The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1868-02-05

otate governments INTO full life and
activity without consultation with
or cooperation on the part of Con
gress.
Now, sir, when it is claimed that
these governments are legal, let it be
remembered that they took their ori-
gin under a proceeding instituted by
the President of the United States in
the execution of this guarantee, when
it now stands confessed that he could
not execute the guarantee. But even
if he had the power, let it be further
borne in mind that those constitutions
were formed by the the conventions that
were elected by less than one-third OF
the white voters in the States at that
time; that the conventions were elec-
ted by small minority even of the
white voters; and that those conven-
tions thus formed by very small mi
nority have never been submitted tc
the people of those States for the rat
ilication. They are no more the con-
stitutions Of those States to-day than
the Constitutions formed by the con-
ventions now in session would be il
we We're to proclaim them to be the
Constitutions ofthOse States without
having first submitted them to the
people for ratification. How can il be
pretended for a moment, even admit
ting that the President had the power
to start forward in the work of recon-
struction, that those State governments
are legally formedby small minority
never ratified by thepeoplethe people
never having had a chance to vote for
them, They stand as mere arbitrary
constitutions, established not by the
people Of the several States, but SIM
ply by force of executive power.
And, sir, if we shall admit those
States to representation on this floor
and in the other House under those
constitutions, when the thing shall
have got beyond our keeping and they
are fully restored to their political
rights, they will then rise up and de-
clare that those constitutions are not
upon them, that they never
made them and they will throw them
off, and with them will 90 the pro-
visions which were incorporated there
in, declaring that slavery should never
be restored and that their war debt was
repudiated. Those provisions were
put into those constitutions, but' they
have never been sanctioned by. the
people OF those States, and they will
cast them out as not being their act
and deed, as soon as they shall have
been restored to political power in this
Government. Therefore, | say that
even if he conccde that the President
had the power, which he has not, to
start forward in the execution of this
there can still be no pre-
tense that those governments are legal
and authorized and that we are bound
to recognize them. ....
The President of the United States,
in his proclamation, declared that
those governments were to be formed
only by the loyal people of those
States; and | beg leave to call the at
.ention of the Senate to that clause In
MS proclamation of reconstruction.
He says:
"And with authority to exercise, within the
limits of said State, all the powers necessary
md proper to enable such loyal people of the
state Of North Carolina to restore said State to
IS constitutional relations with the Federal
Government"
Again, speaking ofthe army:
Sand they are enjoined to abstain from in
my way hindering. impeding or discouraging
he loyal people from the organization of q
tate government as herein authorized"
Now, sir, so far from those State
governments having been organized
~ the loyal people, they were organ
zed by the disloyal every Office pass
d into the hands of rebel |; the
Union men had no part or lot in those
governments and so far from answer
ng the purpose for which governments
re intended, they failed to extend
TO the loyal men, either
white Or black. The loyal men were
murdered with impunity and / will
hank any Senator upon this floor to
,oint to single case in any of the
ebel States where a rebel has been
ried and; brought to punishment by
he civil authority for the murder Of a
Jnion man. Not one case l. am told
an be found. Those Goveroments
Utterly failed in answering the purpose
# civil governments; and not only |
hat, but they returned the eolored
,eoplc to condition ofTtosi slavery
hey made them the slaves of society,
instead of being, as they were before,
he slaves of individuals. Under va
ious forms of vagrant laws, they de-
,rived them Of the rights of frcemen,
nd placed them under the power and
ontrol of their rebel masters, who
we're filled with hatred and revenge.
But, Mr.. President, time passed on.
congress assembled in December, '65.
Cor time it paused. 1t did not at
nee annul those governments. 1t
lesitated. at last, in 1865, the con-
titutional amendment, the fourteenth
rticle, was brought forward as basis
f settlement and reconstruction; and
here was a tacit understanding, though
was not embraced in any law or
that if the Southern people
hould ratify and agree to that amend
nent, then their State governments
would be accepted. But that amend
nent was rejected, contemptuously re-
ected. The Southern people, counsel