Year: 1866

he believed to be right and proper, even il
view of such calamity as the accession O
the Democratic party. Let us look back v
the condition in which we found ourselves q
the close Of great war, brought on us by tn,
Democratic party-the great mass Of th,
Democratic party-the leading portion o
which was the Southern portion. I do NO
say that all the Democrats were in favor O
bringing on the var. / acknowledge that 1
very great portion of them have provee
themselves good and true patriots, as goot
and true friends AZ any set Of men, but dt
say that the support which the Democrat.
party gave the South in all its measures O
aggression, was a degree of encouragement
without which do not believe the war woulc
ever have been commenced. That has beer
my opinion always. / believe that the wa
has been brought upon us by the South itself
and result has followed which may bt
grievous TO them for q series of years. 1t il
not for them 10 complain.


They initiated the war, aud if the result il
disastrous and continues to be oppressive, q
far "a the necessary measures are concerned
they have themselves to thank for it, and can
not complain of the Congress of the Unites
States, if the democratic party as a party, il
its previous course, Is responsible for tn,
condition of things that exists in any degree
1t is not for that party, a. q party, TO com
plain of the measures which may be founc
necessary at present.


They also have taken the. consequence o.
their action to a certain extent. and thinl
they ought to be silent in everything which
is q natural and inevitable result of the con
sequence for which they are responsible.


McDougAll, of California, objected to the
arraignment of the democratic party. The
democrats, he said, had been maintainers o
the Union from the commencement Of the
troubles to the last. They had maintained
the Union with their blood and treason.


Fessenden spoke on the bill under consi
deration, and in conclusion, referred to the
subject of reconstruction. He had noticed
that some gentlemen were little too anxiou,
to discuss this matter before they had the
benefit Of the facts, the special committee
might be able to state, and the consultations
TO which they might finally come, that was I
matter for every gentleman TO Judge himself
but there was one there upon which ht
wished to say word. Senators had in the
course Of debate, chosen TO talk . grea'
deal about the policy of the President, and
the policy of Congress


| cannot understand why the gentlemen
from the other side of the House, and the
gentlemen of the same way of thinking or
this side Of the House. should be so yer,
anxious TO get up the idea that there is diff
ference Of opinion between the President and
Congress. We have all sorts of rumors.
wherein the wish is father to the thought,
one day, that such Cabinet minister is tc
be turned ont. or to resign this day some
thing else is being done; the President ha.
said this or that he means to ostracise those
who will not support his policy &c, &c
They without the slightest foundation,
except in the wish Of those who created them
Mr.. Fessenden would say TO all who wished
such a state of affairs, to not hatter them
selves with any such idea. He had not a,
yet seen the slightest indication, nor did he
expect To soc any such. Even supposine
there was difference of opinion, TO certain
extent, as to the time aud manner of accom-
pIishing a great work, which all desired tc
see accomplished at the earliest possible day
did il follow because af this difference o.
opinion, that there was to be the collision
that was talked about?


He knew very well that men hung around
the White House, and endeavored TO persuade
the President that those who ought TO he hi,
friends were not doing their best to sustain
him. but they paid the President poor com
plIment when they intimated that he was no
keeping watch on these matters himself
There is no collision, said Mr.. Fessenden.
say it, for much or little, for the benefit Of tn,
country, the President has done nothing tha
his friends can complain OF, and his friend
have done nothing that he can complain of
AS Commander in Chief of the Armies, be hae
appointed Provisional Governoss in the Sonth
but he had not attempted to do anything
which, under the Constitution. belonged t,
Congress to do, and, in conclusion. Mr.. Fes
sender said he desired full restoration of tn,
Union as speedily as possible. He was op
posed to the imposition upon any people, de
signed TO form part of the Government, o
degrading conditions of any kind. He woulS
not degrade the South in any way,


Mr.. Hendricks replied 10 the illusions o
Mr.. Fessendsp, 10 the conduct of the demo
cratic party. That party had stood firm b,
the Constitution. When the South seeded
it left the democratic party. The democra
tic party had always held that the domesti,
institutions of States, were not under the
federal control


Mr.. Davis said he had always been a whig
and had always been opposed TO the demo
cratic party, but tho questions which used Il
divide the parties, had gone by, and thes'
were now the questions upon which the,
agreed. Theywere the preservation of ths
right of the writ Of habeas corpus, trial b,
jury, the subordina,ion of military to civi
power, and obedience to the Constitution il
every respect. He was now with democrat
on all their questions as opposed to republi
cans.