Year: 1868

re-organized, and Senators and Repre-
sentatives chosen on the principle!
maintained by Mr.. Lincoln. Ths,
Representatives it will be remembered
were only prevented from taking theil
seats by the opposition of Mr.. Summer
and four or five other Senators, whC
threatened to speak ont the session ant
defeat the appropriation bills, if th'
measure was pressed by Mr.. Trumbul
and the great body of the Republican
Senators.


1t was not until Lincoln was killed
and President johnson into power, that
the Radicals reasserted the power tt
dictate government for the people o.
the Southern States.


The real object of asserting thi:
power was to establish negro suffrage
and this was not less their purpose
when the Wade and Davis bill was
passed than subsequently when they
avowed it. This bill was intended to
establish the power. If Mr.. Lincoln had
approved it, he would have been estop.
ped from denying the power Of Congress
to pass an amendment establishing ne
gro suffrage, and their object in establish.
ing negro suffrage and really to abolish all
suffrage. The fact that it was devolved
on the military to carry th measure in
to effect proves this.


Fanatic, as Mr.. Sumner is, he yet had
sense and honesty enough to see and de.
clare that the Government established
by the reconstruction acts of March ID
1867, was "a Government Of the bayonet,"
and the declaration made on the floor OF
the House by Mr.. Dewes, of North Caro-
lima, one of the representatives of these
bayonet governments, that they cannot
stand except whilst propped by the
bayonets of the United States soldiers,
proves beyond controversy the correct
ness of Mr.. Summers assertion. 1t does
not require the declarations of Mr.. Sum-
ner and Mr.. Dewes to prove it.


The Constitution of the United States
is but the record of principles and an
order of things founded in the nature OF
our people. The sabversion of this law
of our nature is like the subversion OF
the law of the natural world, and can
only result in the destruction of the
body polite.


The reconstruction measures disfran'
chised the people, and subverted their
local governments, which are but a part
and parcel OF the General Government
upon which it depends for its health,
ful operation; and it is as impossible that
it should sustain its normal and health
ful action, as that the physical body
should be sound whilst Il portion of il
was controlled by external force. The
theory upon which the fanatical section
of the Radical party acts is, that the nc
gro element of the population has equal
rights with the whites to exercise the
government of the country, and that il
IS essential to the peace of the country
that this right should be enforced. But
if, instead of being a caste among US
the emancipated class had been of ouI
own blood, there would have been nc
legitimate power in the General Govern
ment to enforce upon the South
ern States their admission to the
suffrage. By the express terms of the
Constitution the question Of extending
suffrage depends upon the people of the
several States. 1t was assumed, and
rightfully, that every community is the
best Judge of the measure to be adopt.
ed on that subject, and our experience
has shown that this was the proper
course. Our people have almsst unan'
imously exhibited n disposition to eX'
tend suffrage as rapidly rs possible con
sistent with maintaining order; and
have no doubt whatever that, if the
theories entertained by the Abolition
lists rs ts the capacity of the negroes
are found to be true, that then the ne
groes will be admitted to the franchise
But as the people most interested are
having the best opportunities of de-
Gliding the question correctly, the peo'
pie of these communities ought to be
left to decide it Independent of our
Constitutional provisions giving them
the right.


With the right to hold property, and
every personal right guaranteed, with
the privilege of education and improve
meut, it will not require a long Pro-
baton to demonstrate their fitness tC
participate in the control of the Gov.
ernment, If II be true that they have a
natural adaptation to the forms of Gov.
ernment established by our ancestry
Their freedom is guaranteed by both
State and National Constitutions, and
if they will work and economize, ac-
quire property and intelligence, and sub.
NIT to the law, they can soon eradicate
all prejudice against them, among all
honest and intelligent men. have
been, as you all know, the advocate for
their freedom when it was not popular
here to take that stand, and whenever
l am convinced that it is good for them
and for the community, to advocate the
right of suffrage for them. will
dc it. am clear in my conviction that
at this moment, nothing could be more
unfortunate for all concerned than to
attempt it; and to enforce it by the
power Of the National Government is
flagrant breach of the fundamental law,
which cannot be justified under any cir
cumstances. That, ofitself, proves that
the public good is not sought by the
measure. Conscientious men do not
forswear themselves even for the at.
tainment of the public veal. There is,
therefore, selfish and emboldened
purpose in the hearts of the men who
have resorted to this high-handed
measure. 1t is dictated by lust of pow
er. Indeed, the whole scope of tho
reconstruction measures prove that
the reconstructionists have a low
er opinion of the negro's capac
ity than We have. They have es
tablished a Bureau to provide for him
and regulate his wages, and they clothe
with the franchise whilst they declare
him incapable of taking care of himself
their theory being evidently that they
will have control of his vote as of hi:
person and wages, and they post theil
army in the South, to maintain the dis
franchisement of the whites they have
deceived, and to give full effect to the
sham suffrage of the negro.


No ridicule of negro suffrage which
has been INDUCED in on our side is 81
insulting to the negro race as the legis
lation of Congress. 1t preclaim
throughout the settled conviction of it
authors that the race is utterly unfittet
for seif.government. II is in itself 1
system Of pupilsge for them, proclaim
ing their imbecility, and yet apple
them to tie government of the coun
try and to the overthrow of the powe
of the independent voters in that Gov
ororapt II "a imnnssihIa that mer