Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-02-26
Congressional.
DEMONSTRATIONS.
THE DEBATE IN THE SENATE ON THE
PENDING BILL

HE DEbA IL IN llE NtNA i YIN l he
PENDING BILL
We present extracts from speeches made in the
Senate during the progress Of the debate on the
pending reconstruction bill
SENATOR POMEROY.
the NOM TO LFGIsrArE FOR THE soUru-uow
ACQUIRED.
come now to ask how did we obtain the right
to legisate for the people of the South While |
admit the argument based upon the rights Of the
couquoror In the hour of his triumph, TO dictate
terms Of peace and basis of settlement yet in
this particular case undertake to say that all the
rights we claim over the States lately in rebellion
were Welded TO us by the very terms OF the sur
render when Lee and Johnston surrendered the
couloderacy in arms to the forces Of the American
Union. To the very pertinent question, Who
gave us the right 90 lcgislatc for that pcopcY ]
answer. we obtained It in The surrender.
Now, sir. what was surrendered on that momo-
rable morning Of April, 1863 7 | answer, every
thing not especially excepted in the terms Of the
surrender. IN that eyer-to-be-rcmemhercd
struggle there was an issue made upot conflicting
events for more than half q century. The war
was not of one discordaut element but OF many
not because for once the South did not elect their
President, but because OF what they considered
many agrrayatious. And | undertake TO- say chat
the surrender contained all these issues that went
Co make mp the elements Of the controversy. All
they went 10 war about was involved 800 the terms
Of thc surrender | repeat, nothing was saved
not specially excepted In the written terms of the
surrender. And what were the terms of this sur
rendcrY Simply this in substance: Go home,
rebels; lay down your arms obey the laws, and
YOU shall be free from arrest
What then, ask, was expected IN the terms of
ilc surrender Nothing but their necks, with
freedom from arrest while they obcyed the laws of
the United States.
And what was suireuderedY Everything they
went TO war about; every issue of the war; every
/ thing iu controversy between the two contcuding
parties In that one surrender they surrendered
ALL And what beside the property and military
stores did Lee and Johnston surrender while they
stood there representing the organized head OF the
Southern conGdcacy? Why. sir, the Old horses,
arms, commissary stores, and quartcmaster sup
plies were the very least things of the surrender.
/ They surrendered everything that went to make
/ and uphold the couicleracy, and everything that
was an element IN controversy valuable in peace
/ or potent IN war, whether of the confederate gov
eminent or Of the State governments; everything
that was allied to and part OF the support OF the
/ rebellion was surrendered. The old dogma OF
| State sovereignty, the right of a State to nullily
/ the laws Of the General Government was in the
] issue and was surrendered The dogma OF SUI
premc allegiance TO the State and of a mans para
mount duty to his State when it was in conflict
with his duty to the United States was in the con-
I dict and was surrendered. And every institution
Of the South which made mp the irrcpressble
conflict Of half century was put into this con-
test and was surrendered by the terms Of the sur
I render. All the forts and arsonals which had
/ been taken at the outbreak of the were sur
rendered; and not those only, but every boat,
/ ship, and steamer whether on their rivers or in
/ mid-ocC an was in this surrender. Every bale oil
| cotton and every species of property belonging
/ either TO tha confederate or State government,
was given up 20 us in the surrender.
/ But all this was nothing it we acquired only the
/ property engaged in the support of the war. Then
/ would the Surrender have been barren, indeed
not worth the blood Of single man. What, then
! did we acquire by the surrender that was worth
all the blood and treasure spent in the conflict
answer in a word, we had surrendered TO us all
the confederate and State governments, including
both their State and confederate constitutions and
| laws All that went TO make their governments,
| the very parchmenis upon which tter laws were
written, were all surrendered every State consti-
tuition and State law, well as their confederate
constitution and confederate laws, because they
had been changed and used to promote the rebel
| lion. In short everything which upheld the re-
belon and was not specially excepted in the writ
ten terms was surrendered; and the United States
took immediate and rightlul possession They had
changed every statute and sworn every officer into
the service Of the rebellion. and of course they
were surrendered with the surrender
Now then in answer to the question, How did
we acquire the right to legslate for the people Of
the States lately engaged in rebellion | answer
we acquired it by the terms Of the Surrender.
Their helpless condition invited it, and their ne
cessitics--to have any civil goyernmcnt-com
! PEELED it, They had prostituied everything to aid
the rebellion; they put it all into what they cae,
" their cause aud surrendered all. Why, then
did we not acquire the right to legislate Tor them
binding obligation which Congress has not enacted
or sanctioned