Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-01-25
he Unrecoustructed States.
SPEECH OF
Ron. 4. A.. Pike
In The House, jan. 6, 1867.

Ron. Il. A. Pike
In The House, Jan. 6, 1867.
ir. Pike-Mr. Speaker, in the remarks
oh | propose to make at the present
G | shall nst. speak particularly upon
substitute presented this morning by
gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr..
yens} ibecause have had no opportum-
% examine it; but | shall rather occu-
the attention Of the House in giving my
nien upon the present state Of affairs
Ii regard to the insurrectionary States
IN to enforce it by recital of the facts
larguments upon whichit Is based Ii
got to be time now for action~if We are
fulfill the reasonable expectations of the
untry during the life of this Congress,
d for one am quite ready toeact.
Three mode of dealing with those States
We been proposed aud are now before us
consideration and decision.
/. The Presidents plan of admission'at
ICE to.a full participation in the Govern
ent, treating them as il they had never
.eR in,rebelli0n.
g The lct-alone policy, which would
,erelv refuse them representation IN the
eneral Government mil they had adopt
l the constitutional amendments propos-
! at the last session of Congress with per-
APPS the addition of negro suffrage.
. 3. The immediate action by Congress
superseding the governments of those
tates set up by the President in 1865. and
establishing in their place governments
ounded upon loyalty and universal sui
rage.
it is not worth while to waste words up
N the Presidents policy" 1t is res al
ud;cate. He explained it at length to the
people before the election, and the better
hey understood it the more emphaticaliy
,hey condemned it. What little life his
plan had during the last session OF Con
gress, was crushed on. OF it by the weight
g ''-- r-r;la, avalanche at the polls and
now that the DemOcratIc Paiv, ii"' "eseie
ed tine Adminlstration-as rats do a sink
ing ship-there are no mourners at Its
grave. 1t and its cognater universal sui
tra.e and universal amnesty" are laid out
Of tire question. We are not to allow the
rebels to participate in the Government
they sought to destroy without being some
what shorn of their capacity for mischief !;
nor are we to purchase of them good con
dact toward the loyal men in their midst
hy entire combination of crime. We can
no: afford to ignore all distinction between
rebellion and loyalty just yet. Neither the
past nor the future demand such action at
oar hands.
The second plan stands in somewhat
peculiar position. The constitutional a.
mendments should be adopted and will be-
They have been sanctioned by the popular
Judgment il. the most decided manner
There are no reasons-why loyal men should
object to them.
But the question ef1their acceptance or
rejection is quite outside OF these States.
1t is one with which they have nothing to
do.
Should they persist in their desire to be
admitted to representation. it is quite GER
tais, they cannot succeed during TINS Ao-
DEMONSTRATION unless they each OF them
,dept these amendments. No State can
Iave representation here, that does not it
self subscribe to them. Such an adoption
would constitute a badge Of loyalty that is
indispensable.
Whether having adopted the amend
mcnts they shall be admitted is another
and different matter. AS yet there is no
agreement to that effect. A bill was pre-
uared at the last session providing Tor their
admission under certain contingencies; but
it failed, and its failure indicates an indis-
position on the part OF Congress to hamper
itself with pledges.
Undoubtedly there were expectations Oh
the part of many of the voters, that those
States would be admitted upon the adop-
A. an AL
c,,mr,ittec Of the Union party issued an
address 10 that effect. The constitutional
amendments were called the "congressioh-
al plan'' and antagonzed against the Pres
idencs "po.icy." 1t is not improbable
that many members III The canvass dcclar-
cd themselves willing to vote for the ad
mission Of every State that should adept
these amendments. Ifso, they should full
I'LL their pledges. That should always be
done. But il is n matter OF individual
concern. There is nothing binding me,
ci,l, n as member Of this Congress or a
member Of the Union party. | have made
no agreements here or elsewhere to admit
the representation from any OF those States
apon such contingency, and do not pro
pose to do So
Undoubtedly they would have been ad-
united had they or any Of them adopted
the amendments 1t may not he too late
rrpw. should not undertake to say what
would be the action of the two Houses il
they shjuld at once accept the amend
ments.
Tarthering this idea. it is said that a
nyoposal is TO be made, that the House
Shall make direct promise to those States
~ the shape of a resolution pledging ad
mission to any State that shall ratify the
COZ, .titItionai amendments. But such n
resolution ought not to pass A ratifica.
tion Of the amendment by any of the rebel
States is 1T most, hu. an indication of 10y
asty oa the part of the State ratifyiug. 1t
has 10 legal significance. The amend
nlent was submitted only TO the States rec.
ognixcd by Congress as States. and their
action alone should govern the question of
its adoption or injection. II one of those
States should give such indication of 10y
atty as adoption Of this amendment would
certainly be, and should accompany ii by Il
grant of suffrage to all loyal men, Of what
ever color, | should checrfully vote for her
-si...f,s;.n Rut let them ;dopt il crude