Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-02-07
R RECONsTR u CTEON.
Great Speech by Coy. Morton-In
the Senate Of the United states,
January 24fh, 1858.

January e46ni 1900.
Mr.. MORTON. Mr.. President, if I
had not been referred to by my honor
able friend from Wisconsin, Mr. Doc
little) in the debate yesterday 7 should
not desire to speak on this question ,
especially at this time. lear that
shall not have the strength to say what
wish to.
THE IssuE.
The issue here today is the same that
prevails throughout the country, which
viii be the issue of this canvass, and
perhaps for years to come. To repeat
what have had occasion to say else
where, il is between two paramount
ideas, each struggling for the s9pTem-
acy. One is, that the war to suppress
the rebellion was rightand just on cur
part; that the rebels forfeited their civil
and political rights, and can only be
restored to them upon such conditions
as the nation may prescribe for its fu-
ture safety and prosperity, Tire other
idea is that the rebellion was not sinful,
but was right; that those engaged in it
forfeited no rights, civil or POLITICAL
and have right 10 take charge Of their
State GoYernments, and be restored to
their representation IN Congress- just as
if there had been no rebellion and moth
ing had occurred. The immediate issue
before the Senate now is between the
existing State Governments estas slished
under the policy of the PresidentIof Of the
United States, in the rebel States, and
the plan Of reconstruction presented by
Congress.
When a surveyor first enters a new
territory he endeavOrs to ascertain the
exact latitude and longitude of a given
spot, and from that can safely begin his
survey; and so will eudeaYOr t. ascer-
fuafv in n
which both parties are agreed, and start
from that proposition. That PROPOSE
ton is that at the end of the war. in the
spring of 1855, the rebel States were
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 at 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 United
States, in his proclamation, under which
the work of reconstruction was COM
menced in North Carolina, in 1858, to
which beg leave to refer. The Others
We're mere copies of this proclamation.
In that proclamation he sayss
''And whereas, the rebellion which
has been waged by a portion of the peO-
pie Of the United States against the
properly constituted authorities of the
Government thereof, in the most Yio-
lent and revolving form, but whose or
gaDized and armed forces have now
been almost entirely overcome, has in
its revolutionary progress deprived the
people of the State of North Carolina Of
all civil government"
Here the President must be allowed
to speak for his party, and I shall ae-
4
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 that
'ithe United States shall guarantee to
every State in this Union a republican
form of government" This provision
contains a vast, underlined power that
has never yet been ascertained-a great
supervisory. power given to the UniCed
StaLes to enable them to keep the States
in their orbits, to preserve them from
anarchy, revolution and rebellion. The
measure Of power thus conferred upon
the Government of the United States,
can only be determined by that which
is requisite to guarantee or maintain in
each State a legal and republican form
of government. Whatever power, there
fore, may be necessary to enable the
Government of the United States thus to
J.
form of government is conveyed by this
provision.
Now, Mr.. President, when the war
ended and these States were found
without governments Of any kind, the
jurisdiction of the United States, under
this provision of the Constitution, at
once attached: the power to re-organize
State Governments, to use the common
word, to reconstruct, to maintain and
guarantee republican State Govern
ments in those States, at once attached
under this provision. Upon this prop
OsitiOn there is also a Concurrence of
the two parties. The President has dis
Enctly recognized the application Of
this clause Of the Constitution. He has
recognized the fact that its Jurisdiction
attached when those States were found
without repu blican State Govern ments,
and he himself claimed 10 act under
this clause of the Constitution. I will
read the preamble of the Presidents
proclamation
'Whereas, the fourth section of the
fourth article of the Constitution of the
United States declares that the United
States shall guaranty to every State in
the Union a republican, form of govern
ment, and shall protect each Of them
against invasion and domestic Tioleneei
and whereas, the President of the
United States is by the Constitution
made CommandCr-in-C Chief OF the Army
W
tive officer of the United States. and is
bound by solemn oath faithfully to ex-
ecute the Office of President Of the
United States, and to take care that the
laws be faithfully executed and where
as, the rebellion which has been waged
by portion of the people of the United
States against the properly constituted
authorities of the Government thereof
in the most violent and revolving form,
but whose organized and armed forces
have now been almost entirely over
come, has, inits revolutionary progress,
deprived the people Of the State of
North Carolina of all civil government; ;
and, whereas, it becomes necessary and
proper to carry out and enforce the OBJ
legations of the United States to the
people of North Carolina in securing
them in the enjoyment of q republican
form of government"
I read this, Mr.. President, for the par-
/ pose OF showing that the President Of
the United States, IN his policy of re-
construction, started out with a distinct
recognition of the applicability of this
clause of tbs Constitution, and that he
| based his system of reconstruction mp
on it. It is true he recites in this proc
/ lamatton that he is the Commander-in-
/ Chief Of the Army of the United States /;
but at the same time, be puts his plan
/ OF reconstruction, not upon the exercise
1 of the military power which is called
/ to its aid, but on the execution of the
/ guarantee provided by the clause of the
/ Constitution to which have referred.
1 He appoints Governor for North Car
/ olina and for these other States, the Of
I ace being civil in its character, but mill
I itarY in It's effects. This Governor has
/ all the power of one of the District
| Commanders, and, in fact, far greater
/ power than was conferred upon Gen.
/ Pope or Gen. Sheridan, or any General
In command of a District, for it is
| further provided:
/ "That the military commander of the
| department, and all officers and per
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