The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-05-11
RECONSTRUCTION.
Remarks by Mr.. EIdridge OfWis.
eOnslm ln llae House at Washing.
ton, Feb. Is, 1867.


Mr.. ELDRIpgE--I never understood
fully the value of minute until / was
taught it by this Congress. The practice
seems to have been established here that
the most important measures that come
Ebefore this house is discussed ia the least
time. Some gentleman upon the other
side Of the house Is assigned the floor, and
as upon this occasion partitions out ten
minutes TO one, eight minutes to another.
four minutes to another and believe as
low as two minutes TO another, for the dis
cussion Of measure which is 10 abrogatc
the constitution in ten Of the states of this
Union. Ten minutes arc allotted to
me. | shall not sLultify myself by pre-.
tending to make IN argqq-nont ia these ton
minutes. @s
shall content myself with denouncing
this measure rs most wicked and abomin-
able. II contains all that is vicious, all
that Is mischieyous in any aud all Of the
propositions which have come either FROM
the committee on reconstruction or from
any gentleman upon the other side of the
house. am not quite so certain as my
friend from Ohio (Mr lie Blond) that
when this bill shall have become law, a
state of war will not exist In my judg-
ment, this bill is of itself declaration Of
war against tho southern people; il is at
least revival and continuation of the war
which We had hoped was forever ended.
lfit is LeLiO ceSsGnte now, from the time
this bill shall pass and become law, it will
be war actual and fragrant which will |
fear involve that whole people, white and
black, in one common ruin.
Now, what is this measure? / do no,
wonder that there is some difference oil
opinion upon the other side Of the house
| should wonder If there was not. For
as you approach the final consummation
Of the purpose which You had in view Of
virtually declaring the government ofour
fathers failure. wonder not that you
differ; that you have some misgivings.-
The gentleman from Connecticut (Mr
lirandegce) told US the other day that the
| measure then before the honse similar Il
this was commencing at the right point
that il was TO perform exactly the purpose
which they desire; that il was commenc
ling at Appomattox courthouse, where
Gen. Grant left off The gentleman
would have more truly expressed the fact
10 my judgment. il he had declared thai
il was commencing exactly where Robert
J.. Lee left of. And the gentleman from
from Pennsylvania Mr.. Sievens) is bold
enough TO declare that il is the purposc
TO concur in the revolution inaugurated
by scccssionists aud carried on by then
against the government OF the United
States, and which he says he hopes 10 SCI
perfected in making this true and per
feet republic.
Il was we'll said by my friend from Obi,
/ Mr.. Lc Blond) that this bill starts ou
with falschood, it does Indeed. /
declares that there are no legal govern
ments in these states. 1t not only start
out with lie, but every provision of th,
bill is lie; il is ono consummate unmitiga
ted lie from beginning to end. 1t will, i
it shall become law subject the people
Of ten states of this union to the unwritten
underlined and undefnablc will of . brig
adler general of the army. It viii sub
stitutc for our written Constitution ant
the laws made in pursuance thereof tn
arbitrary, uncontrolled aud unlimited vii
of military despot. 1t matters not VIII
he may be; how pure, how upright;
care not If he be the commander-in-chic
Of the army. he will be, he can be moth
ing less than military despot. Gentle
men may sugar:coat the pill if they can
on that side or this side of the house, b.
saying that it is all to be under the con
troll of the president Of the United States
Sir, respect the president of the Unite'
States; honor him in his position an,
Office, and for many things.hc has done; but
e sir, God never made the man or the ange
whom | would trust with the libertie
! OF the people unlimited and unrestrainc,
by written constitution. No man is s
pure, so just so generous, SO unambtious
that | would trust the lives and libertic
of great people in his hands withou
| having his power controlled or con
strained by some written constitution 0
law.
, But the effect of this bill is to abrogat
the constitution of the United States, 0
overthrow all government and commit a
Q the rights, ali the vast interests Of th
: people Of those states to the supreme wi
,, aud pleasure of military despot | cas-
reflection upon any particular man or Of
+ ficcr who may be deputed to hold position
and exercise power under this bill !, / max
no charge against any one, for know no
who may be appointed. But | do sa
that, whoever he may be, he will, he mus
of necessity, be tyrant. He cannot fl
! the position and be anything else.--
The work prescribed, the powers to b
exercised, can only be performed and ex
) ercsed by tyrants. And yet gentleme
affect to believe this is restoration of tn
E union this is the constitutional guarante
, of republican form of government; this
: the consummation of all our hopes, tn
reward for all our sacrifices in the fearful
! struggle through which we have passed
What good can gentlemen expect frou
r this measure? what protection of rights
interests, lives and liberties Of tho peopl
not secured by pour constitution? Wha
! laws do you expect are to be administers,
! Has your constitution Of government
) proved itself in years gone by SO defectiv
t and inefficient that tonight, in the pres
} ence of the civilized world in this Amer
lean congress, you arc going to declar
that it is q sublime and miserable failure
4 You daclaro nothinU less than, this: vo,