Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-02-13
QDbio Statesman,
SPEECH
HON. F. G. LeBLOND,
OF OHIO.
In the House Of Representatives.

The House having unuer cOnslueIaIioli
the House bill to provide for the more efti-
cient government of the insurreetionary
States, .
Mr.. LEBLoND said:
| Mr.. Speaker. Ohio has no nominating
convention to come off on next "Wednesday,
as the gentleman Mr.. Brandageel has who
has lust taken his seat. Therefore, even
though otherwise might be so disposed,
shall not indulge in any high-sounding de-
clamation but simply present my views III
a brief form, disconnected as they must be,
in reference to this bill.
| Sir the bill was presented here at the
close of the session yesterday; 1t has been
printed and laid on our tables at noon TO-
| day: and now the decree has gone forth
| from the gentleman from Pennsylvania,
| MR. Stevens, that tomorrow at tone o'clock
we are by a solemn act to declare thatall
| the results of the late war are for naught
and that this Union nisdismembered, forever
| dissolved. | feel, sir, that the passage OF
| this bill is the death-knell of civil liberty,
not only here but everywhere. Sad as the
| thought may be, 1t is too true that almost
| the last hope of once tree people, that
| liberty is secure here, Is tast passing
away.
The bill under consideration proposes to
establish nothing more and nothing less
than q military despotism, That is not
only the tendency but the probable object
of much of our legislation.
What does the bill provide? The pre-
amble declares:
"Whereas the pretended State Govern
ments Of the late so-called Confederate
States of Virginia, North Carolina, South
! Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama,
Louisiana, Florida, Texas, and Arkansas
were set up without the authority OF Con-
gress and without the sanction OF the peo-
pie; and whereas said pretended Govern
| ments afford no adequate protection Tor
! life or property, but cuntenance and en-
courage lawlessness and crime; and where
as it is necessary that peace and good order
should be enforced in said so-called States
until loyal and Republican State Govern
ments can be legally established: there
FORE"
Sir, that rests, suppose, upon the theory
of the gentleman from Pennsylvania, that
the power of this Government rests in the
people, and that the Congress of the United
states is the people, and therefore the Con-
gress of the United States is all-pOwerful
and can establish any form of Government
that it may deem proper though the Consti-
tution expressly prohibits it. 1t is upon
the theory of the gentleman from New
York, Mr.. Raymond, who edited not
only this House but the American people
short time ago by the exhibition OF new
Constitution, a new fundamental law for
this Government, a law fixed in the imagi-
nation of men alone. This is the law
which he claims is higher than the written
Constitution of the United States. Well,
sir, this doctrine of a "higher law" is no
new doctrine in this country. This doc
trine is the root and foundation of all our
troubles and is indirectly the cause of all
the expenditure of treasure and blood to
which we have been subjected.
The preamble of this bill does not en-
brace a single truth Let us look tor
moment at the status of these States, their
relation to the Federal Government. And
here permit me to say | differ with
some gentlemen on this side of the House,
as well as gentlemen on the other side. l
maintain now, as | have ever maintained,
that the State organizations of those States
lately in rebellion never were broken up
from the foundation of their State Govern
ments to the present time. All the ''acts
and declarations" of those who were en-
gagged in the rebellion never destroyed
single State Government. Their local
Governments were kept up during the re-
bellion. The executive, legislative, and
JUDICIAL functions of each State continued
in full operation during that period.
According to my recollection, not
single State changed her Constitution dur
ing the rebellion; and the only change
made since the close of the war is the one
making their respective organic acts con-
form to the constitutional amendment sub
mtted by Congress.
But suppose, sir, amendments had been
made according to the rules prescribed by
their Constitutions, if the amendments were
not in conflict with the Constitution of the
United States, would be good and binding
upon the people. The amendment would
be just as binding as if made in time of
peace.
No one l apprehend, will contend that
uals during the rebellion and while the
State was acting under the Confederate
Government is void. To do so would make
confusion worse contounded.
Sir, their State organizations were not
broken up; their relations to the United
States were only suspended. To assert, as
the preamble does, that they have no real
| Governments, is to admit that the declara-
| ton of secession did carry them out of the
| Union and destroy their State Governments.
| 1t is an admission of the right of secession,
either reserved by the States or expressed
in the Constitution. 1t is an admission
but few believe and less number willing
to admit. 1t has been repeatedly affirmed
upon this floor and by all parties that a
| State once in the Union always in except
she dissolves her relations by successful
war.
Then, sir, l maintain that these States
are States within the Union; that they have
never been out of the Union; neither have
| they overthrown their State Governments.
| When the war ceased they took their posi-
| tion in the Union which they occupied be-
| fore they rebelled, with all their rights as
States, leaving the citizens subject to the
laws furnishing them for violations.
This, sir, is no new idea. Let me say
| here in this connection that Lieutenant
General w. L. Sherman has exhibited more
| craftsmanship and better appreciation of
! our form of government than the majority
of this Congress. He comprehended the
whole subject in the articles of capitulation
with the confederate General Johnston.
He enunciated the true doctrine, and if it
had been followed by the President and
Congress we would to-day have peace and
harmony. There would be no necessity
for enabling acts or revolutionary schemes
such as we now have under consideration.
Peace, happiness, and prosperity would
perVade all parts of this Union. 1t was all
| that was required, all that could be de-
manded under the Constitution and laws,
all that was necessary 70 produce not only
1 q ,,nitw of Stotac hut n unitv of haarfc