Twenty Years of Congress, Volume 2 | Page 2

--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 THE CONSTITUTIONAL GROUND.--HIS CONCLUSIVE REASONING.--LONG DEBATE.--DECISION AGAINST MR. STOCKTON.-- IMPORTANT RESULTS FLOWING FROM IT.--CONGRESS REGULATES TIME AND MANNER OF ELECTING SENATORS.--CHANGE FROM STATE CONTROL TO NATIONAL CONTROL.-- ALEXANDER G. CATTELL SUCCEEDS MR. STOCKTON.--DEATH OF MR. WRIGHT.-- FREDERICK