CONGRESS, UNITED STATES. 



107 





own [OM, while the rebels sliull ivtnin tlicir 

 <i\vn property, must of which w;,- deduct d for- 

 feited !.y tin- Collirress of tin- 1'liited States. 

 He desires that tin; traitors (ha\ing sternly 

 'iat most, important leader, Rickety 

 a high example) should bo exempt 

 from t'nrther tine, imprisonment, forfeiture, 

 ipital punisliment, and lie declared 

 entitled to all tin- rights o!' loyal eitixens. He 

 - that the States created by him shall bo 

 acknowledged as valid States, while at the same 

 time ho inconsistently declare^ that tbe old 

 reUl States are in lull existence, and always 

 i, and bavo equal rights with the 

 loyal States. Ho opposes tbo amendment to 

 the Constitution which changes the basis of 

 representation, and desires the old slave States 

 to have the benefit of their increase of freemen 

 without, increasing the number of votes; in 

 short, he desires to make the vote of one rebel 

 in South Carolina equal to the vote of three 

 freeman in IVnnsylvania or New York. He is 

 determined to force a solid rebel delegation 

 into Congress from the South, and, together 

 with Northern Copperheads', could at once 

 control Congress and elect all future Presi- 

 dents. 



"In opposition to these things, a portion of 

 Congress seems to desire that the conquered 

 belligerent shall, according to the law of 

 nations, pay at least a part of the expenses 

 and damages of the war ; and that especially 

 the loyal people who were plundered and im- 

 poverished by rebel raiders shall be fully indem- 

 nified. A majority of Congress desires that 

 treason shall bo made odious, not by bloody 

 executions, but by other adequate punishments. 



" Congress refuses to treat the States created 

 by him as of any validity, and denies that the 

 old rebel States have any existence which gives 

 them any rights under the Constitution. Con- 

 iubists on changing the basis of represen- 

 tation so as to put white voters on an equality 

 in both sections, and that such change shall 

 precede the admission of any State. I deny 

 that there is any understanding, expressed or 

 implied, that, upon the adoption of the amend- 

 ment by any State, such State may be ad- 

 mitted (before the amendment becomes part 

 of the Constitution). Such a course would 

 soon surrender the Government into the hands 

 of rebels. Such a course would be senseless, 

 inconsistent, and illogical. Congress denies 

 that any State lately in rebellion has any gov- 

 ernment or constitution known to the Consti- 

 tution of the United States, or which can bo 

 recognized as a part of tbe Union. How. then, 

 can such a State adopt the amendment? To 

 allow it would be yielding the whole question 

 and admitting the unimpaired rights of the 

 seceded States. I know of no Republican who 

 does not ridicule what Mr. Seward thought a 

 cunning movement, in counting Virginia and 

 other outlawed States among those which had 

 adopted the constitutional amendment abolish- 

 ing slavery. 



" It is to ed that inconsiderate and 



incautious Republicans should ever have tup- 

 po-i d that tin- slight amnidm.-ni - a!r. vl 

 po-.-d to th" Constitution, even v. In n iucorpo- 

 raied into that instrument, would sati-fy the 

 reforms necc^ary for the security of th. 

 ernmeiit. I'nle-s th<- rebel States, before ad- 

 mi-sion, >hoiild be made republican in -pirit. 

 and placed under the guardian-hip of 

 men, all our blood and treasure will have been 

 spent in vain. I waive now the question of 

 punishment, which, if we aro wise, will still 

 be inflicted by moderate confiscations, both as 

 a reproof and example. Having these States, 

 as we all agree, entirely within the power of 

 Congress, it is our dtity to take care that no 

 injustice shall remain in their organic laws. 

 Holding them ' like clay in the hands of the 

 potter,' we must see that no vessel is made for 

 destruction. Having now no governments, 

 they must have enabling acts. The law of last 

 session with regard to Territories settled the 

 principles of such acts. Impartial suffrage, 

 both in electing the delegates and ratifying 

 their proceedings, is now the fixed rule. There 

 is more reason why colored voters should bo 

 admitted in the rebel States than in the Terri- 

 tories. In the States they form the great mass 

 of the loyal men. Possibly with their aid loyal 

 governments may be established in most of 

 those States. Without it all are sure to be 

 ruled by traitors; and loyal men, black and 

 white, will be oppressed, exiled, or murdered. 

 There are several good reasons for the passage 

 of this bill. In the first place, it is just. I am 

 now confining my argument to negro suffrage 

 in the rebel States. Have not loyal blacks 

 quite as good a right to choose rulers and make 

 laws as rebel whites? In the second place, it 

 is a necessity in order to protect the loyal white 

 men in the seceded States. The white Union 

 men are in a great minority in each of those 

 States. AVith them the blacks would act in a 

 body ; and it is believed that in each of said 

 States, except one, the two united would form 

 a majority, control the States, and protect 

 themselves. Now they are the victims of daily 

 murder. They must suffer constant persecu- 

 tion or be exiled. The convention of Southern 

 loyalists, lately held in Philadelphia, almost 

 unanimously agreed to such a bill as an abso- 

 lute necessity. 



"Another good reason is, it would insure the 

 ascendency of the Union party. ' Do you avow 

 the party purpose?' exclaims some horror- 

 stricken demagogue. I do. For I believe, on 

 my conscience, that on the continued ascen- 

 dency of that party depends the safety of this 

 great nation. If impartial suffrage is excluded 

 in the rebel States, then every one of them is 

 sure to send a solid rebel representative dele- 

 gation to Congress, and cast a solid rebel elec- 

 toral vote. They, with their kindred Copper- 

 heads of the North, would always elect the 

 President and control Congress. While si 

 sat upon her defiant throne, and insulted and 



