Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-01-18
AN EXCITING SPEECH.
Thad. Stevens on the Supreme Court
and the South.

Mr.. Stevens speech in Congress on the Sd
was very bitter. The order was the consid-
Grafton of the bill reported by Mr.. Stevens,
April 80, from the Joint Select Committee on
Reconstruction, TO provide for restoring to
States lately in insurection their full politi-
cal rights--ihe question being on the substi.
tuition proposed therefor by Mr. Stevens, on
the 10th of December, 1866. f.
Mr.. Stevens moved to amend the third
section, taking the power Of appointing cleo
ton commissioners, for districts lately 10
rebellion from Congress and giving It to the
Supreme Court and said:
al am very anxious that 1t shall be pro-
ceeded with until final action. desire, as
far as possible, that We should come TO q
conclusion as TO what is to be done with the
rebcl States. This becomes more and nee
essary every day, and the late decision of the
Supreme Court of the United States has rem
dered immediate action on the question of
establishing governments in the rebel Stat ties,
absolutely indispensable. That decision,
although in terms, perhaps not as Infamous
as the bred Scott decision, Is far more dan
gerous and disastrous in its opera 'ons upon
the lives and liberties of the loyal men of
this country. That decision has taken away
even protection, in every one OF the rebel
States, from every loyal man, black or white,
who resides there. That decision has un-
sheathed the dagger of the rebel assassin,
and put 1t to the throat Of every man who
dares to proclaim himself now or hereafter,
a loyal Union man.
II the doctrine of that decision be true,
then never were any men in such terrible
perils as our loyal brethren in the South,
white and black, whether originally resident
there or having gone from the North.
MIR. Speaker, unless Congress proceed at
once TO do something to protect these people
from the barbarian horde who are daily
numbering them-the withstand putting
into secret graves hundreds aud thousands
Of the colored peo pie unless Congress
proceed at once to adopt means for the PRO.
lection, ] ask you and every man who loves
liberty, whether we are not liable to the lust
censurc Of the world for our negligence, for
our cowardice, for our seeming want of
ability to do it2
{" It is for these reasons, sir, that insist
upon going on with the consideration of this
bill. This Is an act to Enable the loyal men
in these States, as far as could discriminate
them, TO form governments and put them
into loyal hands, that they may protect
themselves from the outrages that speak Of
Not one Of our Generals commanding de-
partments in States lately in rebellion, dare
not under this decision, order his officers TO
enforce the laws of the country. One Of the
most atrocious murderers that was ever let
loose upon any community, DR.. Watson, has
been released under this decision.
Therefore, for these reasons it becomes all
the more necessary that we should promptly
take measures to put stop to these atroci-
ties and protect the loyal people of the
South
Mr.. Stephens proceeded to read written
argument in support of the bill. He de-
scribed the condition of affairs in the South,
and said outrages were committed by the late
rebels upon loyal men, white and black, and
that country in which such state of
things could exist was not true Repub-
lie.
Twenty years ago he denounced our Gov
eminent as despotism, because under it
then twenty millions Of white mon enslaved
four million black men: and he pronounced
it no nearer to true Republic now than it
was then. The freedom Of Government
did not depend upon the quality of its laws,
but upon the power having authority to en-
act them, and no Government could he free
that did not allow its citizens to participate
in the making and the execution Of its laws.
There were degrees in tyranny, and gen.
orally the larger the number of the rulers the
more cruel the dispo ition. Congress was
bound by every consideration of honor and
policy to protect loyal people of the South,
and all obstacles standing in the way Of such
action must be removed.
The President was Commander. in Chief
Of the army, but Congress was his comman-
der, and he would be compelled to obey
He and his minions must learn that ours was
not government Of kings and satraps, but
4 government of the people, and that Con-
sress was the people.