Year: 1866




at least ten of them, have any element Is


or features of legitimate governments


Their old Constitutions were utterly over


thrown and have never been revived
Their present Constitutions were not ol


their own choice, but were imposed upon
them in the midst of arms, when the


claws were SILENT" by a military ruler
playing the part of mighty conqueror


Not one of their organic laws was ever


submitted to the judgment OF the peo-


pie. We have passed law giving the


right of suffrage to all men in the Terri


tories. Let us now authorize the outlaw


ed States to become republican by freely


forming their Constitutions by the action


of all their freemen. If they then de.


priVe any portion of the people of their


equal rights, let them be content with
their present exterior condition until


they shall become fit to discharge the


duties of true republicanism.


Thus will the elective franchise be prop
erly bestowed on all within the rebel
States. The loyal men will be protected.
Now they are prescribed without regard
to color. Reject this bill, and l see no
way of ever giving equal rights to the
South. Reflections like these have in
duced me to propose direct vote (which
1 hope will be allowed) on the vital ques-
ton which alone can give protection to
the colored race and the loyal white in
the rebel States. Left, as they are now,
without the protection of the ballot box,
overwhelming evidence shows that they
are the mere serfs and will be the VIC
Tins of their former masters. The OBJ
lection to the insertion of such impera-
tive provisions in an amendment to the
Constitution does not exist to this bill
In the Constitution it would have opera
ted equally in every State.


While that would have been just it was
not deemed possible. In many of the
free States deep seated prejudices, the
offspring ofignorance and habit, obstruct-
ed the cause of justice. In Copperhead
States, where justice to the colored race
has no domicil, and IN States nearly bal
anced, such reform was thought to be
| impracticable at present. Those States
had done nothing to forfeit their rights
and authorize the nation to impose such
new conditions. Nor had the workings
of our institutions shown such provisions
to be absolutely necessary for the protec-
ton of that class or the safety of the
country. The deprivation of the cleo
tive franchise to so few, though great
wrong, was not thought dang erous or
intolerable. How different the condi-
ton of the rebel States The concen-
tration of the whole political power in
the hands of few tyrannical and dis
loyal men has shown itself dangerous to
liberty and fidelity to the Government,
and unless restrained must soon again
produce bloody Instructions. Their
right to dictate the terms of their par
ticipation in national affairs all agree to
have been forfeited, and whatever differ
ent theories are held, all concur in the
main conclusion, whether Republicans,
Copperheads, Apostates, or that unamia-
BILE hermaphrodite race called ConserVa-
tives; as the conditions of readjustment
are to be fixed by the Government, none
can deem it severe if we put the loyal
freedmen on an equal footing at the polls
with the disloyal white man. If the
wise management of the Government of
the country; if the protection of the
loyal men in the rebel sections if the
election of patriotic Union men to the
State and national offices requires the
full enfranchisement of the colored race;
if justice to all demands it, why shall we
hesitate?


The only way in which Congress can
grant such power by legislation is through
enabling acts, as provided by this sub
stitute. When these people becomes
States Congress cannot either altar or
amend their State institutions. A con-
stitutional amendment can alone reach
it. As Congress can dictate any mode of
reconstruction which it deems best, it
may pass enabling acts authorizing these
outlawed districts to form republican
State governments fit to partake in the
government of the nation. In forming
such governments Congress always fixes
the qualifications of the electors. 1t has
lately, as I'have said, given the right of
suffrage to the colored race in the Terri
tories. This bill is intended to give the
loyal colored men, as well as the loyal
white men, a right to participate in the
Government under which they are to
live; it excludes none but the most gull
ty rebels; that is necessary in order to
enable the loyal men to live in the land
of their birth otherwise the proud, per-
scouting rebels will exile them from their
native land. Such is the united evidence
of all the true men of the South.


When this is done we shall have done
but partial justice to the defendants of
an oppressed race. God may yet visit US
with further punishments. Certainly we
deserve it. Why have we not given them
homesteads? Their rebel masters owe it
to them. AS all agree that Congress must
restore the lost States, let it be done upon
true principles. Republics must stand
upon the basis of universal suffrage
fr0y,, hot ig Iav,o
from republicanism. Exclusion for crime
does not violate the rule.


The bill treats the Confederate States
as every branch of our Government treats
them. They are all under military sur
veillance. No statesman looks upon
their present governments as anything
but temporary, imposed by arbitrary
power until the people could form free
governments. 1t provides that within.
six months, conventions shall be called
of all the free mail people of the States
above the age of twenty-one years-with
certain exceptions on account of crime
to form constitutions to be submitted
to the judgment of the people. Upon
the ratification of such constitutions they
may be admitted into the Republic, pro-
vided, always, that such constitutions
shall not violate the fundamental prin-
ciples of republicanism by discriminat
ing against citizen or classes of citizens in
favor of any other under similar circum-
stances.


Now, sir, if there be any State that
does not desire such organic law, let it
remain in state of pupilage until it shall
have learned the elementary principles
of justice and freedom.


All who choose to deal fairly by all men
may thus be represented in this body in
the next Congress. Those who do not
choose to give equal rights to all men,
will, with my consent, never enter this
hall except as delegates.


A large class of rebels under oath re-
nounced their allegiance to the United
States, and swore allegiance to the Con-
federate States of America. 1 consider
such oaths void. But the subjects of it
have no right so to treat it. This bill
opens a door to enable them to absolVe
themselves from such oath without per-