Twenty Years of Congress, Volume 2 | Page 2

FOWLER ELECTED SENATORS.--JOHNSON'S
INAUGURATION AS VICE-PRESIDENT.--HIS SPEECH.--WERE
THE REBEL STATES OUT OF THE UNION?--JOHNSON'S
VIEWS.--MR. LINCOLN'S VIEWS.--RADICAL AND
CONSERVATIVE.--EXTRA SESSION DEBATED.--ADVERSE
DECISION.--ILL-LUCK OF EXTRA SESSIONS.
CHAPTER IV.
PRESIDENT JOHN AND THE CABINET.--EFFECT OF
VICE-PRESIDENT'S ACCESSION. --EXAMPLE OF TYLER IN
1841 AND FILLMORE IN 1850.--A VICE-PRESIDENT'S
DIFFICULT POSITION.--PERSONNEL OF CABINET IN 1865.--ITS
NEARLY EVEN DIVISION ON RECONSTRUCTION
ISSUES.--PRESUMED POSITION OF EACH MEMBER.--
STANTON, HARLAN, AND DENNISON RADICAL.--WELLES,
McCULLOCH, AND SPEED CONSERVATIVE.--MR. SEWARD'S
RELATION TO THE PRESIDENT.--HIS POSITION
EXPLAINED.--MR. SEWARD REGAINS HIS HEALTH.--DISPLAY
OF HIS PERSONAL POWER.--CHARACTERISTICS OF MR.
SEWARD.--SUPERIORITY OF HIS MIND.-- TENDENCY OF THE
PRESIDENT'S MIND.--SOCIAL INFLUENCES AT WORK UPON
HIM. --HIS RADICAL CHANGE OF POSITION.--PRESIDENT'S
PROCLAMATION MAY 29.-- AMNESTY AND PARDON TO
REBELS.--THIRTEEN EXCEPTED CLASSES.--THE "TWENTY-
THOUSAND-DOLLAR" DISABILITY.--WARMLY OPPOSED BY
MR. SEWARD.--CLEMENCY PROMISED TO EXCEPTED
CLASSES.--PARDONS APPLIED FOR.--FOURTEEN THOUSAND
GRANTED IN NINE MONTHS.--ANOTHER PROCLAMATION OF
SAME DATE.-- PROVISIONAL GOVERNORS
APPOINTED.--FIRST FOR NORTH CAROLINA.--EXISTING
GOVERNMENTS IN VIRGINIA, LOUISIANA, ARKANSAS, AND
TENNESSEE RECOGNIZED.--PRESIDENT'S RECONSTRUCTION

POLICY.--NOW FULLY DISCLOSED.-- OATH OF ALLEGIANCE
PRESCRIBED.--PROVISIONAL GOVERNORS TO ASSEMBLE
CONVENTIONS.--THE CONVENTIONS TO FORM
CONSTITUTIONS.--LEGISLATURES THEN TO
ASSEMBLE.--WHOLE MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT IN
MOTION.--REBELS IN POSSESSION OF STATE
GOVERNMENTS.--COLORED MEN EXCLUDED FROM ALL
PARTICIPATION.--SUFFRAGE LEFT TO THE
STATES.--PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL POSITION ON
SUFFRAGE.--RECONSTRUCTION SCHEME COMPLETE IN
JULY.--THE PRESIDENT AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.--HIS
BELIEF THAT THE PARTY WOULD FOLLOW HIM.--HIS
HOSTILITY TO RADICALS.--PRESIDENT DEPENDS ON
CONDUCT OF THE SOUTH.--PUBLIC INTEREST
TRANSFERRED TO THAT SECTION.
CHAPTER V.
GREAT OPPORTUNITY GIVEN TO THE SOUTH.--THEIR
RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S TREATMENT.--NORTHERN
DESIRE FOR RESTORATION OF THE UNION.-- SOUTH DOES
NOT RESPOND TO IT.--SOUTHERN RECONSTRUCTION
CONVENTIONS.-- INCOMPLETE AND ILL-DIGESTED
PROCEEDINGS.--REBELS APPLY FOR SEATS IN
CONGRESS.--IRON-CLAD OATH IN THEIR WAY.--THEY
DENOUNCE IT AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.--COURSE OF
ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS.--SOUTHERN FEELING TOWARDS
THE UNION.--THEIR CONVENTIONS EXHIBIT
HATRED.--HOSTILE MANIFESTATIONS.--EXPRESSIONS OF
PRESS AND STUMP ORATORS.--LEADING REBELS
NOMINATED FOR OFFICE.--SOUTH DESCRIBED BY MR.
FESSENDEN'S COMMITTEE.--SOUTH MISLED BY NORTHERN
DEMOCRACY IN 1865.--FORMER CALAMITY FROM SAME
CAUSE IN 1861.--WHAT CONGRESS WOULD DEMAND OF THE
SOUTH.--THREE INDISPENSABLE
REQUIREMENTS.--SOUTHERN LEGISLATURES DEFIANTLY
RESIST.--CHARACTER OF THOSE

LEGISLATURES.--PRACTICAL RE-ENACTMENT OF THE
SLAVE-CODE.--CRUELTY OF ALABAMA STATUTES.--
FRAUDULENT IN THEIR NATURE.--COURSE OF THE CITY OF
MOBILE.--STATUTES OF FLORIDA STILL WORSE.--UNFAIR
TAXATION.--POLL-TAX OF THREE DOLLARS.-- A LIEN UPON
THE NEGRO'S LABOR.--OPPRESSION OF THE
NEGRO.--ENACTMENTS IN SOUTH
CAROLINA.--CHARACTERIZED BY RANK INJUSTICE.--PENAL
ENACTMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI.--ATROCIOUS
PROVISIONS.--LAWS OF LOUISIANA WORST OF ALL.--
CAPITATION TAX IN THE SOUTH.--ITS UNJUST
EFFECT.--SCHOOL LAWS.-- EDUCATION PRACTICALLY
DENIED TO THE NEGRO.-HE IS TAXED FOR THE EDUCATION
OF THE WHITES.--DISPROPORTION OF BURDENS PLACED
UPON HIM.-- REVIEW OF THE BLACK CODE.--SOME DETAILS
OF ITS PROVISIONS.--INCREDIBLY CRUEL.--THE SOUTH
WITHOUT EXCUSE FOR ITS ENACTMENT.--THEIR
DETERMINATION TO VINDICATE SLAVERY.--TO BRING
REPROACH ON THE NORTH.-- INFLUENCE OF THESE
PROCEEDINGS ON MR. SEWARD.--HIS MODE OF SELF-
JUSTIFICATION.--SEVERELY CENSURED BY HIS OLD
SUPPORTERS.--MISLED BY THE COURSE OF EVENTS.--HIS
LOSS OF POPULARITY.
CHAPTER VI.
MEETING OF THE THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS.--RE-ELECTION
OF SPEAKER COLFAX.-- HIS ADDRESS ON TAKING THE
CHAIR.--THADDEUS STEVENS MOVES FOR A COMMITTEE OF
RECONSTRUCTION.--RESISTED BY DEMOCRATS.--REBEL
CONTESTANTS DENIED ADMISSION TO THE FLOOR.--MUCH
FEELING ON THE QUESTION.-- PROCEEDINGS OF THE
SENATE.--PROPOSITIONS OF MR. SUMNER.--ANNUAL
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.--OUTLINE OF ITS
CONTENTS.--APPARENTLY CONSERVATIVE IN TONE.--NOT
PERSONALLY AGGRESSIVE.--LEADING MEN OF THE
THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS.--DEATH OF BOTH VERMONT

SENATORS.--NEW SENATORS.--NEW MEMBERS OF THE
HOUSE.--SKETCHES OF PROMINENT SENATORS AND
REPRESENTATIVES.-- PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S
PATRONAGE.--UNPRECEDENTED VOLUME OF IT DUE
LARGELY TO THE WAR.--DANGER OF ITS USE AGAINST
REPUBLICANS.--APPREHENSIONS OF
REPUBLICANS.--RECONSTRUCTION RESOLUTION IN THE
SENATE.--AMENDED IN THAT BODY.--CONCURRENCE OF
HOUSE.--APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE.--STRONG
CHARACTER OF ITS MEMBERS.--HOUSE
RESOLUTIONS.--DEBATE ON RECONSTRUCTION.--LONGEST
DEBATE IN THE HISTORY OF CONGRESS.--OPENED BY MR.
STEVENS.--VERY RADICAL IN ITS TONE.--HE SKETCHES
CHANGED BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.--GIVES OFFENSE TO
THE ADMINISTRATION.--MR. HENRY J. RAYMOND.--HIS
REPLY TO MR. STEVENS.--HIS STRONG ATTACHMENT TO MR.
SEWARD.--THEORY OF DEAD STATES.--SPEECH OF MR.
SPALDING.--MR. SHELLABARGER REPLIES TO MR.
RAYMOND.--EXHAUSTIVE SPEECH.--GAVE HIM A LEADING
PLACE IN THE HOUSE.--SEVERE ATTACK ON THE
SOUTH.--RESOLUTIONS OF MR. VOORHEES SUSTAINING
ADMINISTRATION.--SPEECH IN SUPPORT OF THEM. --MR.
BINGHAM'S REPLY.--HOUSE REFUSES TO INDORSE THE
ADMINISTRATION.-- TWO REPUBLICANS JOIN DEMOCRATIC
VOTE.--DISAPPOINTMENT OF MR. RAYMOND.-- THINKS
DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT A MISFORTUNE.--CHARACTER OF
MR. RAYMOND.--HIS GREAT ABILITY.--HIS LIFE
SHORTENED.--DIED AT FORTY-NINE.
CHAPTER VII.
SENATE DEBATE ON RECONSTRUCTION.--SPEECH OF MR.
WILSON.--DENOUNCES THE PRO-SLAVERY STATUTES OF
SOUTHERN STATES.--REPLY OF REVERDY JOHNSON.-- MR.
SUMNER SUSTAINS MR. WILSON.--SPEECHES OF WILLARD
SAULSBURY AND MR. COWAN.--EARNEST DEBATE BEFORE
HOLIDAYS.--EMBARRASSMENT OF THE REPUBLICAN

PARTY.--THE PRESIDENT'S PRESUMED
STRENGTH.--POSITION OF COMMERCIAL MEN.--FIRMNESS
OF REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.-- CONTRASTED
WITH CONDUCT OF WHIGS IN 1841.--COVODE AND SCHURZ
CALLED FOR.--PRESIDENT'S SPECIAL MESSAGE.--SENDS
REPORT OF MR. SCHURZ AND LIEUTENANT-GENERAL
GRANT.--CALLS SPECIAL ATTENTION TO GENERAL GRANT'S
REPORT.--REPORT APPARENTLY SUSTAINS THE
ADMINISTRATION.--MR. SUMNER DENOUNCES PRESIDENT'S
MESSAGE.--COMPARES JOHNSON TO PIERCE.--MR. SCHURZ'S
REPORT SUBMITTED.--HIS PICTURE OF THE SOUTHERN
CONDITION.--HIS RECOMMENDATIONS.--FAVORS NEGRO
SUFFRAGE.--HOW MR. SCHURZ WAS SELECTED. --EXTENT
OF HIS TOUR IN THE SOUTH.--DIVERGENT CONCLUSIONS OF
THE TWO.-- SUBSEQUENT CHANGE OF POSITION OF
BOTH.--INTERESTING CASE IN THE UNITED- STATES
SENATE.--JOHN P. STOCKTON SWORN IN AS SENATOR FROM
NEW JERSEY.-- PROTEST AGAINST HIS RIGHT TO A
SEAT.--JUDICIARY COMMITTEE REPORT IN HIS
FAVOR.--DEBATE IN THE SENATE.--MR. CLARKE OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE.--ABLE SPEECH OF MR. FESSENDEN.--HE
EXAMINES