Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-04
MR.. DOOLITTLE'S SPEECH.
Delivered At Chicago, on Thursday
Evening, August Is, 1858. ~

FrILow-CIrIzEYs: Gen. Grant was
called before committee of Congress to
testify in July, one year, ago, and in his
sworn testimony he stated that after the
close of the rebellion there was very
| 6pe feeling on the part of the people of
the South toward the government OF the
| United States, and he further testified to
the very sad fact that now very differ
ent state of feeling exists toward the
government of the United States as ad-
ministered by the Radical party. i.t
Why is this changer What reason
can you give for this change in the feel.
| ings and sentiments of the people OF the
South in 1865, after the rebellion had
closed, and in 1862
It is q serious question: question
that comes home to the heart of every
patriotic citizeu--a question which de.
mands an answer from the judgment of
every thinking man. Why this change
in the feelings and ideas of the people OF
the South, as testified to by Gen. Grant
in 1866 and in 1867 ..AN.
1t will be my purpose this evening, in
part to explain to you the reasons which
have produced that change of feeling. In
order to do so, it is necessary that we
should 20 to the foundation of things.
When you build a house you begin by
building thefoundation, and then making
the superstrpcture. Let us 90 to the
foundation. What are the causes that
have produced this change of feelingf
Bear in mind that the rebellion had closed
in 1865, and at the close of the rebellion
there was put in operation ore plan OF
ci6cation-the plan Of pacification or
restoration proposed by Mr. Lincoln, and
subsequently renewed by Mr.. Johnson
plan of pacifcation within the pro-
visions of the Constitution; and which
was based upon two fundamental princi-
pies: first, the recognition of the rights
of the States, each for themselves to fix
the qualifications of their electors; and,
second, upon another fundamental prin'
ciple in the proper reconstruction OF the
States of the South, to-wit: That they
should be reconstructed upon civilized
white basis This plan Of reconstruction
was proposed as early as December, 1868.
by the proclamation OF the President OF
the United States, who was authorized
by the Constitution and by the express
enactment of Congress itself, to tender
to the people of the South pardon and
am nesty upon Just such terms as he
should think proper The President, In
pursuance of this constitutional author
ity, and in pursuance of the express
language of this act Of Congress, rendered
pardon and amnesty to all the people OF
the South, with some exceptions, who
had been engaged in rebellion, upon
condition that they should take an oath
to support the Constitution Of the United
States, and thereafter to maintain
faithful allegiance TO the government
and the flag.
Ia accordance with this proclamation
of the Presideat the people of the State
of Tennessee, the people of the State
of Louisiana, and the people Of the State
OF Arkansas, had already recognized their
governments and accepted the terms OF
pardon and amnesty which Mr.. Lincoln
proposed.
In March, 1865, before Mr. Lincoln's
death, the State of Louisiana presented
herself to the Congress Of the United
States and demanded that her Senators
and Representatives who had been
elected in pursuance Of this plan of paci.
fication proposed by Mr.. Lincoln, should
be admitted to their seats; snd the ques-
ton arose distinctly in Congress whether
they should be admitted or not And
when that question came up for discus
sion in the Senate, Mr. Trumbull, the
Senator from Illinois, man Of distin-
guished ability and great leader in the
Republican party-stood foremost in
the Senate of the United States and
urged upon the Senate to admit the State
Of Louisiana to her representation.
Mr.. Trumbull was sustained by four.
fifths of all the Republican members Of
the Senate. There were at that time-in |
l865-but Eve Radical Senators on the |
floor of the Senate, who, on the night
when we had the struggle to have Lou
isiana admitted TO her representation
upon this plan Of pscihcstion; there
we're but Eve Radical Senators who op-
posed the admission-Mr Sumner, Of
Massachusetts,; Mr. Wade, Of Ohio; Mr.. |
Grsiz Brown, Of Missouri; Mr.. Howard,
Of Michigan; Mr.. Chandler. OF Michi-
gan. and Mr.. WilkinsoD, Of Minnesota
think those were the Eve Radicals IN |
the Seusie. Those Eve Radicals in the
Senate. under the lead Of Sumnsr and
Wade, we're al that conld be raised iu
oppositios to the plan Of paeifcasion
which had been proposed By Mr.. Lin
coin, With the sanction Of his cabinet
and the sanction Of Congress.
NJ Tfnroln wan arnaeninafe1 in luril |