Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-01-17
Thaddeus stevens on Recsn-
structfon--A Terrible Phillipic.

Mr.. Stevens made very powerful and
bitter speech in the House Of Representa-
tives few days ago. pending the conadera4
ton Of the bill to reconstruct the late Rebel
States. We find the following synopsis Of
IL 10 the N. Y. Tribune:
Mr.. Stevens said he was anxious that this
bill should be proceeded with until final &C.
ton upon il. He desired that the House
should, as early as possible, come TO some
conclusion ss to what should be done with
the Rebel States. This was becoming more
and more necessary every day, and the late
decision of the Supreme Court Of the
United States had rendered immediate ac-
ton by Congress on the establishment of
Governments in the Rebel States absolutely
indispensable. That decision, though per-
haps not 10 infamous as the Dred Scott de-
cision, was far more dangerous in its opera.
ton on the lives and liberties 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 as
sassin and the knife of the Rebel against
the throat Of every man who dared to pro-
claim himself now or heretofore, loyal,
Union man. If the doctrine of that de-
cision were true, there never was a people
in such terrible peril as the loyal people of
the South, white and black. Unless Con-
gress proceeded at once and did something
to protect those people from the barbarians
that are now numbering the whites and put
ting into secret graves hundreds of thou
sands of colored people, it would be liable
to the Just censure Of the world for its neg
lect. it's cowardice, or its want Of ability.
This bill was an enabling act, TO enable
loyal men 10 the Rebel States to form govz
ernmeuts aud to put those iafo
loyal hands, so that they might protect
themselves. The military authorites noH
commanding dared not to order any Gelers
Accommodating department in States which
had never been restored from. Btate Of con.
quest, and every one of which WIS held this
day as conquered territory, to enforce the
laws of the country. +
One of the most atrocious murderers ever
let loose on q community, Watson, had been
lately liberated under this very decision of
the Supreme Court because the Govern
ment extended its construction, perhaps
properly, to the conquered States as well as
to the loyal States. This Watson, whose
case Mr.. Stevens briefly outlined, was dis.
charged by order of the President under
that most iniquitous and injurious decision.
II that decision we're according to law, then
it became the more necessary for Congress
to proceed and take care that no such con-
struction should open the door to larger in
juries than have been already sustained.
The people had done their duty nobly.-
Had Congress the courage to do its duty?-
Or was it to be deferred by the clamor of
ignorance, bieotry and despotism from per-
fecting the resolution? He believed that
in Persia, in the past, and in Turkey, in
the present, they were as free as the freed
men of this country now are. He would not
slander his native land but would reform
it. Twenty years ago he had denounced il
as a despotism, that 10000 600 whites
should govern 100000 blacks. He
pronounced it no nearer free Republic
now. when 25.000.000 of a privileged class
undertook to exclude 5000, 900 from all
participation in the Government. NoGov-
ernment could be regarded as free which
did not allow all its people 10 participate-iu
the formation and execution of its aawa.-
Such Babel-like confusion was caused by
the intermineling Of pardoned Rebels; hiss
ing Copperheads and apestate Republicans,
questions asked or the answers given
Speaking of the President, he said that al
though the President was Commander in
Chief of the Army aud the Navy, Congress
was his commander, and. please God. he
should be made to obey. The President
and his satraps should know that this was q
government of the people. and that Con-
gress was the people. Unless impartial
suffrage were introduced in the Rebel States,
every one of them would be sure to send a
solid Rebel representation. and cast solid
Rebel Electoral vote. They. with their
kindred Copperheads of the North, would
always dictate to the President and control
Congress. And the people of the North
would be the perpetual vassals and slaves
of the Soufh