The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-01-07
THAD. STEVENS ON THE SUPREME
COURT.


COURT.
A Further and Fuller Report of His
Remarks in the House OfRepresent-
AtIVes on Thursday Last
We gave, on Friday last, short tele-
graphic summary of Thad. Stevens
remarks in Congress on the recent de-
cision of the Supreme Court in the case
of Milligan, the Indiana conspirator.
The text used by Mr.. Stevens, was the
substitute proposed by himself ON the
18th ult., for the joint report made by
the Reconstruction Committee, to pro-
vide for restoring the rebel States to
their rights in the Union. Mr.. Stevens
said that he was anxious that the bill
should be proceeded with until final ac-
ton upon it. 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
| Supreme Court of the United States had
rendered immediate action by Congress
on the establishment of governments
in the rebel States absolutely indis-
pensable. That decision, though, per-
haps not so infamous as the bred Scott
decision, was far more dangerous IN its
operation on the lives and liberties OF
the loyal men of the country. 1t had
taken away all protection from every
loyal man, black or white, residing in
any of the rebel States. It has un-
sheathed the dagger of the assassin and
the knife of the rebel against the throat
of any man who dared to proclaim him
self now or heretofore loyal, Union
man. If the doctrine of that decision
were true, there never was a people in
such terrible peril as the loyal people of
the South, white and black. Unless Con-
gress proceeded at once and did some-
thing to protect those people from
the barbarianS that are now muir
dering the whites and putting into Sc
cret graves hundreds of thousands of
colored people, it would be liable to the
Just cenSure of the world for its neg
lect, its cowardice orits want of ability.
This bill was an enabling act to enable
loyal men in the rebel States to form
governments and to put these govern
ments into loyal hands, so that they
might protect themselves. The mill
tarY authorities now commanding,
dared not order any General command
ing department in States which had
never been restored from a state of con-
quest, and every one of which was held
this day as conquered territory, to en-
force the laws of the country. One OF
the most atrociOuS murdererS ever let
loose on n community, (Watson,) had
been lately liberated under the very
decision of the Supreme Court, because
the Government extended its construc-
J ton, perhaps properly, to the conquered
., NI,T
Watson, whose case Mr.. Stevens briefly
outlined, was discharged by order oil
the President under that most iniQui.
tous and injurious decision. If that
decision were according to law, then il
became the more necessary for Con-
gress to proceed and take care that nc
such construction should open the door
to larger injuries than have been al.
, ready sustained. The people had done
, their duty nobly. Had Congress the
courage to do its duty? Or was it to be
deferred by the clamor of ignorance
} bigotry and despotism, from perfecting
the resolution? 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 slander his native land, buI
; would reform it. Twenty years ago he
l had denounced it as despotism, thai
, twenty millions of whites should gov
: ern four millions of blacks. He pro
nounced it no nearer a free republic
now, when twenty-five millions of 6
privileged class undertook to exclude
e five millions from all participation il
! the Government. No Government
1 could be regarded as free which did moi
e allow all its people to participate in the
l formation and execution of its laws
g Such Babel-like confusion was caused
; blythe eintermingling ofpardoned rebels
lurking copperheads and apostate Re
publicans that it was difficult either tC
understand the questions asked or the
answers given. Speaking of the Presi
e dent, he said that although the Presi
e dent was Commander-in-Chie of tht
: Army and the Navy, Congress was hi:
5 commander, and, please God, he SHOULD
be made to obey. The President anG
his satraps should know that this wa.
4 II Government of the people, and tha
!. Congress was the people. Unless i'm
partial suffrage were introduced in tht
rebel States, every one of them would
be sure to send n solid rebel representa-
!; ton, and cast u solid rebel electora
4 vote. They, with their kindred Cop
perheads of the North, would alway!
= elect President and control Congress
: And the people of the North would bt
: the perpetual vaSsal and slave of tht
e South.
n