Year: 1866




between the Administration and the
Union party on the subject of the basis
OF representation we shall fail again TO
lind anything essential. The snggcs-
ton OF the one was MISREPRESENTATION
based upon votes would be equitable,
the other has embodied that idea
in section of the proposed Amend.
ment.


Where then shall we find collision
OF plans? On the proposition that the
States are not dead. and that the right
OF representation is an inaienable at.
tribute Of their existence. am told. |
derry totally that the Union party in
worI or deed has committed itself in
opposition TO that doctrine. 1t is no
secret to any Of you that have advo.
Gated the immediate admission to Con-.
gress of loyal representatives as rapidly
as such Should be duly elected and pre-
sent themselves, and ! have not been
nnobservant Of the action of the party
in regard 10 the question. Whist
therefore, in common with you all havo
witnessed much debate on this subject
and know full well that strong efforts
wero made TO secure another result.
yet the fact remains clear TO all who
will see, that such efforts failed, that no
theories were adopted, but that the
strongest possible practical pledge was
given in the case of TeL nessce that the
acceptance Of the terms | have been
describing would be followed by the
immediate admission of Representa-. i.
tives and Senators. If any one com
plains that this was not done sooner. |
shall only ask of what use is it TO dis.
cuss that point. The vital question to
the Southern States is, how shall this
period OF semi-anarchy be quickest
ended. have promised to adhere TO
practical questions Of present import.
aDce and interest, and cannot see how
any good can be gotten by stopping to
ask whether more speed could have
been made. 1t took 81 long. So much
we know and may regret, but regrets
will not change the fact. The exercise
of the right of representation was in n.
terrupted during the war: the admin
istration offered to favor the reaump.
tion of the right, not unconditionally,
but upon the acceptance of certain
terms and conditions which / have en-
dcavored to detail specifically. Con-
gress, by its final action has said
agreed, prorided these same conditions
be put in tie shape of an amendment to
the Federal constitution" There is the
whole controversy in q nutshell. / have
already said ali ] care to say upon the
folly of refusing that prov.so which
has reference only to form, when the
thing to be done is professedly agreed
upon. The quickest, the easiest way
OF securing the representation desired
is then for the Southern States 10 adopt
the amendment, every principle OF
which they claim to have submitted
TO already when they profess TO have
accepted the administration plan.


Ii our distinguished friend who is
on the stand with me Mr.. Shcllabar-
ger) will permit me to say so, l will
confess that the liveliest surprise that
l have felt during the past season was
in view of the fact that the President
did not congratulate Congress end the
country at the close ofthe session, up.
on the substantial harmony of policy
which had been the result of 80 long
deliberations.


What then shall we say of the or
ganized effort which has recently been
made in the great Convention TO pro-
duce the conviction upon the country
that the Union party is committed to
revolutionary measures which tend to
the perpetuaton of anarchy. and the
permanent denial of the right of rep
resentatioD2 What can wo say, but
that the passions and antagonsms en-
gcndered by warm dispute upon othel
questions have been transferred &c
those upon which the only difference
is verbal or rather, is only with regard
to the form of the guaranty upon the
bond of settlement whose other terms
are agreed upon2 Ifthe South should
at once adopt the Constitutional
amendment, how utterly all the dispute
about theories of executive or legisla.
tive power would sink irto insignfi
cance If it is rejected, how plain il
is that it will DE done because the
terms themselves (Which have shown
are considered right by the Admins
tration and Congress alike) are OBJ.
jected to, and not because the form Is
that of amendment 10 the fundamen
tai law! In either event the controver.
sy about the functions of the several
departments of the Government du.
ring q revolutionary insurrectiOn will
soon lose their interest tor the coun.
try and have no more real Importance
than debate whether all such civil
commissions should be inaugurated by
throwing overheard q ship cargo ol
tea.


The loyal people Of the country ask
the irreversible acceptance by the
Southern States Of terms OF settle
ment which everybody ever connect
ed with the Union party has admit
ted TO be moderate and right, Shall
we have it? This l hold to be the on
ly live issue cf to-day. If all the
men who have sustained the Govern
ment by their votes and their arms
through the war, shall now stand to
gether united in the demand, the
thing will be done and that quickly
A true and lasting peace long looked
for will have come at last. Restored
order and established law will give tC
the battle scathed States of the South
, that resurrection of credit and conf
A II 4