Year: 1866

Mr.. Wade. Mr.. President. had not
intended to say anything at this
time upon this great subject of re
construction, because 1t appeared to me
that we should await the action of the
committee that we have appointed and
charged with the duty of enlIghtening US
on this subject; but have heard so much
that seems 10 be entirely aside of the
difficulties that occur to my mind on this
subject that l think l ought not TO fail at
this time to express some opinions that
entertain and especially as the Senator
from Wisconsin, Mr.. Doolittle, in the
long, labored and able speech that he
made yesterday, almost entirely failed to
touch any of the difficulties that are la
boring in my mind.


The Senator began by invoking the
principles and aid of the preceding Ad-
ministration, and informed US that the
present Administration was proceeding
npon the same principles that Mr.. Lin
coin had adopted. II is true that Mr..
Lincoln had entered upon a certa n poll
cy in relation 10 the admission of some of
these States; the question was agitated
before US, believe, during the whole pc
ricd of the last Congress; but, notwith
standing my anxiety to find some way
by which these States could be admitted
into the Union again, all the arguments
that were made for that purpose during
that whole Congress entirely failed to
convince me that the time had arrived
when il was safe to admit any of them /;
and therefore, for one, L contended
against it, and with a good deal of zeal /;
and for that l, with some others here,
was accused of being little factious, and
sometimes it was said we filibustered
apainst the will of the majority to keep
the States out.


Now, sir, wish to say that in my judg-
ment President johnson has made great
Improvement upon the state of things
that existed during the last Congress, al
though, as yet, he has not reached the
point where l think the difficulty begins.
Mr.. Lincoln advised US to admit Louisi-
ana into the Union at time when, prob
ably more than one half of her territory
was trampled beneath the hostile feet of
the enemy. Our flag did not cover her
territory, and perhaps moi half her popu-
lation, when he thought 1t would be safe
to permit her to come back into the
councils of the nation anu participate
with US Union men IN the great work OF
legislation. 1 had not seen anything in
the proceedings of the people there that
warranted me in saying that that would
be safe, and therefore | thought 1t best
to make what stand could against the
measure. You will recollect, sir, that Mr..


Lincoln did not then require, if l recol-
| lect Alright, in order for admission, any
thing more than that one tenth part OF


the population of Louisiana should take


a certain oath, and that not a very diff


cult one, and when they had done that


the State would be in a condition to be


admitted. Nj. johnson, l repeat, has


made improvement, and great improve
ment, upon all this, for-he does require,
4 if / understand him, that they, by their
fundamental law, shall abolish slavery
he REQUIRES at their hands that they shall


repudiate the rebel debt; be requires
hat they shall renounce the right of Sc
cession ; he requires that they shall agree
to the constitutional amendment abolish


ing slavery forever. These, in my judg


ment, are great Improvements upon the
system adopted by Mr.. Lincoln. Had