The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-02-26
SPEECH OF SENATOR HENDRICKS ON THE BE.
CONSTRUCTION OF RECONSTRUCTION.

SPEECH OF SENATOR HENDRICKS ON THE Re-
CONSTRUCTION OF REc0NsTRUCTI0F.
Our readers aware of the fact that the third
Supplementary Reconstruction Bill, passed by the
House Of Representatives in December last. has
been under discussion in the United States Senate
for several weeks. Many able speeches, both
sides Of the question, have been delivered and We
may fairly view the discussion partisan move
ment. Indeed the bill itself is strictly partisan,
as its purport is to fasten Radical misrue upon the
South, and gain corresponding strength In the
coming Presidential contest. The discussion in
the Senate therefore, is the keynote of the ap
preaching canvass, and faithfully represents the
position of the respective parties before the coun-
try.
Among the speeches already delivered, we find
tina, of Senator HENDRICKS, of Indiana, in a recent
number of the National IntelAgencer. This effort
of the honorable Senator is calm, disaiGed and
conclusive, dealing heavy blows at the Radical
programme misnamed Reconstruction, and expo
cling the record of Senator's and recilng the hiso-
ry OF the past three years in mastery style. 1t
would afford us much pleasure to publish THE
speech entire, but the numerous demands upon our
limited space compcls US to forego that gratifca-
tion. II is not impossible, however, TO partially
i CRAFTY the desire, aud we have concluded to sur
this admirable production.
Speaking of the condition Of affairs at the South
immediately after the surrender, when President
JoRNsoN's plan of restoration was being inaugu-
rated, and citing the testimony of Gen. GRANT be-
fore the Impeachment Committee in July last on
this very point, Senator HENDRICKS says:
Since this world began no community has been
SO mlsrepresen,ed. so uniformly and foully belied
| as the men of the South who have sought. under
Mr.. Johnsons policy, ~ bring the States again In
to. practical and harnoaious relations with the
Government Of the United States. Then, Mr.
| President, this is the evidence of what was the
condition of tie Southern society at the close OF
The war; The war had done its work The South
was conquered. to the same language of the
minority; subjugated if you please They yield
ed obedience to law they acquiesccd in The au-
thority of The Government and General Grant
said that he felt that j, was our duty TO take advan-
| tage of this favorable condition OF the popular
mind of the South. To take advantage OF it for
what purpose? To get these people back again !;
! TO place the States once more in harmonious and
| practical relations with the Government. Finding
this favorable condition Of the country, Mr.. john
son, MS President OF the United States, proceeded
to his work of restoration.
The Senator then elaborates the course pursued
by the President, and clearly demonstrates that
this policy was identical with the course marked
political Inheritance from the great apostle of the
Republicans. Referring, then, to speech deliv-
ereG in 1865 by his colleague, Gov. MoRToS, who
was at that time Governor of Indiana, and is now
Senator from that State and whose views have un-
tlergone a more remarkable change than any other
man upon this continent, Senator HENDRICKS pro
ceeds to discuss the progress of events in this
wise
If these States had not legal State governments
in 1866 want TO understand KuT it is that they
could abolish slavery want to know how they
could assent 10 an amendment OF the Federal Con-
stitution nboshing slavery all over the United
States. Ii they were then and are invalid, illegal
governments. how could they do the most solemn
net TO which State can assent? My colleague,
then, no, having been educated by the progress OF
events, declared. 10 use his own languaGe-
Il am very glad 10 sec that many Of the South.
cru States are making commendable progress in the
abolition of slavery"
My colleague now denies the authority of those
conventions to amend the constitutions OF their
States while at the time when they were in session
lie recognized their proceedings. | should like TO
know. upon hhis question OF constitutional law,
how il is thai my colleague can be so "cducaed."
Upon questions of policy and proprie,y men may
he educated by passing events; we may change
our minds. and not be .'nIesones standing by Il
deserted highway" as lie expressed il. We may
change our opinions in regard to questions of poll
cy and propliety according - the changing scenes
that passing before us but 20 fur as the law
of The country concerned, especially the highest
law of the land tue Constitution itself, how are We
50 readily TO change our opinions? Events do moi
chnnge that. We are not allowed TO be ''educnted'
by passing in regard to the proTec me ming
| OF the Constitution OF The United States We
gather that from the letter and from the conempo-
raneous history and construction. Now, sir l
wish to ask Senators question, which think they
| will have TO answer 10 lie people o. home. Whit
objections lave you 20 the constitutions OF the
Southern States as amenGed by the people? For
wo years you have made ngninsr this policy
for wo years you have kept these States out OF the
Union, far representation was concerned !;
for Two years you have kept this country disturbed
and distracted trade, commerce. aud business
hnve been uncertain and shiverng; industry has
been fearful to put forth its h"nd or capital TO
trust 10 any enterprise the spirit Of harmony and
OF Mon has heeu passing away from both sections
Of the country, because OF the strife that you hnve
thus kept up. For what have you done it! What
end have you attained? What good has come !:
Was the constitution amended in North Carolina
not right? Our fathers said it was right when
they formed The Union, with North Carolina rs one
of the original thirteen they said ii was repub-
| lican form Of government and they lived with
North Carolina conlented and well until this re-
bcll;on came on; and tEen, when The State had
come through the war NTH her constitutions still ia
iorce as legal document, and the people amended
il only in three or four particulars, (those three
particulars that l mentioned being the material
and important ones, namely, abolisling slavery
declaring secession vicious doctrine, and ,ivc!ar
ing that the rebel debt should never be paid,) |
Ill