Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-02-14

pEDATE IN THE sENArE.

ID standing, and especially Davis of Ken
le lucky by showing their former profes
is sions. We copy from the debate as fol
# lows: fAttll Il
Mr.. Morrill, (Rep. Me- said the pre-,
ceding debate on the part of the opposi-
ton had shown the desire, and, perhaps,
e has had the effect of arraigning Congress
f before the country on the charge of
? usurpation. 1t had been specifically
charged by the Senator from Wisconsin
that the outlawry of the white race was
| designed by recent measures. Mr.. Nor
rill maintained that the white race re-
terred to were the bad men of the South,
who for many years had dominated over
the land and outraged the laws Of God
and the sentiment of the civilized world.
The charge of having imposed military
despotism had been so fully answered by
Senator Morton that it was difficult to
lind an unrefuted point. lie read por-
tons of the act dividing the South into
military districts to show that Congress
had passed the same solely with view
of protecting the rights OF. persons and
property, a police measure, rendered nee
cessary by the lawless and chaotic con
dition of those States, and that full
protection so all, with equal rights, was
now afforded. Speaking of the charge
of usurpation by interfering with the
rights OF insurrectionary States, he claim
ed that it was based on the notion that
we had had no war, but simply an effort
on the part of the Government to put
down an instruction. Such was the po-
sition long ago assumed by the Senator
for Maryland, and now argued by mem
bers on the other side. The argument
was ingenious, for, if we had acquired no
rights of war, the victories of our army
had decided nothing. Gen. Grant had
been only a head constable to restore or
der in certain parts Of the country, and
no rights of rebel states were lost-all
the arguments of the opposition were
based on this ground, but the position
was untenable. The effects of the war
upon the rebelling states was not an open
question. The acts of Congress destroy
ing rights of property in slaves, the en-
forcement of their acts by the legislative
power and by our armies, and finally the
judgment of the Supreme Court, had all
affirmed to the Government the highest
rights of war. Further, the results of
the war, as every one knew had been the
total humiliation of the state govern
ments OF rebelling states, state govern
ment consisted of, first, organic law
secondly, its departments The oath to
support the constitution of the United
States was the ligament that bound the
states to the United States. When that
vas broken, vitality was gone. So that
when, in South Carolina, in 1862, no Off
,er existed who had taken that oath, the
tate organization was dead, and had lost
Ill its rights. How, then, was the gov
to be revived !? By power out
side Interstate. That state came out ofthe
war free state by change of the fun
law, not by her own act, but
by authority of the government of the
United States, during the exigencies of
the civil war.
The overthrow of the institutions and
constitutions had been foreseen and fore
told by the indefatigable and philosophic
Senator from Kentucky Davis on his
first entrance in Congress in 1868. That
senator, the inventor of the phrase ere
had introduced bill de-
elaring all engaged in war alien enc
mics" who hadrorfeited their property to
,he United States, and all rights civil
md political. In the following Februa
y he had offered series of resolutions.
declaring the principle involved in war.
At the suggestion of Mr.. Davis the
'lerk read the resolutions, which, after
he preamble, declare it the duty of Con-
PRESS, if the citizens failed to provide
proper and loyal governments, to provide
uch governments for them as territories. !
Mr.. Dayis-I adhere to every principle
If those resolutions and did throughout
he war.
Mr.. Morrill, am more than DELIGHT
ID to hear that, because did not expect
he Senator to array himself on our side.
Mr.. Davis-Well, | will show YOU in
| day or two.
Mr.. Morrill, proceeded to comment up
IN the resolutions, and complimentedM Mr..
Davis for his foresight in regard to those
tates, in recommending protection and
ecurity to the loyal men thereof to the
md that they may reconstruct these ex-
met state governments. In the language
IT the resolution, he said, THAT is what
We are doing now"
Mr.. Sumner" Without distinction of
,olor foo -