The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1867-04-04
RECONSTRUCTION.
SENArE, Tuesday. March II. Is

/ o6OOtVS
| SENArk. Tuesday. March II. 1867.
/ Mr.. MoRroN I move TO take from
/ the table the resolutions Of the Senator
/ from Massachusetts,, which we're yester-
/ day laid on the table by q vote Of the
Senate
/ Senate resumed the consideration of the
following resolutions, submitted by Mr.
Sumner on the 7th instant:
Resolution declaring certain further
/ guarantees required in the reconstruc-
ton of the rebel States.
! l. Resoiped, That Congress, in declar-
ing by positive legislation that it pos
sesses paramount authority over the re bel
States, and in prescribing that no person
therein shall. be excluded from the elec
tive franchise by reason of race, color,
or previous condition, has begun the
| work OF reconstruction, and has set an
example to itself
/ 2. Resolved, That there are othe.'
things remaining to be done, which are
as clearly within the power of Congress
as the elective franchise, and it is the
duty of Congress to see that these things
are not left undone
/ 3. Resolved, That among the things
| remaining to be done are the FIVE fol-
lowing:
First, The existing governments, which
have been declared to be illegal, must be
vacated, so that they can have no agency
in the work of reconstruction, and will
cease to exercise pernicious influence.
Secondly, Provisional governments
must be constituted as temporary SUBJ
stitutes for the illegal governments, with
special authority to superintend the tran
sition to permanent governments, repub-
lican in form
Thirdly. AS loyalty, beyond suspicion,
must be the basis Of permanent govern
ments. republican in form, every posi-
BILE precaution must be adopted against
rebel agency or influence in the forma-
ton Of these governments.
Foarthly, As the education of the peo-
pie is essential to the national welfare,
and especially to the development of
those principles of justice and morality
which constitute the foundation OF re-
public government and as, according to
the census, an immense proportion of
the people in the rebel States, without
distinction to color, cannot read and
write, therefore public schools must be
established for tue equal good of all
Ftthly, Not less important than edu
cation is the homestead, which must be
secured to the freedmen, so that at least
every head of family may have piece
of land.
f. Resolred, That all these require
ments are in the nature of guarantees to
be exacted by Congress-, without which
the United States will not obtain that se-
curity for the future which is essential
to just reconstruction
Mr.. MORTON. Mr.. President, voted
yesterday against laying those resolu-
tions on the table, because 1 was unwil
ling to terminate the debate at that
time, and because there is one PROPOSE
ton contained in them of vital impor-
portance. ] dissent entirely from the
argument made by several Senators yes
terday, that the act which was passed
few days ago is to be regarded in the
nature of a pledge, and that we cannot
now alter or amend it without a breach
of faith. The House of Representa-
tives, understand, has already passed
q bill, which will be here for considera-
ton in day or two, proposing to per
feet that measure in several respects;
but independent of that, the offer, as it
is called, has not yet been accepted by
any of the Southern States, it has not
been acted upon by them, no rights
have vested under it. 1t cannot be re-
garded in the nature of a contract, be-
cause that takes two parties, one to pro
pose and the other to accept. Couse-
quentiy it is entirely competent for Con
gress to alter, amend. modify, or even
repeal that bill without dishonor or
breach Of faith.
While there is much in the resolutions
offered by the Senator from Massachu-
setts that l cannot approve, / desire to
say that do approve most fully what
they say upon the subject of the neces-
sity of providing for the education of
the people of the late rebel States, l
think that is of vital Importance. not
only to them, but to the whole country
and that we of the North are as much
interested in it as they Of the South
They are to be our assistant law makers,
to join with US in electing Senators,
Representatives, Vice Presidents. and
Presidents, and we are to be effected by
their competency or incompetcncy to
exercise the right of suffrage The bill
which we have passed will probably
bring to the polls in the late rebel States
not less than seven hundred thousand
new voters, of whom but 4 small pro
portion can read and write, and of the
white people of the South it is well
known that large portion cannot read
or write. When you add to the number
of whites who cannot read or write the
whole number of colored people who
| cannot read and write, you will find that
both classes in that category will proba-
bly, constitute q full half, if not more.
O: all the voters in the rebel States IN
der the late act Of Congress.
Sir, the opposition which has existed
in the North to comforting the right of
suffrage upon th0freedmen Of the South.
has arisen more from the consideration
| Of their ignorance, their want of educa-
/ ton, than from any prejudice on the
subject of color. think I speak advi-
sedly on that subject. OF the people in
/ the South who can read and write, OF the
educated classes, An overwhelming ma
I inrify have hooo rahefs and NOW