The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1868-06-09
SPEECH OF SENATOR WILSON,
OF MASSACHUSETTS,

oUtn, 1870.
Mr. President, anxious for the passage of
this bill and all bills that shall admit the re-
constructed States to representation. shall
trespass but few moments upon the time
of the Senate. The debate has now run
through three days, and the ear of the Sen
ate has been wearied with the recital of legal
opinion so often proclaimed in the years of
the past and so familiar to Senators. /
would cast aside this cheap legal learning
that has so often burdened the debates of
Congress and come to the practical consider
alton of the real questions involved in this
and kindred measures for the restoration of
the States recently in rebellion.
Three years ago the military power of the
rebellion was broken and its civil power dis
appeared. When the conquest of the rebel
power was complete the President Inaugural
ted policy that in few months gave gov
ernments to the subjugated States and placed
the control of those governments completely
in the hands of men distinguished for their
devotion to the lost cause of the confederate
States. In one brief year loyalty was tram
pied down and the spirit of the rebellion
swayed the councils and controlled the pol
icy of those States.
Two years ago Congress submitted as the
basis of adjustment the constitutional
amendment. rhc amendment was scornful-
ly rejected by the triumphant rebel govern
ments The riots at Memphis and the bloody
massacre at New Orleans manifested to Con-
gress and the country the bitterness of rebel
hate and the lawlessncss and strength of
rebel power.
Little more than one year ago Congress
grappled with the rebel power by the enact
ment of that great measure for the better
government of the rebel States which gave
suffrage to three quarters of a million of
ever loyal black men. The work of recon-
struction and restoration was then begun
During the past year the friends of recon-
structiOn and restoration on the basis of 10y
atty and liberty have toiled with unsurpassed
earnestness, fidelity, and courage. They
have struggled against the influences of the
fifteen thousand State officials we unwisely
left in possession of power. They have strug
gled, too, against the malign influences of
the civil officers of the United States. They
have been forced to struggle against the
commanding influences of wealth, of intelli-
gence, and social life. The few loyal white
men who ever remained true to their coun-
try, the seven hundred thousand newly en-
franchised black men, the men from the loyal
North who had sought homes in the land of
the rebellion where many of their COM
rades lay buried, and few thousand repen-
tant rebels, have battled during the past
the basis of loyalty and impartial liberty.
They elected ten constitutional conven-
lions by decisive majorities; have framed
nine constitutions, and have ratified the con-
situations in seven States by popular ma
jority of more than one hundred thousand.
They have elected thirty three Representa-
tives, twenty eight Republicans and five De-
mocratic, and two Republican Senators, and
are ready at the earliest moment to elect
twelve more Republican Senators.
Seven States have complied with the terms
and conditions we imposed upon them, so
far as they can do so without further legis
lation on our part or further action on the
part of our military commanders. These
States are here asking US to redeem our
plighted faith by restoring them to their
practical relations Who of US dreamed one
year ago that these seven States, with loyal
Representatives and constitutions endorsed
by one hundred thousand popular majority,
would be here demanding restoration and
admission And yet, sir, this is the fourth
day of the debate in the Senate of the Uni
ted States on welcoming back one of these
returning sister States. Sir, would vel
come back these States with their reformed
constitutions and loyal representation with
glad heart, with bonfres and illumina-
lions. What do these returning States bring
back with them2 They bring back seven
States pledged to the unity of the Republic,
impartial liberty, equal suffrage to all classes
and conditions of men, without distinction
of color or race These returning States
bring us constitutions republican in form
and spirit. The most republican constitu-
ton in the land is the constitution of North
Carolina. / bid them welcome, a thousand
times welcome, into the sisterhood of loyalty
and unity.
The men who have fought in these States
the great battle of restoration on the basis of
loyalty and equality of rights and privileges
are under the ban and prescription of the
rebel officers whom we left in power. They
are under social prescription. These brave
men, who have carried reconstruction, have
been compelled to act against the most pow
erful opposition. Professional men have
been socially prescribed, merchants have
been ruined, mechanics have been beggared,
and laboring men have been dismissed from
employment by hundreds of thousands
Thousands have been reduced to beggary
and almost to starvation; many have been
insulted and some murdered. Some are from
their homes prescribed for their fidelity to
our policy, who dare not return to their
homes until we allow the officers whom they
have chosen to take possession of their State
md by State authority throw the shield of
4 protection over them. And yet, sir, every
effort to turn the rebel officers in those States
of power, to put the governments of
e States into the hands of loyal men, as
to the country and to liberty as we are,
who have risked more than we have
d, and who have done what we have
keen called upon to do, is resisted in
IN. Away with all these bubbles,
ubts and fears. Admit Arkansas
u returning sisters at once, and hail
elcome our brave comrades who bring
ese States as trophies of the battles
thought and the victories they have
e immediate passage of this
admission of Arkansas; and
admitted that State, l am for
once to admit the other six
ready for restoration. ! will
t to the adjournment of Con-
(ese seven States, that have ratl-
institutions and elected their
are admitted to representation
yresentatiyes take their seats In
bers.
told that these States must not