Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-07-17
Congregational Summary and
WashIngtOn News.
HOUSE.

oath.
A resolution by Mr.. Wood, as inqui-
~ as to what action should be taken
by the government Of the United
States in view of the forcible abduc-
ton of Santa Anna from an American
vessel by the Mexican authorities in
June, and whether the existing treaty
between the United States and Mexico
and the laws of nations were not viola
ted in that case, in such a manner, as
together with other outrages agsinst
the rights and property of American
citizens, as to call for immediate and
summary action upon the part Of this
government. Resolutions all referred.
Mr.. Ashley offered a constitutional
amendment providing that all persons
hereafter naturalized must be able to
read and write the English language,
as qualification for voting alse, no
person shall hold Office. civil or militia
ry, under the United States, who was
a member of any legislature or conven-
tion which passed the act of secession
or voted therefor, or who held q COM
mission above the rank of Captain, in
the insurgent army, or having taken
the oath to support the Constitution of
the United States engaged in rebellion
against the same, or aided its enemies;
but Congress by two-thirds vote, may
remove such disability, &c.
July9.
Soon after the meeting of the House
the consideration of the reconstruction
/ bill was resumed.
Mr.. Brooks of New York spoke at
length in opposition to the bill as an
utter violation of every natural and
national law. There was no parallel to
it in history, except in the conduct of
the Duke of Alva.
Mr.. Garfield in referring to Mr..
Brooks illusions to the agrarianism of
Senator Wade, reminded HIM and the
House that that Senator had disclsimed
the sentiments imputed to him.
Mr.. Wood spoke in opposition to
the bill as unconstitutional generally
and in detail.
After the remarks of Mr.. Bingham,
Stevens allowed 10 minutes to Mr.. Ell
bridge, who claimed there had been no
obstruction to the law by the Presi-
dent.
> Mr.. Stevens then closed the debate
saying that if we had ali agreed. as
we have since agreed. that the
States lately in rebellion were con-
quered territory, subject to this nation
as such, and if we had treated them ac-
eordingly, we should have had but lit
tie trouble in the reconstruction of this
government. will state what | sup
pose to have been our real condition.
The nation was afflicted by civil war,
which for a time was an insurrection,
which divided its sway. We, at the
period when we declared the block
ade, admitted them to be, not an inde-
pendent nation, but an independent
belligerent, raising them above insur-
rection. and entitled to all privileges,
and subject to all the liabilities of an
independent belligerent. We con-
quered the Confederate Government;
we conquered all the States forming
the Confederate Government. We con-
quered government which by its own
declaration owed no allegiance to the
government of the United States
That they should pretend, after they
had one right under the Constitution
which they had thus repudiated and
attempted to destroy, and were still
States in the Union, looks to me like
bold absurdity. Was the doctrine of
the President the doctrine which the
gentlemen are fighting abouti We
declared them TO be conquered prov
inces. We we're treating them under
the military law now what is the law
in reference TO provinces conquered
from an independent bellgerent I'll
When you conquer from foreign ma
ton, or an independent belligsrert,
the territory conquered is governed BY
military poverty the Commander
in-Chief of the Army, who, in this case
was the President, until the legislative I
power of the nation shall have spoken,
and directed what laws shall govern
But the moment the legislative power
of the government interposes, the mil
itary authorities cease to exist, and
the Commander-in-Chief has no more 1
to say to it, than a corporalsin the
ranks. He has has to say jnst what
that legislative power orders him to
say he has to do just what legislative
power orders him to do, and he can
do nothing else.
Mr.. Stevens charged the President with
not only exercising his authority as COM
mandarin chief Of the army, but also
with endeavorIng to legislate the States
Of the South back into the Union on the
basis of the old constitution without the
sanction Of Congress. He claimed that
Congress alone had power to make rules
and laws for the government Of the land,
and the naval and military commanders
sent South were simply the agents of Con-
yress. He denied that the President had
> right to call on the Attorney General to
in acts Of reconstruction. There
was but one appeal, and that was to the
agents appointed by Congress. The Con- I;
'titution does not apply to territories, and
he .eeonstructing power lies with the
States and does not extend for any pur-
pose to any territory, whether the latter
$ acquired by conquest or Inheritance
There is no power on earth except Con-
sress that has any right to say word or
on the subjet. He preferred to
elsase JEFF. Davis, and said he and his I
Iabinet were responsible for the murder
t Andersonville and Salisbury, and it
vas a mOckery to try such man as WIrz 6
or such crimes. 8
He continued as to the question Of h
on6scation: l think the man who has 5
murdered 8 thousand men; who has
obbed thousand widows and orphans, /
nd who has burned down q thousand
Iouses, escape well if, owning hum I
red thousand dollars, he is fined fifty b
housand dollars as a punishment, TO j
epair his ravages. said before that |
Tas not in favor of sanguinary pun e
Ihment. ! trust, in saying that need 3
ot be supposed to condemn society s
hen necessary. For instance, the
lamor that has been raised against the Q
lexican Government for the heroic
of murderers and pirates K
Some applause and clapping Of hands, v
Y the members followed by some Il
isses.I Clamor finds no favor with t.
le. l think that while he has gone Il
II enough, though not half SO far as 81
9 might be justified in going, yet is Il
here no law nor policy under heaven, "
nd no sense of justice that will con- 81
emn? That real heroic, much-endur- b
x man for the last six years has been
united with q reward upon his head, tC
a. boav 1r;vra,, from 0na and of his fe