Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-02-06
SENATOR NORTON.
His Great Speech on the Reconstruction
Bill, in the Senate, on Friday,
January "a.
Humanity tho Policy OF the Radicsis---
The Obsfructives EndeavorIng to
Deprive the Weak OF all
Protection.

MIX. AhblDhNls IL nua NV oOcu itltllCb
to by my honorable friend from Wisconsin
(Mr. Doolittle) in the debate yesterday !
should not desire to speak on this question,
especially at this time. / fear that shall
not have the strength to say what wish to.
The issue here to-day is the same which
prevails throughout the country, which will
he the issue of this canvass, and perhaps
for years to come To repeat what have
had occasion to say elsewhere, 1t is between
two paramount ideas, each struggling for
the supremacy. One is, that the war to
suppress the rebellion was right and just on
our 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 future safety and pros
pcrity The other idea is that the rebellion
was not sinful, but was right that those
engaged in 1t forfeited no rights, civil or
political, and have right to take charge of
their State governments and be restored to
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 reconstruction
presented by Congress.
When surveyor first enters a new Terri
tory he endeavors to ascertain the exact
latitude and longitude of given spot, and
from that can safely begin his survey and
so will endeavor to ascertain proposition
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 1866, the rebel States
We're without State governments of any
kind. The loyal State governments existing
ut the beginning Of the war had been over
turned by the rebels the rebel State gov
crnments erected during the war had been
overturned by our armies, and at the end
oil the war there were no governments of
any kind existing in those States This fact
was recognized distinctly by the President
Of the United Htates In his proclamation
under which the work of reconstruction
was commenced in North Carolina in 1865,
to which beg leave to refer. The others
were mere copies of this proclamation. In
that proclamation he says:
"And whereas the rebellion, which has
been waged by q portion of the people of
the United States against the properly con-
stituted authorities of the Government there
Of, in the most violent and revolving form,
but whose organized and armed forces have
now been almost entirely overcome has in
rs revolutionary progress deprived the peo-
pie OF the State of North Carolina of all
civil government"
Here the President must be allowed TO
speak for his party, and shall accept this
as proposition agreed upon on both sides;
thai at the end of the war there were no
governments of any kind existing in those
States
The fourth section of the fourth article of
the Constitution declares that "the United
States shall guarantee to every State sn this
IIuipu papt,I,Iirat, oP, VI,
This provision contains vast, underlined
power that has never yet been ascertained-
a great supervisory power given to the
United States to enable them to keen 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 legal
and republican forrs of government. What
ever power, therefore, may be necessary to
enable the Government of the United States
thus to maintain In each State republican
form OF government is conveyed by this pro-
vision.
Now, Mr.. President, when the war ended
and these States where found without gov
ccrhment of any kind, the jurisdiction of the
lillted States, under this provision of the
constitution, at once attached; the power
10 feorganize State governments, to use the
common word, to reconstruct, to maintain
and guarantee republican State governments
IN those States at once attached under this
provision. Upon this proposition there is
also concurrence of the two parties. The
PRESIDENT has distinctly recognized the ap,a-
Gallon OF this clause of the Constitution.
iic has recognized the fact that its jursdc-
'lon attached when those States were found
Without republican State governments, and
lie himself claimed to act under this clause
., the Constitution. l will read the pream-
ble 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
guarantee to every State in the Union re-
puDlican form of government and shall pro-
"cl each OF them against invasion and do
intsllc violence; and whereas the President
oi INC United States is by the Constitution
made ComMander-in-Chief of the army and
navy, as well as Chief civil executive officer
oi The United States, and is bound by
solemn oath faithfully to execute the office
oi PRESIDENT of the United States, and to
take care that the laws be faithfully ex
ecnted; and whereas the rebellion which
mas been waged by portion of the people
oi the United States against the properly
constituted authorities of the Government
thereof in the most violent and revolving
iorm, but whose organized and armed forces
nave now been almost entirely Overcome.
nas, IN Its revolutionary progress, deprived
,le people OF the State of North Carolina of
all civil government and whereas it he
comes necessary and proper to carry out and
enforce the obligations of the people of the
United States to the people of North Caro-
INA in securing them in the enjoyment of
republican form of government.
read this, Mr.. President, for the purpose
.! showing that the President of the United
states, in his policy of reconstruction, start
ed out with distinct recognition of the
applicability of this clause of the Constitu-
non, and that he based his system of recon-
slruction Upon it. 1t is true that he recites
III ms proclamation that he is the Com
inander-n- chief of the army of the United
states but at the same time he puts his
pah OF reconstruction not upon the exer-
.'se OF the military power which Is called to
i's aid, but on the execution of the guaran-
~; W. provided by the clause of the Constitu-
a'on 10 which have referred, He appoints
" "Hovernor for North Carolina and for these
",aer States, the office being civil in its char
" "ruer, put military in its effects. This Gov
,rin. nor mas all the power Of one of the dis
nace commanders, and, in fact, far greater
e"pe or General Sheridan, or any general in
yided: -o' ~ 20 '"i'noi pio'
n,. mat the military commander of the de.
pmdi;,,ient, and ali officers and persons in the
sa;d sn;,d'ary and naval service, aid and assist the
oM oa,u provisional governor in carrying into
'iecl W this proclamation"
nos;,; Me are then agreed upon the second pro
i',son, Ia ra That the power of the United Statei
rorn,e reconstruct and guarantee republican
ibsnn ibsns q. Of government at once applied wheI
wh;o. ;o olales were found in the condition II
"nrrn T,. they were at the end of the war.
nrnnea, nen, Sit, being agreed upon these tw,
rnopp,1;siions, we are brought to th,
ths tTss,ion . as to the proper form Of exercisin,
cissdp power M and by whom it shall be exer
iilda lnitsa si The Constitution says that s'th
in ea ,hs f1 States shall guarantee to every Stat
man, ,e Union republican form of govern
mean, ny the phrase" United State" here
AA' 'he Government of the United States