The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1868-02-06

Speech ofoov. o. p. Morton

Il
Speech of0ov. q. p. Morton
In the U. s. Senate, Ian. 24th, 1858.
| Mr.. MORTON. Mr.. President, il
had not been referred to by my honora
bic friend from Wisconsin Mr.. DooLIr-
TIE in the debate yesterday I should
not desire to speak on this question. es
pecially at this time. fear thst shall
not have the strength to say what
wish to.
The issue here to day is the same
which prevails throughout the country,
which will be the issue Of this canvass,
and perhaps for years to come To re
peat what have had occasion to say
elsewhere. it is between two paramount
ideas, each struggling for the suprema-
cy. One IL, that the war to suppress the
rebellion WAS right and just on our part;
that the rebels forfeited their civil and
political rights. and can only be restor.
ed to them upon such conditions as the
nation may prescribe for its future safe
| ty and prosperity. The other idea is,
that the rebellion was mob sinful. but
was right; that those engaged in it for
feited no rights, civil or politlea., and
| have . right TO take charge of their
State governments and be restored to
their representation in Congress just ss
| il there had been no rebellion and no
thing had occurred. The immediate is
sue before the Senate now is between
the existing State governments estab-
lished under the policy. Of the Presi-
dent of the United States in the rebel
States and the plan Of reconstruction
presented by Congress-.
When q surveyor frst enters a new
territory he endcavors to ascertain the
exact latitude and longitude Of q given
spot, and from that can safely begin bis
survey; and 90 I will endeavor to as
certain q proposition in this debate upon
which both parties are agreed, and start
from that proposition. That PROPOSE
tion is, that At the end of the war, in the
spring of 1865, the rebel States we're
without State governments of any kind.
The loyal State governments existing
at the beginning of the war had been
overturned by the rebels; the rebel
State governments erected during the
war had been overturned by our armies,
and 1t the end of the war there were no
governments Of any kind existing in
those States. This fact was recognized
distinctly by the President of the Uni
ted States in his proclamation under
which the work Of reconstruction was
commenced in North Carolina in 1865,
% which beg leave to refer. The 9th
srs were mere copies Of this proclama-
tion. In that proclamation he says:
"And whereas, the rebellion which has
been waged by q portion of the people
Of the United States against the proper.
" constituted authorities of the Govern
meut thereof, in the most violent aud re-
volting form. but whose organized and
armed forces have now been almoat en-
tirely overcome, has in its revolutionary
progress deprived the people of the
State of North Carolins of all civil gov
eminent"
Here the President must be allowed
to speak for his party, and l shall &C
cept this as propo ,ition agreed upon
ON both sides: that at the end of the
war there were no governments OF any
kind existing in those States
The fourth section OF the fourth arti-
Gle Of the Constitution declares tn-t
1.-The United States shall guarantee 70
every State in this Union repabiica1
form of government This provision
contains q vast, underlined power that
has never yet been ascertained great
supervisory power given to the United
States TO preserve them from anarchy,
revolutioa, and rebellion. The measure
Of power thus conferred upon the Gov
ernment Of the United Stares can only
be determined by that which is requisite
% guaranty or maintain in each State
legal and republican form Of govern
ment. Whatever power, therefore, may
be necessary to enable the Government
of the Uuited States thus to maintain in
each Ssate . republican form Of gov
eminent 10 conveyed by this provision
Now, Mr.. President, when the war
ended and these States were found with
ont governments Of any kind, the juris-
diction of the United States, under this
provision of the Constitution. at once
attached, the power to reorganize State
governments, 20 use the common word.
70 reconstruct, to maintain and guaranty
! republican State governments in those
States, at once attached under this pro
vision. Upon this proposition there Is
| also 3 concurrence OF the two parties.
| The President has distinctly recognized
| the application Of this clause o: the Con-
ssisntion. He has recognised the fact
that it, Jurisdiction attached when those
States were tound without republican
State governments. and he himself
claimed 70 act under this clause of the