Year: 1868

execution; and that there might be


no mistake about, that even the
wayfaring man though a fool might
not err therein, the makers of the
Constitution wrote the words in the
instrument itself that the person in.
/, vested with executive power should
take care that the law be faithfully
executed. They took care further
to provide that the Presiden should
be bound by an oath, that chain of
adamant which binds the consciences
of men to the throne Of eternal
truth and justice. The requirements
of the Constitution binds him to
faithfully carry out the laws. Let
that be done and all will be well
with the Republic. Gentlemen, do
not talk about this law expressing
anybody, or injuring anybody, or
outraging anybody. t was the
right of this triumphant people to
make inquest for blood ali over that
land, which is rich with the blood
of our returned braves, and consign
offenders there either to the dark
ness Of the grave, there to sleep the
sleep of felons, or to en- eternal ban
ishment. 1t is otherwise with them.
This people has a right to insist
that civil governments shall be re-
stored, and restored speedily, in ac-
cordance with their own laws, over
that vast tract Of country. It has
three times the territorial extent Of
the empire Of France, and is cara-
bic, in the hands of honest, intelli:
gent freemen, Of furnishing homes
of abundance and Of comfort to
three times the popula ion Of France,
It is a part Of your native land and
mine, and l intend here, as the rep
resentative Of the people, to insist
that it shall soon rise from its ashes,
clothed in the form and dignity Of
the law, and invite there the indus
trial power Of the representatives Of
every civilized nation on the globe,
and that it shall pay its tribute from
year to year, and from generation
to generation, into the treasury of
our common country. In order to
make good our pledged faith to the
living and to the dead defenders Of
the Republic, let this be done, Mr.
Speaker, and all is well with the
Republic. Let it be done, and the
dream of its illustrious founder is
fully realized. Let it be done, and
the word will go out over al the
world that will shake the foundation
of every tyrant's throne, and compel
every despot to hold the reins Of his
power a more strenuous hand. We
shall be a great, dominant and pow
erful people, second to none on the
face OF the earth, before the majesty
of whose laws every human being
is equal in the rights of person
equal in those rights which are as
universal as the material world,
which are the gifts of God, and to
protect which governments are insti-
tuted among men.


Mr.. Bingham, after speaking
some time longer, concluded as fol
lows: "Allow jeff. Davis to come
back and set down in his Senatorial
robes in the other wing Of the Cap
itol; call back from France that
hatchet- faced conspirator, Slidell,
and restore him to his place; call
some other Senator watching across
the border in Canada and restore
him to the Senatorial Chamber, and
call back all the Representatives who
went out from this Hall, in 1861,
clothed with perjury as with a gar
ment, and who lifted their hands in
violence against the Government
and Constitution, and this contest
will be ended. Sir, l cannot speak
for others, but for myself, SO help
me God, living and dying, l am
against any such proposition. Let
the friends Of the Republic have the
keeping Of the Republic in their
hands. That being done, all will be
well, and the time will come within
the lifetime of every man now hon,
oring me with his attention, when
the laws of the Republic will be so
just, so humane, SO indiscriminate
In their justice and in their humani-
ty, that the poorest and the hum
blest creature between the two
oceans, wearing the bond of our
common humanity, may find equal
protection with the loftiest, the no
blest and best"


The blowing is the new Recon
struction bill as it passed the House
We cannot find anything in it to
which any honest man, who ever de-
sired the suppression of the rebel
lion, and who hates treason, can
object:


Be 1T enacted, de-, That in Vir-
ginia, North Carolina, South Caro-
lima, Georgia, Alabama, mississippi,
Louisiana, Texas, Florida and Ar
kansas, there are no civil State
governments, republican in form,
and that the so-called civil govern
ments in said States respectively
shall not be recognized as valid or
legal State governments either by
the Executive or Judicial power or
authority of the United States.


SEC. A?sd be 1t further enacted,
That for the speedy enforcement of
the act entitled an act to provide
for the more efficient government
! of the rebel States, passed March 81,
1867, and the several acts supple
mentary thereto, the General of the
army of the United States is hereby
authorized and required to enjoin
by special orders upon all officers
in command within the several mil


itary departments, within said sew
eral States. the performance of all
acts authorized by said several laws
above recited is authorized to re-