Year: 1867

vide for the More Efficient Gov.


ernment OF the Rebel StateS.'


To the House Of Representatives!


have examined the bill "to pro,


vide for the moro efficient govern


mcnt of the rebel States with the


care and anxiety which its tran


scendent Importance is calculated ia


awaken, am unable to give it my


assent for reasons so grave, that


hope Il statement of them may have


some influence on the minds of the


patriotic and enlightened men with


whom the decision must ultimately


rest.


The bill places all the people OF
the ten States therin named under


the absolute dominion Of military


rulers and the preamble undcr-
takes to give the reason upon which
the measure is based, and the ground
upon which it is justified. 1t de-
clares that there exists in those
States no legal governments, and no
adequate protection for life or prop
crty, and asserts the necessity Of en-
forcing peace and good order within


their limits. Is this true as matter
of fact?


1t is not denied that the States in
question have each Of them an ac-
tual government, with all the pow


ers, executive, judicial, and legisla


tive, which properly belong to free
State. They are organized like the
other States of the Union, and, like
them, they make, administer, and
execute the laws which concern their
domestic affairs. An existing de
facto government, exercising such
functions as these is itself the law
of the State upon all matters within
its Jurisdiction. To pronounce the
supreme aw-making power Of an
established State illegal, is to say
that law is unlawful.


The provisions which these Gov
ernments have made for the pre-
servation of order, the suppression
of crime, and the redress Of private
injuries, are in substance nj'prn
ciple the same as those which pre-
vail in the Northern States and in
other civilized countries. They GER
tainly have not succeeded in pre-
venting of the commission Of all
crime, nor has this been accomplish
ed anywhere in the world, There,
as well as elseW where, offenders some
times escape for want Of vigorous
prosecution, and occasionally, per-
haps, by the ineficiency Of courts or
the prejudice Of jurors. 1t is un-
doubtedly true that these evils have
been much increased and aggravat
ed, North and South, by the demor
alzing influences of civil war, and
the rancorous passions which the
contest has engendcred. But that
these people are maintaining local
Governments for themselves, which
habitualIy defeat the object Of all
government and render their own
lives insecure, is in itself utterly i'm
probable, and the avermcnt Of the |
bill to that effect is not supported |
by any evidence which has to come
to my knowledge. All the cintorma
ton have on the subject convinces


sa .uai the masses of the Southern
people and those who control their
public acts, while they entertain di-
verse opinions on questions Of Fed
eral policy, arc completely united
in their effort to re organize their
society on the basis of peace, and to
restore their mutual prosperity as
rapidly and as completely as their
circumstances will permit.


The bill, however, would seem to
show upon its face that the estab-
lishment of peace and good order is
not its real object. The fifth section
declares that the preceding sections
shall cease to operate in any State
where certain events shall have hap
pened. These events are--First,
the selection of delegates to State
Convention by an election at which
negroes shall be allowed to VOTE
Second, the formation of State Con-
stitution by the Convention so chos-
en-. Sd, the insertion into the State
Constitution Of provision which
willsecure the right of voting at all
elections to negroes, and to such
white men as may not be disfran-
chised for rebellion or felony
Fourth, the submission of the Con-
stitution for ratification to negroes
and white men not disfranchised, =,
and its actual ratification by their
vote. Fifth, the submission Of the
State Constitution to Congress for
examination and approval, and the
actual approval of it by that body.
Sixth, the adoption of a certain
amendment to the Federal Consti-
tuition by vote of the Legislature
elected under the new Constitution.
Seventh, the adoption of said amend
mcnt by sufficient number of 9TH
er States to make it part of the |
Constitution of the United States.
All these conditions must be fulfilled /
before the people of any Of these
States can be relieved from the bon
dage of military domination but
when they are fulfilled, then immcd-
lately the pains and penalties of the
bill are to cease, no matter whether
there be peace aud order or not, and I
without any reference to the secu-
rity of life or property. The excuse
given for the bill in the preamble is !
admitted by the bill itself not to be
real. The military rule which it
establishes is plainly to be used not
for any purpose Of order or for the
prevention Of crime, bat solely as a {
means of coercing the people into
the adoption ofprinciples and meas
ures to which it is known that they I
arc opposed, and upon which they