The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-01-16
House of Representatives.
WASHINGTON, JAN 3rd, 1867.


MR.. STEVENS RECONSTRUCTION BILL.
The House then proceeded, as the first
business in order, to the consideration of
the bin reported by Mr.. Stevens on the Both
of April, 1865, from the Joint Select Com
mittee on Reconstruction, to provide for re-
storing to the States lately in instruction
their full political rights, the question being
on substitute proposed therefor by Mr.. Ste
vens on the 18th of December, 1865. The
substitute having been read.
Mr. Bingham Rep.. Ohio made the point
of order that, as the Sth section provided for
the admission of Rebel States on compliance
with conditions prescribed. the substitute
must be referred to the Committee of Recon-
struction
The Speaker overruled the point of order,
as that bill had been reported from the Com
mittee and was before the House, subject to
amendment.
Mr. Stevens proceeded to address the
House in support of the substitute. He said
he was anxious that this bill should be pro
ceeded with until final action 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 Su-
preme Court of the United States had rem
dered immediate action by Congress on the es-
tahlishment of Governments in the Reb-
ell States absolutely indispensable. That de-
cision, though perhaps net so infamous as
the bred Scott decision, was far more dan
gerous in its operation on the lives and lib
critics 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. 1t had unsheathed the
dagger of the assassin and the knife of the
Rebel against the throat of every man who
dared to proclaim himself now or heretofore,
a loyal, Union man. If the doctrine of that
decision were true. there never was a people
in such terrible peril as the loyal people o
the South, white and black. Unless Congress
proceeded at once and did something to
protect those people from the barbarians that
are now numbering the whites and putting
into secret graves hundreds of thousands of
colored people, it would be liable to the Just
censure of the world for its neglect, its cow
ardice, or its want of ability This bill was
an enabling act, to enable loyal men in the
Rebel States to form governments and. to
put these governments into loyal hands, so
that they might protect themselves. The
Military authorities now commanding dared
not order any General commanding a de-
partment in States which had never been re-
stored from state of conquest, and every
one of which was held this day as conquered
territory, to enforce the laws of the country.
One of the most astrocious murderers ever
let loose on a community, Watson, had been
lately liberated under this very decision of
the Supreme Court because the Government
extended its construction, perhaps properly,
| to the conquered States as well as to the 10y
| al States. This Watson, whose case Mr.. Ste
vens briefly outlined, was discharged by Or
| der of the President under that most iniqui-
! tous and injurious decision. If that decis-
ion were according to law, then it became the
more necessary for Congress to proceed and
take care that no such construction should
| open the door to larger injuries than have
been already sustained. The people had
done their duty nobly. Had Congress the
courage to do its duty 2 Or was it to be de-
tered by the clamor ofignorance, bigotry
| and despotism from perfecting the resolu-
ton 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 SANDER his native
| land, but would reform it., Twenty years
ago he had denounced it as despotism, that
20,OOO,O0O whites should govern 4,OO0O 600
| blacks. He pronounced it no nearer a free
| Republic now, when 25,000000 of privil-
| eyed class undertook to exclude 5000, 900
from all participation in the Government
| No Government could be regarded as free
which did not allow all its people to partic
| ipate in the formation and execution of its
laws. Such Babel-like confusion was caus.
/ ed by the intermingling of pardoned Rebels
Kissing Copperheads and apostate Republi.
cans, that it was difficult either to under
stand the questions asked or the answers
| given. Speaking of the President, he said
that although the President was Comman
der-in-C Chief of the Army and the Navy, Con
gress was his commander, and, please God, he
Should made to obey. The President and
his satraps should know that this was gov
eminent of the people, and that Congress
wa, the people. Unless impartial suffrage
were introduced in the Rebel States, every
one of them would be sure to send solid
Rebel representation. and cast solid Rebe
Electoral vote They, with their kindred
A Copperheads of the North, would Away.
dictate to the President and control Con
gress. And the people of the. North would
be the perpetual vassals and slaves of The
South. Mr.. Stevens modified the third sec
| ton of the substitute so as to provide that
the Commissioners for each of the .Re5o
States should be appointed by the Supreme
Court Of the District Of Columbia, instead o
! being elected by Congress is,ss. sss5 sf'e