The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-01-30


of the war that we could not
preserve slavery and suppress the
Rebellion, and we must destroy Sla-
very-nOt prosecute the war 10 de-
stroy Savery-but destroy Slavery 20
prosecute the war. Which was the
better? To stand by the resolution
and let the Union 60, or to stand by
the Union and let the resolution gO2
Congress could not stand by that
pledge. and it was more honored in
the breach than the observance. Mr..
Lincoln issued his proclamation Of
emancipation, setting free the slaves
Of Rebels. 1t was dictated by
the stern and bloody experience
of the times. Mr.. Lincoln had
no choice left him. When
he began this contest no one thought
we would use colored soldiers in the
war The distinguished Senator sit
ting by me here (Mr Cameron), when
in the Winter Of 1861, he first brought
forward the proposition, as Secretary
Of War, to use colored soldiers. was
greatly in advance Of public opinion,
and was thought TO be visionary; but
as the war progressedAit became mani
fest to all intelligent men that we
must not only destroy Slavery, but we
must avail ourselves of every instru-
mentality in our power for the pur-
pose of putting down the Rebellion,
and the whole country accorded in
the use of colored soldiers--and gal
liant aud glorious service they rem
dered. In 1864, a proposition was
brought forward in this body to
amend the Constitution Of the United
States by abolishing slavery. We do
not think that is very radical now,
but IL was very radical then; il was
the great measure Of the age, and al
most Of modern times, and il was
finally passed; an amendment setting
free every human being within the
limits o. the United States. But, Sir,
we were very far then from where we
are now. All will remember the cell
ebrated Winter Davis bill, passed ia
June, 1864, which took the power Of
reconstruction out Of the ha nds Of
the President, where it did noe In fact
belong. CT refer to Mr.. Lineoln.)
But If that bill had passed it would,
perhaps, have resulted in the de-
structiOn of this Government.
We can all see it now, al
though il was then thought TO be
the most radical measure Of the times.
What did it propose2 1t proposed to
prescribe plan, to take effect when
the war should end, by which these
rebel States should be restored / re-
fer to that bill simply to show how We
have all travelled. IL required but
one condition or guarantee, on the
part of the South. and that was that
they should put in their Constitutions
a provision prohibiting slavery. 1t
required no other guarantee. 1t re.
quired no equalization Of representa-
ton; no security against Rebel debts,
or against payment for emancipated
slaves; and it confined the right Of
suffrage to white men. But il was
thought to be a great step in advance
at the time; and so il was; but
events were passing rapidly, and ia
1865, the President came forward
with hrs proposition, and i am stat
ing what is true from an examina-
ton of the documents when / say
that but for the want Of power with
the Pres ident, his scheme in itself
considered, was far more Radical
than that of the Winter-Davis bill;
but events were rapidly teaching
the statesmen Of the time that we
could not reconstruct upon that ba-
sis. Sull, Congress was not prepared
to take a forward step until the
Summer Of 1866, In the passage
Of the Constitutional Amendment,
which we now regard as a half way
measure, necessary and vital as far as
il went, but not going far enough
That was rejected, and we were then
compelled to go further, and we have
now allen upon the plan Of recon.
struction which | have been consid-
ering 1t has been dictated by the
logic Of events Ii 6verrides all ar
guments, overrides all prejudices
overrides all theory, n the presence
Of the necessity for preserving the If
of this nation; and if future event
shall determine that we must
further, for one am prepared
say that i will 20 as far as sha
be necessary TO the execution
this guarantee, the reconstruction
this Republic upon right basi
and the successful restoration Of eve
part of this Union. Mr.. PresideI
the column of reconstruction, az
before remarked, has risen slowly.
has not been heWn from a sinf
stone. L Is composed of many blocl
painfully laid up and put togetb
and cemented by the tears and bio
Of the nation. Sir, we have DC
nothing arbitrarily We have Dr.
nothing for punishment-ay, too
tie tor punishment. Justice has
had her demand. Not a man has
been executed for this great treas
The arch fend himself is now AT
erty npou bail. No man is to be