Year: 1865

fed since the rebellion commenced. il
has been 50 stipulated. The Constitu-
ton Of West Virginia, contains denial
! OF the right Of secession as well as the
right of slavery; and that glorious
Youngest daughter OF the sisterhood,
born in the midst of rebellion. and feel
ing the necessity of guarding against
what has endangered its life in its very
! cradle. has written down in her Constitu-
tion tha. neither SLAYER, nor secession is
to be regarded as permissible And
Maryland, 'my Maryland, who has
come ont as through fire from the midst
of this evil, when she came to modify
her Constitution, abolished the one and
I prohibited the other, as fruitful sources
. Of mischief and danger.


After quoting from the New Constitu-
of Mary land, which acknowledges the
paramount authority of the National
| Government and stating that we shall in
sist upon the acknowledge Of this
doctrine by the rebel States Gen. Schenck
continued:


AMENDMENT OF THE ''THREE-FIFrHs


RULE"


But the people of the Southern States
may, after having adopted their amended
! Constitutions, change them and abjure
/ this doctrine. Therefore it is that |, as
one of your representatives. shall not on
/ ly insist that no Representative from the
/ late rebel States shall take n seat along
\ side of me in the National Congress un
til slavery and secession shall have been
/ given up. and the record of the fact in
/ cOrporated in their fundam entail law, but
| shall 20 further | do not stop there
| shall require, as measure absolutely
essential to be adopted before | cah gree
that these people shall be restored to
their old relations. and have an equal
share with us in the government of our
common country, the abro9ation of a
rule that has always given them the up
per hand of us.-The matter to which
allude touches upon most delicate
question, but | approach it frankly and
boldly.


Everybody knows how, during the
progress of this rebellion, We have had
to contrast black patriotism with white
rebels. Everybody knows that while the
white people of the South have nearly
unanimously lifted their parricidal hands
to strike down our national flag and des-
troy the Government it represents, that
the poor, oppressed, and down-trodden
black men, even the slaves upon their
plantations. have svmpathized with our
Union soldiers, and served them in every
possible way. Everybody knows that
not only has this been their universal
disposition toward the Union cause, but
in the dark hours of the nations trial,
when the struggle was so evenly balaa-
ced that the worst fate was feared for
our cause, these blacks were called upon
to furnish their arms, their hearts, their
life blood in the contest that was TO set
tie our common destiny. And this day,
we have more than one hundred thou
sand of them bearing their muskets. IN
der the stars and stripes OF our country
Something, therefore, is due to them,
how it shall be paid is a question yet to
be decided. The President has thought
it well, in attempting to lead these insur-
rectionarv States back, to interfere as
little as possible with the laws Of their
several States. He has, therefore, while
J calling upon them to present Constitu-
tons that shall be satisfactory to the rest
/ of the nation, asked that they be present
4 ell as coming from those who possessed
the right of suffrage before the rebellion
/ and were willing now to purge them
I selves of the disabilities to which they
have recently been subjected. We know
not what sort of Constitutions they may
present; whether they will provide for
the eniranchisemeat of their late slaves
or whether they will continue to deny ii
to them But take the bold stand here
and am prepared TO maintain it, that
when they present their Constitutions
whether they provide for negroes voting
or not, until further condition Is com
piled with L shall still oppose their re
admission to the privileges of The Other
States. As far as voting is concerned, ]
am free to admit that | would rather
have the vote # a black man with :
white heart than the vote of a white mar
with black and rebelloaS heart
fTCheers But | am not willing to re
ceive either of them yet. Renewed
cheers | am for keeping them ali ou
vet awhile | am for waiting until tht
work is finished-until | have proof o
such disposition on the part of the rebel
as will insure that no other rebellion vii
break out and destroy our peace an(
prosperity.


Now, how can we have this assurance
say that we must advance slowly; tina
as in the origin of the Government, $
in the construction or restoration o
the Government, the process Is SOW, an
can only be accomplished well by tahin:


time TO It. have heretofore said. and


repeat it here. that the reelection does no


disturb me that We must thus wait.


do not deem 1t essential that South Car


olina, Georgia Florida, and the rest ofth
rebel States, should be in full commun


ion with the rest of the Union this year


or next year. or even five or ten year


hence | would gladly welcome all BAG


to dav, if they were fully prepared I


come back; but until they are fully ore
lpared - take positions on the same plan


with the rest OF the States, if it take


thirty wears. want them to keep OIL


these thirty years. [Chee-s South Care


lima was thirty years conspiring 10 g
ont of the Union, andI care not if she


thirty..years in getting back. Laughte
and cheers.


Now | think / see = way by which i
tdoing a duty lying Immediately befor
bus. we NAV bring this result about.
have already prescribed certain cond
ttions. submission TO which. you viii sgre
with me. are necessary before thes
= !. I'll --ff -