Year: 1865

]


When the resolution offered in the House Of Rep
resentafives BY Mr.. Tbad Stevens on The first day
OF the session, fora committee If fifteen ITO inquire


into the condition Of the States which formed the
socallcd Confederate States of America and report
whether they, or any of them, are entitled 10 be
represented in either house of Congress" came up


in the Senate, Mr. Doolitte, of Wisconsin, spoke as
follows


Mr.. Doolittle said that under other Circumstances
he should not have spoken upon the subject; but AZ
Mr. Howard had demanded the yeas aud nsys, he
felt it his duty 70 give his views on the subject-
After speaking in favor OF the reference OF the
whole matter Of reconstruction TO the Judiciary
committee as the proper place for the consideration
OF the subject, Mr.. Doottle spoke against tho
adoption of the resolution. He objected to it be-
cause if adopted it became the law of the land,
and bound the next Congress we'll this in case
tho committee should not make u report in this
Congress- He objected Also because on the COM
mittee proposed the Senate was TO has3 but six
members and the House nine. giving to th. House
majority of three votes. lie denied the right or
the two Houses to act concurrently this subject.
Each House must act for itself and exclusively in
determining the qualifications of its members Il
would be sacrifice Of the self-respect of the Sen
ate TO pass this resolution. The resolution also
cut OIL debate, which was contrary TO all practices
and precedent. ...t7 f .l.


The Senator from Michigan had referred to the
Southern States as subjugated territories. This
theory could not be maintained. The doctrine
upon which the war was fought denied the right
of secession. The object of the war was to save.
and not to destroy the States. The flag which
waved over the capitol contained thrty-sx stars,
and he would ask If that was a Haunting lie--if
there were not thirty-six States in the Union.


Mr. Doolittle, in referring to the action Of the
House on the subject of the resolution, was In
formed by the chair that dscession of the action
of the House was not in order He then said:--
But sir, it is not improper for me to refer to the
proceedings of a caucus held in the city Of Wash
ington. By the published proceedings Of that as
semblage II s9ems that on the first Saturday in
December, without any discussion whatever, a GER
tain resolution, which reads, wonb for word, just
like this resolution which is sent here from the
House, was adopted in that caucus under the lead
ershir of q certain gentleman whom will not
speak OF as member of the House, but as one
known to history, who resided in the State of Penn
sylvana. His history is known CT all men, and
one thing we know of him-he is most bitterly
and uncompromisingly hostile to the policy Of tho
present Administration on the subject OF q con-
strlcton, He goes with him who goes furthest,
holding even that the State of Tennessee was an
ALLEN State at war with the United States; and If
am not mistaken, in the convention at Baltimore
which nominated Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. johnson for
President and Vice President Thaddeus Stevens
objected to the nomination of And rev johnson,
because he was an alien enemy. have seen moth
ing Of the history of that gentleman to lead me to
suppose that he has in any respect changed his
opinions for it is not long since we read speech
of his, delivered in the State Of PENNSYLVANIA,
marked with his usual ability, and with that cool
assurance that sometimes rises TO the sublime, in
which he proposed if | do not mistake, almost the
entire and universal confiscaton of the whols
Southern States. Now, Slr. President, with the
doings of tina, assembly in connection with this
resolution feel at liberty to speak without vioia-
ting the rules of this House. will simply say that
within three minutes by the clock Of the hour
when that assembly was called, Thaddeus Stevens
had moved his committee on resolutions, and was
Withdrawing with his committee from the body TO
make his report. Within ten minutes without any
discussion, without any consideration whatever,
II was by that cool tact of his pressed through the
body, declaring II TO De ""arimonsly adnr'va.--
Why this hot haste2 What necessity for such hot
haste? Sir, who does not know that the leader Of
that caucus did not desire to wait-nor did he wait
until the President had spoken to the country in
his annual message on the state of the ccuntryr
The constitution requires the President from time
to time to give information Of the state of the
Union, and we have no right 10 presume that the
President would not furnish the information which
his constitutional duty requires He has mt his
control all the agencies which necessary for this
purpose. There is an able Cabinet which surrounds
him and is able TO furnish him with assistance.


Mr. Doolttle then declared it TO be the duty Of
Congress and the country to support President
Johnson in his policy Of reconstruction, which was
similar to that Of Mr.. Lincolu. 1i aHH. rl