided in counsel and restora>
| ton possible on basis OF white suffrage and
| rebel rule; but now. thanks 10 the Almighty
| Ruler, who causes the wrath Of man 10 praise
him. and who, from the revelation of human
passion brings the greatest deliverance. TIE
way for radical methods Is open, and the du
" Of Congress made plain, and the demand
for action Imperative.
Congress has not breaihed political vitality
into those Safes in rebellion. Their pblti.
cal chaos is as complete rs their rebellioui
deeds were methodical and Internal. Bru
tality, chcanery, and a mysterious inspira
ton drawn from the dispensary Of power.
exalts treason, and treads loyalty under foot,
and the first duty of Congress. and one which
can no longer be delayed, is 10 give an impair
tial, just. and constitutional government to
the people lately in revolt. Its no mean or
light work over urning these State bastiles,
.'that not one stone shall be LEFT Apon apoth-
err" It involves that reorganisAtion spoken
Sof by Presdent johnson, "when the old
leaders must be put aside and new .nss
brought forward" II asmnons the spirii
snansr>d Aho ,rs~<vrod ;nn,lc - A. ~>.~nA.