Year: 1866

| do to corrupt men in this way. Why, sir, this
policy of bringing these states into the Union with
all their rebellion and treason 10 their hearts, is
no better than treason itself. l lay down the rule
here, sir, and DEFY contradiction. thst if there is
any man, be he high or low, Who is advocate
for bringing traitors into the counses of the ma
ton, that man is traitor in bis heart. He is an
enemy Of the government and of the nation, and
| nothing can make 1t appear differently. lie who
invokes the aid of unrepentant rebels to come into
the counses of the nation to participate in its de-


liberation is no better than rebel, and IS rebel
at heart. How does the policy that is now de-
volved upon differ from the policy that would
be announced from the same place by Jefferson
Davis we're he tomorrow placed in the same po-
sition. Would be ask any more-would he ask
any less-than that his co-conspirators should be
restored to the same positions they had when
they left those halls Why, we all know the his
tory of the Government of the time when these
men first rebelled. How was it? When they
went off they had the Government all in their
own hands; and to the infamy of the Democratic
party be it said, that with all their treason and
their crimes here in the Senate chamber, there
was but ore man from their side ready to protest
against their treason. With this exception, sir,
you will not find single Democratic vote against
the will and action enforced by Southern rebels,
and just before they went out of Congress they
had 1t all their own way and you and |, Mr.. Pres
ident, felt relieved when we saw them voluntarily
leave these halls. The greatest blunder treason
ever committed-more fatal than the blunders of
the battle felds-was the blunder of Withdrawing
from power in Congress when they had it all in
their own hands. Now, sir, suppose they had
kept on here, just as they invited TO come
predomiDated IN Congress as to prevent any
provision being made for arresting the progress of
treason. you could not have raised dollar car
ry on tie war; you could not have enlisted a sol
der had they not committed the blunder OF with
drawing for the Democratic party would have
stood by them and voted down every measure as
they undertook to vote them down after their
masters had gone out. Therefore | shall move
at very early period TO take this resolution up,
and | shall press the action of Congress TO te
upon it. 1t IS thing. 1t is the result of
the experience of the greatest statesmen who have
occupied the Presidential chair. | have no doubt
that of all the amendments proposed this is the
most conservative, though do not like to give ii
that bare name. 1t is the best one TO prevent q
great evil. Some gentlemen are ss,on;shed at
/ the number Of amendments offered from time to
| time, and do not wonder at it at all. The gov
eminent hes been founderng through a crisis
such as never government encountered before. 1t
is tried in all its points II there be any weak
in it, il is revealed by the very difficulties
that We have to overcome. Just like great ship
overtaken by hurricane, it may show you the
2
to commence his work. So with the great gov
ernment. This amendment that | now propose
is to remedy the greatest deficiency Left by the
fathers who made the government. Ii is no dis
paragemant that fnd this work not adapted to
our time. Ii would be more than miracle If it
were otherwise than it is. 1t is absurd to suppose
that that Constitution which was made for peo-
pie and nation scattered over 8 small part of the
country should be in all its parts perfect when the
nation had grown up to contain thirty millions Of
people, separated over entire continent. Just
/ as well expect that cloth for an infant would
be the correct pattern for him when be had ar
rived at manhood. There are defects iu it, and
all men have seen them. 1t is very seldom in
the history of country that an opportunity ike
this arises. hope this body will join me and the
President with the rest of them. If there be q
sieck of patriotism in him he will join Jack


son and Washington and all the great statesmen
before him did Here | have the satisfaction OF
believing will have the aid and assistance OF all
parties, because 1t is measure which heretofore
mas met the appreciation of every body"