Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-02-28
8eofaro gnqulrer.
SENATOR MORTON,s SPEECH. IN
THE u. ). SENATE. JANUARY
II, 1868.

Mr. President-If | had not been refer
red 10 by my honorable friend from Wiseon-
SIN Mr. Doolittlel in the debate yesterday,
| should not desire to speak on this question,
especially at this time. i fear that / shall
not have the strengh TO say what | wish to.
The issue here to. day Is the same which
prevails throughout the couHtIy, which
will be the issue Of this eanvass sad perhaps
tor years 10 come. To repeat what | have
had occasion to say elsewhere, it is between
two paramount ideas, each struggling for
the Supremacy One is, that the war to
suppress the rebellion was right and lust 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 ma
ton may prescribe for It's future safety and
prosperity. The 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 a right TO take charge
Of their State governments and be restored
10 their representation in Congress just as
If there had been no rebellion and nothing
had occurred. The immediate issue before
the Senate now is between the existing
State governments established under the
policy of the President of the United States
in the rebel States, and the plan Of recon-
strueti0u presented by Congress.
When surveyor first enters new terri
tory he endeayoTs to ascertain the exact
latitude and longitude Of a given spot, and
from that can safely begin his survey, and
so | win endeavor to ascertain a proportion
in this debate upon which both parties are
agreed, and start from that proposition.
That proposition is, that at the end Of the
war, in the spring of 1865, the rebel States
were without State governments of any
kind. The loyal State government existing
at the beginning of the war had been over
turned by the rebels; the rebel State govern
ments erected during the war had been
overturned by our armies, and at the end OF
the war there we're 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 reconstFnction was com
menced in North Carolina in 1865, to which
beg leave 20 refer. The others we're mere
lamation be says
And whereas the rebellion which has
heen waged by a portion of the people of the
United States against the properly eonsti-
I tuted authorities Of the Government thereof,
/ IN the most violent and revolving form, but
| whose organized and armed forces have now
| been almost entirely overcome, has IN its
I revolutionary progress deprived the people
4 of the State Of North Carolina Of all civil
/ government F"
1 Here the President may be allowed to
/ speak for his party, aud | shall accept this
as a proposition agreed upon on both sides.
/ that at the end of the war there were DO
| governments Of any kind existing 10 those
/ States.
/ The fourth section Of the fourth article of
| the Constitution declares that the United
( States shall guarantee to every State in this
I Union a republican form of government. "
I This provision contains a vast, underlined
I power that has never yet been ascertained
! "a great supervisory power given TO the
[ United States 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 le-
I gal and republican form of government.
/ Whatever power, therefore, may be neces
sary TO enable the Government of the United
States thus to maintain in each State re
publican form Of government is conveyed
by this provision.
Now, Mr. President, when the war ended
and these States we're found without gov
ernmeuts Of any kind, the jurisdiction of tht
United States, under this provision of thi
Constitution at once attached; the power Il
reorganize State governments, to use th'
common word, to reconstruct, TO MAINTAIN
and guarantee Republican State govern
ments in those States, at once attached un
der this provision. Upon this proposition
there is also a concurrence of the two par
ties. The President has distinctly recOgni
Zed the application Of this clause Of the Con
stituti0D. He has recognized the fact tha
its jurisdiction attached when those State
were found without republican State gov
ernments, and be himself claimed 10 &C
under this clause of the Constitution.
will read the preamble of the President
proclamation.
Whereas the fourth section Of the f9urtl
article Of the Constitution Of the Unite,
States declares that the United States shal
guarantee TO every State in the Union a re
publican form of government, and shall pro
tect each of them against invasion and DC
. nestle violence; and whereas, the Presiden
Of tie United States Is, by the Constitution
made Commander IN Chief Of the Arm
and Navy, as well as chief civil executiv
officer OF the United States, and is boun
by solemn oath faithfully to execute th
Office Of President Of the United States, an
10 take care that the laws be faithfully exc
cuted: and whereas, the rebellion which ha
been Waged BY portion Of the people {
the United States against the properly cor
stituted authorities Of the Governmen
thereof in the most violent aud revoltin
, form, but whose organized and armed force
have now been almost entirely overcome
has, in It's revolutionary progress, deprive
the people of the State of North Carolina {
all civil government; and whereas, II be
comes necessary aud proper to carry out al
enforce the obligations Of the United State
to the people Of North Carolina in securin
them in the enjoyment of republican forI
Of government.
read this, Mr. President, for the pui
/ pose of showing that the President Of th
United States, iB his policy Of reeonstru'
tion, started out with distinct reeognitio
Of the applicability Of this clause Of th
Constitution, and that he based his systeI
of reconstruction upon II Il Is true he r
cites IN this proclamation that he Is q
C0mmander-in.c chief of the Army of th
: United States, but at the same time he pui
+, his plan of reconstruction, not upon the e.
ercise of the military power which is Gale
, TO its aid, but on the execution Of the qua
antee provided By the clause OF the Const
tuition to which / have referred. he 81
points a Governor for North Caroiln
, and for these other States, the Office belu
civil in its character, but military in its e
! fects This Government has all the powe
! of one Of the district commanders, and,
fact, far greater power than was eonterre