Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-02-12
Mr.. BANKs's SPEECH, in the House of r

siderable attention In the ranks Of his own
party, at least. The Washington correspondent
of the Baltimore Sun gives this synopsis OF his
views, and also of lbs plan of Reconstruction !:
| His argument was intended to show tina t
no good result could be attained by any other
| course than the elevation of the masses OF the
| South, and the total ignoring OF the present
| ruling classes of that section. He apprehend-
! ed no little danger from united South, and 10
speaking of the South, included the adherlng
slave States with those which had rebelled.-
| Reconstruction on the basis Of universal am
nesty and universal suffrage was deprecated as
not tending to the correction of existing pollt-
zeal evils, and as for the test oath, he had no
confidence whatever in its binding force The
only solid basis Of reconstruction was to be found
| in the constitutional amendment OF last session,
| after it should be guarded by proper explana-
tory laws; and at the conclusion OF his speech,
when reminded by Dir. Stevens that he had
proposed no plan, he introduced bull, not for
the reconstruction OF the whole South, but OF
Louisiana aloue-a Sta'e which he ueemed most
ripe for admission, and which, by reason OF Its
geographical position, would have command
Ing influence upon the States of the Mississippi
Valley, and by some similar bill the other States,
he hoped could be successfully brought IN, one
by one. The bill thus introduced provides tor
| a commission of three persons-onc to be ap-
pointed by the Senate, one by the House and one
by the Secretary of War-who shall be author
lied to proceed to the State Of Louisiana, with
authority to replace the political organization
now existing there, and to reconstruct civil
government on the basis specified in the con-
stitutional amendment proposed by the first
session OF the 39th Congress- The commits
Sioners shall, without delay, secure registry,
Of all male citizens over twenty-one years OF
age, without distinction of class, color or TOR
| mer condition of slavery. All SO registered
| shall be allowed to vote, provided they have
estates valued at 500 or upwards, or can read
and write or were born within the State, or
have contributed, by payment of taxes, to the
support OF the government. Exception IS made
in the next section against every person who as
member of Congress or other officer OF the
United States or member of State Legisla
ture, or Governor of State, or had held Ju
dicial Office, had taken an oath to support the
constitution of the United States, and had sub
seuuently engaged in rebellion against the Uni
ted States, or had held Office under the late
Confederacy, or had participated in any pre-
tended secession convention; but Congress may,
by vote of two thirds of its members, remove
such disability. After the registry shall have
been completed, the commissioners shall, by
giving thirty days notice, call an election tor
delegates to convention, to be composed OF
number equal to the number in the State Leg
islature prior to the late rebellion, and to which
convention shall be submitted the question Of
the acceptance of this bill, and Of the ratiica-
,ion Of the constitutional amendment; and the
convention shall then proceed to form a State
constitution, republican in form, which shall he
submitted to vote of the people, and II ratl-
fed by majority of them, it shall be submit
ted to Congress and if approved by Congress,
Louisiana Shall be admitted to all privileges
| in the Union. An oath of non-p participation in
the rebellion and of allegiance to the conStltu-
ton of the United States is prescribed to be
taken by all voters, and the judges OF the elcc.
| ton are empowered TO refuse the vote OF any
! person disqualified by the bill.
cit was subject Of remark that, notwith-
standing Mr.. Bankss argument against The
binding effect of the test oath, he Incorporated
one similar in character in his bill.
AT THE PRESIDENT AGAIN-Y esterday, in
the Senate Mr. Chandler asked to take up the
resolution introduced by him on Saturday call
ing on the Judiciary Committee as to whether
the President had any authority to appoint
Provisional Governors.
Mr.. Chandler supported his resolution in a
! speech of some length. In (which he declared
that the appointment of these Governors was
| in palpabe violation ofthe law, and usurpatlon
of the authority Of Congress, tor which he de-
| served impeachment. 1t was alleged that the
| President had delivered over to the rebel rail.
roads in the South rolling stock which belonged
to the Government, and tor this he deserved
impeachment He had suspended, as was
| -, ~ law no
ton of the direct tax in the rebelllOus States,
and for this alone he deserved impeachment
and removal. He had made appointments not
onlv without the consent Of the Senate, but
after they had been rejected by the Senate, and
for this he should he lmpeached If not, the
Congress of the United States might as we'll
never meet again. In regard to the Tears which
| had been expressed as to the disastrous effect
on the country in case Of impeachment, 1T would
not produce any more arrangement than the
removal Of New York custom-house official.
This Republic would live and neither the fall OF
.Iefferson Davis or of Andrew johnson would
have any effect on it.
NJ. Dixon said he should move an amend
ment to the resolution as to whether PRESIDENT
! Lincoln had authority to appoint provisional
| governors. r.,
Mr.. CONFESS did not like the language OF the
resolution. He moved to strike out the words
'sVice President and acting.
! Mr.. Fessenden deprecated the bringing up
of such resolution at this time: 1t he was
member of the Judiciary Committee he should
not consider it, if it was passed, and would
make no report on it. In view of the action
now going on in the House, he thought it wa:
not proper for the Senate to express any opln
ion on this subject.
Mr.. Pomeroy also deprecated the intrcduc,
ton OF the resolution at this time.
Mr.. Grimes moved to lay the resolution On
the table, which was agreed to-
| ~ a, M VI H. Bp 81 & r.