Year: 1866

In the United States Senate, on June 4,
Senator Hendricks, of Indiana, delivered
the following speech on the question of
reconstruction


Mr.. President, nothing but a sense of
imperative duty induces me to
address the Senate upon this occasion.
The Constitution is to be changed the
foundations of the Government are TO be
disturbed; some of the old oak timbers are
to be removed, and timber of recent
growth is to be substituted. Upon the
foundations fixed by the fathers our insti-
tutions have rested firmly and securely tor
three quarters OF century. They have
stood unmoved by the contests OF ambitious
leaders, the angry strife of parties, and the
rolling waves OF war. In peace and in war;
in the turbulence of times OF financial en-
barrassment, and the corruptions attendant
upon the accumulation of great wealth /; in
every possible state and condition of our
society, the Constitution has borne the test
aud the fact now stands conceded that it es-
tablished a system of Government entirely
adapted to our wants and condition as peo-
pie. This is proven beyond cavil and ques-
tion, by the prosperity and indiviual nap
pness that attended our growth, and the
greatness and power TO which we attained.
The prosperity of the citizen, his security
and happiness, and the might and grandeur
of the nation, attest the excellence of our
form of Government. The blessings of the
p Ist are our guarantee for the future, II we
but maintain our institutions as they are.


And now, sir, in this the most unsafe Pc
riOd of our history; when the passions eX-
cited by the war are yet fierce; when Sec
tional controversies run high, and party
strife is raging; when eleven states are abb
sent from this Chamber, and other sections,
seizing the opportunity, seek to aggrandize
their power, and to fasten upon the cOun-
try an unequal policy; when the lust for
power and gain carries men beyond the re-
straints of Justice aud right-at such time
| cannot remain wholly silent when l see
the hand of the partisan and the selt-cOn-
stituted refOrmer laid upon the sacred work
of the fathers. In such case to speak is
mans duty, though none may heed. But,
Mr.. President, it Is hard work to speak when
one knows in advance that no argument,
however just and torcible, and no appeal,
however patriotic, can influence single
vote; that the authority and law of po-
litical party is over every Senator of the
majority; and that it remains now only
to register the decree of the secret caucus.


At the meeting of Congress, but before
the President had delivered his message,
and before his views had been officially
communicated, the Republican members,
in caucus, determined To raise a committee
of Fifteen to Enquire into the condition of
the States which formed the so-Called Con-
federate States of America, and report
whether they or any of them are entitled
to be represented in either House of Con-
gress." In most indecent haste the resOlu-
tion passed both branches, and the commit
tee became fastened upon Congress and the
country. Because OF its party origin, the
work it had to do, and the character of its
proceedings, that committee came to be
known in the country as the Revolutionary
tribunal" 1.-The directory" and the star
| chamber" Its first report was made some
| months since, in which it was proposed to
reduce the representation of the Southern
States, but by the aid of the distinguished
Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Sumner),
who submits to party restraints upon his
Judgment with impatience, that measure
was defeated. Its second report is now
upon our desks. 1t passed the House, but
when it came under discussion in the Sen
ate, and had to bear the test of the indepen-
dent Judgment of Senators, it was found
wanting, and its defeat became almost GER
tain. A second defeat OF party programme
could not be borne; its effect upon the fall
elections would be disastrous. A caucus
was called, and we witnessed the astound-





time, of great legislative measure, touch
ing the Constitution itself, from the Senate,
that it might hbe decided in the secret
councils of party. For three days the
Senate Chamber was silent, but the discus
sions we're transferred to another room of
the Capitol, with closed doors and darkened
windows, where party leaders might
safely contend for political and party pol
icy.


When Senators returned to their seats l
was curious to observe who had won and
who had lost in the party lottery. The
dark brow of the Senator from New Hamp-
shire Mr.. Clark was lighted with CLEAN
of pleasure. His proposed substitute for
the third section was the marked feature of
the measure. But upon the lofty brow Of
the Senator from Nevada (Mr. Stewart)
there rested cloud of disappointment and
grief. His bantling, which he had named
universal amnesty and universal suffrage,
which he had so often dressed and undress-
ed in the presence of the Senate, the darling
offspring OF his brain, was dead; it had
died In the caucus; and it was lett to the
sad Senator only to hope that it might not
be his last. Upon the serene countenance
of the Senator from Maine, the chairman of
the 10, there rested the composure OF the
highest satisfaction; plausible political
plabIOTul Ildu u6Ou uONlScuj anu IuOlo was
yet hope for his party. -..........


Mr.. President, recognize the propriety
and necessity of conventions and caucuses
to regulate all questions of organization
and political policy but have never felt
myself authorized to subordinate my judg-
ment as representative of the people to
the decision of any body of men other than
those | represent. To me it seems clear
that each Senator owes it to the country to
vote upon every important measure and
every proposed modification thereof ac-
cording to the dictates of his own judg-
ment and conscience. The Constitution re-
quires that thirds of the Senators, each
answering for himself, shall agree to pro-
posed amendment before it can be submit
ted to the States In this weighty business
now before us what are the facts The
House sends us four propositions to change
| the Constitution in one bill. Upon discus
sion it was found that no one OF the propo-
sitions, nor any proposed modification
thereof, could receive tie required vote.
Two-thirds of the Senators, belonging to
one political party, retired from the Senate
| to consider and agree upon bill. Each
! Senator, by going into the secret caucus,
! agreed and BECAME bound to vote for what
| ever the majority of The caucus should
adopt. A section Of an entire bill may be
/ adopted BY bare majority of the caucus,
much less than one-half the Senate, but the
! entire two-thirds must vote for it in the
Senate, not because 1t Is right, but because
| the majority of the caucus has said SO and
| thus an amendment of the Constitution