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About Nebraska herald. (Plattsmouth, N.T. [Neb.]) 1865-1882 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 1870)
She yrbnusba QtxM. PLATTSMOUTH. NEBRASKA. THURSDAY, FEB. 17 1S70 ADMISSION OF VIRGINIA. Speech of Hon J. H. Thayer, oe nebraska, In the Senate of the United States, January 17 and 18, 1870. The Senate having under consideration the bill (IPR. No. 783) to admit the State of Virginia to representation iu the Congress of the t limited States Mr. Thayer said : Mr. President : It is difficult for uie to believe that the Senator from Nevada who has charge of this bill Mr. Stew artj id anxious to brinsrit to a vote. He lias on several occasions entreated the Senate to pass it, and then when we were about to vote on important amend ments pending he has interposed a speech, and when we were coming to a vote, ac cording to agreement, then again he has Bnbstituted the House bill and interposed another speech. By doinjr that he is drawing a speech from me which I should not have made. The very tenor of the remarks of the Senator from Nevada evinced to my mind the extreme distrust which he en tertains of the State of Virginia after thi bill shall pass, if that is to be the deci.sionof Congress. He wants the fin- ishin? stroke put upon the ratification of the fifteenth amendment wit Inn a week Why have he and other Senators urged the Governor of Nebraska, who hap pens to be sitting in the Chamber, to convene the Legislature of that State within ten days from to-day in order that rfh i niay ratify it? Why this urgent haste? Because they fear, and almost, I would say, believe that Virginia will attempt to undo the ratification of the fifteenth amendment ; that Virginia may trample under foot the laws of Congress which have been passed for the protec tion of the loyal people of Virginia. The Legislature of Nebraska I can Bay, and I do it by authority, will be con vened daring the month of February, and that she will ratify the fifteenth amendment is beyond a doubt : for there is but one Democratic Staie Senator in the Senate and but four Democratic memlters in the House. That is the way we make Republican States in the West. I need hardly recall the attention of the Senate to the fact that Nebraska ap plied here for admission, and that condi tions were imposed upon her to the effect that there should be universal suffrage in the State of Nebraska. We did not regard it as a degradation upon that State, but accepted the condition in good faith. I do not propose to vote for the admission of Virginia upon the naked bill of the House of Representatives after having submitted to the imposition of conditions upon the State of Ne braska. How is it that the Congress of the United States, after three years more of progress, can now propose to admit this State without conditions or guaran tees? Mother of States, was she ! One of the mothers of secession and treason ; for the abominable monster of treason required more than one mother. She, with her record red with human blood, is now to pass through Congress without a condition and without a guar antee. Why is this? I have heard the question aked repeatedly during the progress of this debate, why is it that conditions were required of a loyal peo pie when assuming the obligations of statehood and which are not required of a State which swunsj' from her moorings in the Union, joined the southern con federacy, raised annie.-", and fought throdgh four years to destroy the Union? This bill 1 las b cn pushed forward with most extraordinary energy, most extra ordinary determination, arid with most unprecedented haste. Virginia has been eight years out of the Union. Where is the extreme necessity for the haste which has been manifested in pressing forward this bill? Not a day nor an hour could be given for investigation, for examination into the facts, or an examin ation into the allegations which were made here by citizens of Virginia over their own signatures. I know not who they arc or what they arej but the me morial came in a form which entitled it to respect and consideration. Not an hour could be given n. and they, professing ple of Virginia, were to be the loval reo met in the Senate of the United States with contumely, denunciation, and abuse from Republican Senators. I know not what illusion may have come upon hon orable Senators; whether they arc at fault or whether I am at fault and those who vote with me ; whether I am labor ing under a delusion or arc they ; but I do say that the;e scenes are most extra ordinary. We have heard denunciations in this Chamber from Senators which have created a feeling of surprise. We had leen accustomed to hear such de nunciations during the last three years from Senators of an opposite political faith on this floor; but during the pro gress of this debate those Senators have been silent ; others have done their work ; others have fought their battle. Now, Mr. President, let roe call your attention to another fact. More than one, two. three, four, or half a dozen, or a dozen Senators who favor the passage of the bill for the admission of A irginia have frankly confessed that they do it with extreme reluctance and extreme dis trust. They frankly admit that they fear the consequences; that they fear Congress will within a twelvemonth be called upon to take action in regard to Virginia for thc violation of the condi tions of her admission or for the viola tion of the fifteenth amendment. Seeing the danger, they rush madly on ; seeing the blunder, they make haste to repeat it. A vessel strikes upon a sunken rock and sinks beneath the waves ; the mas ter of another in full view puts on all steam, crowds all sail, and drives his ship upon the same sunken rock and sinks beneath the waves. Where is the pru dence, the common judgement, which would influence Senators in the ordinary affairs of life, that, confessing the danger, this bill is thus pushed forward through the two Houses of Congress? Where is the statesmanship of this policy? I read in the public prints that on the announcement of the vote in the other House on the passage of the bill admit ting Virginia it was received with rap turous applause. It recalled to my mind the fact that on the passage of the ordi nance of secession there was one shout of joy that went up through all Virginia at the severance of her relations with tho Union. The measure may meet with the same applause in this Chamber if it is to go through ; but I call to mind the fact that there are thousands and thousands of men and women in Virginia whose hearts to-da' are full of the gravest ap prehensions at the trloouiy prospect that is before them. There are thousands and huudreds of thousands of people in the State of Virginia every sentiment of whose soul has beat in unison with love for their country snice that ordinance of secession, passed until this hour, who dread the passage in its present form of the bill to restore Virginia to the Union ; and yet their appeal in this Chamber is nit with ridicule and derison. I question no Senator's motives; I concede to every one the same sincerity of purpose, the same honesty of inten turn which I claim for myself; but I ii:u.-t be permitted to say that after the experience of the past eight years, after the experience of the last three 3'ears in the work of reconstruction, I have been amazed at what has transpired in Con gress during the last week, and I am amazed at the exceeding hot haste with which Senators have attempted to crowd this measure through Congress. There is another feature of this iln batc to which I desire to call attention and which has been exccedinglv interest ing to me. I have remarked that a por tion of the members of this body, those who belong to the opposite political faith, have remained entirely silent. I could not but notice the satisfaction which seemed to settle upon their countenances as this debate progressed. They seem to be as serene and composed as a sum mer's morning ; or, to be still more poetic, as calm and unruffled as the waters of a moon-lit lake. There has been nothing except an incidental allusion to the record of the Democratic party to call forth the impetuous eloquence of my honerable friend from Delaware, Mr. Saulsbury; nothing to invite constitutional disserta tions from my honorable friend from Kentucky, I Mr. Davis; nothing to in vito a speech from any Democratic Sena tor till to-day. I wish to call attention to the fact, within the remembrance of every Sena tor, that from the day when the first re construction bill passed Coneressdownto the first day of January, 1870, whenever a measure came up touching reconstruc tion in the southern States this Chamber has rung with the denunciations of Demo cratic Senators against the usurpations and the violations of the Constitution which the Republican party wereperpc trating. They have argued from first to last that no State was ever put of the Union when she had once been in ; and in every Democratic convention, from the national convention down to a county convention, in all the States it has been set forth that no State was ever out of the Union. What do we see to-day? This same Democratic party voting a State into the Union which has never leen out. My honorable friends from Kentucky, from Delaware, troni Califor nia, and from Ohio, and others are now all ommitted tothc admission of a State into the Union which according to their own declarations from year to year has never been out of the Union. Mr. President, the woi Id moves. The Demo cratic party have come up to the doctrine of reconstruction and have indorsed it. They are now committed to the provis ions of our reconstruction laws, for they are voting unitedly in favor of the ad mission of Virginia. I congratulate them Mr. Saulsbury. Will the Senator al low me to ask him a question? Mr. Thayer. Yes, sir. Mr. Saulsbury. Does the Senator understand the bill now before the body as admitting Virginia into the Union or simply declaring that Virginia is entitled to representation in Congress? Mr. Thayer. Has she been entitled to it before? lr. oauisoury. x asked you a ques tion. Mr. Thayer. I understand very well the purport of the bill which is now un der discussion. It is restoring Virginia to representation in the Union. Now, I ask my friend from Delaware if she has never been deprived of it? Mr. Saulsbury. Never at any time that she chose to avail herself of it. Mr. Thayer. The honorable Senator admits the correctness of my position. He is now voting a State to be entitled to representation of which she has been deprived. Mr. Saulsbury. No ; I say she never has been deprived unless she chose vol untarily to deny herself the privilege ; she always had the right. Mr. Thayer. The Senator from Dela ware, then, claims that Virginia has been entitled to representation from the time she seceded until now ; that she was en titled to vote for presidential electors in lKf4, according to his own reasoning, though waging a flagrant war against the Government. He must take one con clusion or the other. If heLnow voting her to be entitled to representation, then she has been deprived of it ; if he is now voting her back into the Union, then she has been out of the Union. The honorable Senator from Delaware Mr. Saulsbury thought proper to pre sent a vindication, as did also the honor able Senator from California, Mr. Cas serly,J of the record of the Democratic part I have heard before during this session similar references to the Demo cratic party. I have noticed the taunt thrown out bofore to-day during this ses sion that the Republican party were re sponsible for the debt which accrued in the suppression of the rebellion. Sena tors may yet come to claim that the Democratic party was the party which suppressed the rebellion, and that the Kepubhcan party was the party which inaugurated treason. It is said that his tory repeats itself. According to what is transpiring to-day it would seem as if history was reversing itself. Sir, let me call attention and 1 shall occupy but a few moments of the time of the Senate on this point to the record of the Democratic party. Let me ask the honorable Senator from Delaware what party had possession of the Gov ernment for thirty years prior to the in auguration of the rebellion? It was the Democratic party. That party had di rected and shaped the policy of the coun try, and was in possession of the Gov ernment when the war commenced. It had possesion of the executive, legisla tive and judicial departments of the Gov ernment. It was uuder the policy of the Democratic party that the war com menced. It was by the teachings and the doctrines of the Democratic party that the South were taught to rebel. It was the Democratic party which broke faith with the nation in repealing the Missouri compromise which had been a sacred compact for thirty years between slavery and freedom. That great com pact, which consecrated forever to human freedom all the territory noith of the line of 3G30'', the Democratic .party violated or set aside at the demand of the slave-m asters of the South in order to force slavery on the free soil of Kansas. Such is the record of history. It was by a scries of aggressions and outrages on the part of the Democratic party that the Republican party was called into being, founded on the great principles that all the territory of the United States was free and that slavery was only a local institution. It was by the teac hings and by the doctrines that were proclaimed by the leaders of the Democratic party that the war came. What Republican ever raised his hand against the flag of his country ? What Republican who voted for Mr. Lincoln ever aided in planning treason and rebel lion? Who did it but the leaders of the Democratic party in this Cliamberand in tho other Hall, who sat in their seats making laws for the United States during the day and then met in secret conclave all through the winter of 1860-61 ho tell ing treason? Tell me not that the Re publican party brought on the war and are responsible for the national debt. Sir, when the war came, had the Ek:m ocratie party of the North been true to the Government, it would not have lasted six months. Having taucht the South to rebel, as the northern Democracy did, by telling the South that they would stand by and sustain them, when the war went on it was by the aid and encourage ment given by the northern Derncx:racy to the South that prolonged the war year afcer year. I make not this accusation against all the Democratic party. That there were loyal men in it, I gladly ad mit; but I speak of it as an organization. It was disloj al from the beginning to the end of the war. When that convention met in the city of Chicago and declared the war a failure, and demanded a cessa tion of hostilities in order that peace might be made with the rebels in arms, that resolution wascqual to an additional one hundred thousand men, fresh re cruits,to the rebel lines, and a corrcspond-in-r draft was made unon the industry and the bone and the sinew, and the life of the North to carry on the struggle thus made the more desperate by the aid thus given to the rebels by their allies of the North. The soldier of the Union never went into battle without feeling conscious that he was fighting two armies, the reb els in the front' and the northern Democ racv in the rear. Sir, it is not pleasant to review these facts of history. I should not have done it but for the declarations made by the honorable Senators from Delaware and California that we have brought upon the country the war, and that we created this immense debt. Sir, it was a Democratic rebellion, and this is a Democratic debt, tho legitimate offspring of Democratic ruin nn.l Demooratic teaching, and as such history will write down as facts, in my iudgmcnt, because they cannot be denied. Now, in reference to the bill before the Senate let me remark that I am no pre pared to vote for the admission of Vir ginia with her present surroundings and in her present condition, because I have not confidence that she will be true to the amendments of the Constitution of the United States which she has ratified, and because I am compelled to believe by concurrent testimony that there will not be protection for the loyal people of Vir ginia. Therefore I prefer if I err to err on the safe side, to hold her back until we do have sufficient guarantees guarantees which hall not be patchwork, which shall not be like heaps of sand, to be blown to the winds. I want those guarantees un der which all the people of Virginia, Democrats and Republicans, white and black, who obey the laws shall enjoy the equal protection of the laws. When I am satisfied that such condition of things exists in Virginia then I am ready to vote for her admission, but not until then. The honorable Senator from Nevada Mr. Nye, who has always been so true to the cause of reconstruction and to the cause of freedom, made some remarks the other day which fell upon my ears causing sincere regret on my part. I re gretted to find the ahaft of his severe sarcasm turned against those who thought it proper to send here a respectful re monstrance against the admission of Vir ginia. I regretted to hear him say that Virtriaiii, oppressed Virginia, long-suffering Virginia, her very locks wet with the dews of 'the night Mr. Stewart. I never could have said any pretty things of that sort. Laugh ter. Mr. Thayer. I am aware of that My friend from Nevada is not so poetical as his colleague. He must not think that he gives utterance to all the prettv things that come from tho State of Nevada. Laughter.! He Mr. Nvel ye described with affecting pathos the hardships iutlicted upon this long-suffering, patiently-waiting State of Virginia! She has waited till her very locks are wet with the dews of night! Sir, let me say to that honorable Sen ator whose impulses and whose intentions arc so just that there are people in Vir ginia to-day who are tired of waiting, waiting, waiting for that protection which this great Government of the Uni ted States has vouchsafed to every citi izen who respects its authority and obeys its commands. They have waited in vain, and they wait to-day for those guarantees and for those uasurnncoB of equal protection which he and I enjoy; an 1 in my opinion if this bill passes they will wait in vain, and you wi;l see hun dreds and thousands of them leaving Virginia, as I have seen some within the last three months, and seeking homes in Indiana and Illinois, and seeking that protection of the law which they cannot find in Virginia. The Senator from Nevada also re marked that he was tired of this work of reconstruction. I am not tired of the work of reconstruction, but I am tired of leing beaten in the work of reconstruc tion 'by those who could not beat us in the field Sir, we have struggled with the rebellion from the very day Andrew Johnson betrayed his party and his counfry; we have been struggling with rebellion in trying to carry out recon struction during the last three years, and we arc struggling with it to-day in some of the late insurgent States. Senators have told us that we must not judge Virginia by Georgia and Tennessee. I say it is proper and reasonable to judge of Virginia by what has taken place in Georgia and Tennessee. It is proper for us to avail ourselves of all the lights of experience, of all the facts in the late in surgent States which bear upon the question. If Georgia has trampled the fourteenth amendment under foot it is but reasonable to infer that the same ele ments may accomplish the same results in other States. Mr. President, I embarked in this work of reconstruction with the determination to make it sure and permanent. It was the declared will of the American people speaking at the ballot-box and through Congress, that the reconstruction laws should be executed for the salvation of the nation and for the guarantee of equal rights and the maintenance of peace throughout the revolted States. For one I propose not to yield until the battle Ls fully fought and the victory fully won. For one I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer and all win ter, and each succeeding summer and winter till the Union is completely tri umphant and the rebellion completely conquered. Mr. Thayer. Mr. President, I shall not occupy much of tho time of the Sen ate this morning; in fact I had nearly concluded the remarks I intended to make yesterdav, when my friend from Minnesota, Mr. Ramsey, desired me to yield the floor for a motion to adjourn. The hour being so late, and recollecting that Senator had with great uniformity vote 1 against all motions to adjourn, I felt bound to oblige him. Laughter. On Friday last an understanding was entered into by which it was agreed that a vote on the Senate Judiciary bill for the admission of Virginia should be reached yesterday at 4 o'clock. All assented to that arrangement, and supposed from the extraordinary haste with which the bill was being pressed, and the zeal which had been manifested by its friends and the anxiety which they have shown for an early vote, that we should have reached it yesterday. To our surprise, however, a motion was interposed to lay that bill aside and substitute the House bill, and the spectacle was presented of my friend from Nevada, representing the Judiciary Committee and having this bill in charge, throwing aside hi3 owu offspring and adopting that of another. I can inform him that this child of his adoption is launched upon a stormy gea and has the prospect of a rough passarc. Why the bill of the Senate, which had been under discussion for a week, and for a vote on whic h a time had been agreed upon, should be thus summarily thrust aside, I can only divine. An amend ment had been made to it which, in the judgment of some who are anxious to have some security from Virginia, might accomplish the purpose which they had in view. But, sir, that is trampled under fjot for iear if might prevail, and the bill of the House, naked and simple, is pressed upon the Senate. I would sug- fest to those who are anxious thus to ring Virginia back without conditions and without guarantees to cast that pin aside and to introjuce another which shall declare that whereas the Congress of the United States has been guilty of oppression and wrong and outrage upon the State of Virginia, the grand old mother of States and of Presidents, the noble Old Dominion, the school wherein were taught for so many long years the sacred doctrines ot the sublime resolu tions of 1798. and beneath whose soi sleep the bones of so many of our heroic dead who perished in saving the govern ment which Virginia was attempting to destroy, therefore we invite her to favor us with the light ot her restored wisaou ami tn vm nn her Senators and Rcpre Kcntatives. nroniisine that they shall be admitted at once and to the chiefest pla ces in both Houses of Congress, and de clare to her that we express our heart felt regret for the treatment which she has received at our hands 1 In thai way you will reach more directly the end to wh'ch. it seems to me, you are now tend ing by the legislation which is pressed unon Congress. Sir, less than twenty days ago Con cress enacted a law remanding Georgia to her former provisional condition. Why? Because the members of the T-ctrislature of Georgia had refused to tatfi the oath prescribed by the recon struction laws, and because a portion of the members of that Legislature were disqualified from holding office under the third section ot the iourteemn amenu incnt to the Constitution of the United States ; and further, because a portion of the members legally elected were ousted and their places filled by those il legally elected. To-day you are forcing Virginia mto the Union, and you refuse to prescribe the same condition to her which you prescribed to Georgia. Why this difference ? Does Virginia present herself with a purer record than Georgia? Has she any more claims to admission than Gcortria? If Georgia had her An- dersonvill Virginia had her Belle Isle nn.l Libbv. If the voice of oppressed loyal people in Georgia came to the Halls of Congres demanding tnat protection which you have guaranteed to all who obey the law the same voice has come up from the plains; the valleys, and the mountains of irginia, demanding the interposition of Federal power to give to her loval people that same protection of Government and of law. ith one hand we remanded Georgia to military power for violated conditions ; with the other vou restore Virginia without conditions ! llonorable gentlemen may have an ex planation, but of its wisdom the future will determine. It will be recollected that in the act which was passed declaring certain of the lately insurgent States restored to the Union certain conditions were prescribed. I refer to the act of June 25, 18G8, wherein it is expressly declared as follows: "That each of the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, lu isiana, Alabama, Arkansas and Florida shall be entitled and admitted to repre sentation in Congress as a State in the Union when the Legislature of said State shall have duly ratified the amendment to the Constitution of the United States proposed by the Thirty-Ninth Congress and known as article fourteen, upon the following fundamental condition: that the constitution of neither of said States shall ever be so amended or changed as to deprive any citizen or class of citizens of the United States of the right to vote in said State who are entitled to vote by the constitution thereof herein recog nized, except as a punishment for crime," &o. The Congress of the United States ex prca:ly declared thnt the JjCglsiamtt-t those States should ratify and agree and pledge their sacred honor to that funda mental condition, that, the right of suff rage should never be abridged or taken away from any portion of their citizens who were entitled to vote except for crime. Why, I ask the senator from Nevada and those who are acting with him, do you refuse now. two years later, to app y the same condition and require the same pledge from the State of Vir ginia? hat has she done to entitle her to this immunity ? i hat will be the in ference to be drawn by Virginia on the refusal of Congress to require this same pledge? It must inevitably be that she may do with impunity that which you re quired Georgia to pledge herself she would not do, because you do not require the same pledge from Virginia ; and, judging by the past, we may have abund ant reason for believing that she will make use of the privilege that we thus give to her. Now, Mr. President, let me refer to the statement which has been repeatedly made in this Chamber that we have com mitted ourselves to the reception of Vir ginia back into the Union by our previ ous legislation. That statement or charge has been iterated and reiterated again and again, and yet not a Senator has pointed to one single line in these acts of reconstruction which committed us to the admission or the restoration of Vir- . i 1 1 . 1 CI.- gmi when sue mignt apply, oecuon six of the act of March 2, 18G7, pro vide "That until the people of the said rebel States shall be by law admitted to repre sentation in the Congress of the United States any civil governments which may exist therein shall b deemed provisional only, and in all respects subject to the paramount authority of the United States at any time to abolish, modify, control, or supersede the same." The act of April 10, 1809, has this further provision on this subject in refer ence to Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas: "And be ft further emitted, That the proceedings in any of said States ehall not be deemed final or operate as a com plete restoration thereof until their ac tion respectively shad be approved by Congress." Can language be any plainer than that? I challenge my friend from Nevada or any other Senator who has made this statement to show one line or one word in these acts which binds us to the un conditional restoration of Virginia. On the contrary, the section which I have just read expressly admits and places it in the power of Coneres.to review and revise the action of Virginia, and we are not in any particular committed to re ceive her on her application. So much for the charge of violated pledges and vi olated faith. Butt sir, in admitting Virginia to-day there is a violated pledge and violated faith. We have solemnly premised to the faithful people of Virginia that they shall have the equal protection of the law and the blessings of good govern ment. I appeal to every Republican Senator in this presence to-day if he is sure he is making that pledge good to that oppressed people? No, sir; the declarations of too many of those who avow themselves in favor of the passage of the bill show what universal distrust there is in regard to this legislation ; and yet we are urged to put it right through without let or hindrance. We are urged to turn the true people of Virginia over to the rule of those who still love treason and hate the Union. M r. President, you and I and all others holding positions of honor and trust un der the authority and Government of the United States are required to subscribe to a certain oath, sometimes called the iron clad oath, the oath of 18G2. The Legis lature of Virginia met in a provisional capacity. Could its members be required to take an oath les? binding and less re-- strictive than we ? They met as mem bers of the Legislature of Virginia un der the authority of the laws of Congress as a provisional body. How can they es cape taking that oath which is required of all who hold office under the authority of the Government of the United States There is statutory authority for the po sition which I am presenting, for the concluding portion of section six of the act of March 2, 1867, an act to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States, is as follows : "And no person shall be eligible to any office under such provisional govern ments who would be disqualified from holding office under the provisions of the third section of said constitutional amend ment." If that oath is not applied to the mem bers of the Virginia Legislature, how, nrav. are vou to ascertain whether thev are disqualified under the third section of the fourteenth amendment f Bir, it was the spirit and intent, expressed and im plied, running all through the reconstruc tion enactments, that the oath should be rcouired. which would purge the Legisla ture of those who are disqualified. How does Congress know whether there are or are not members in that Legislature who are disqualified by the provision to i ti j- t: j n wnicn x nave rcicrreu i urn vuugresa in tend to perpetrate the farce of passing a constitutional amendment which should disoualifv certain persons for reasons therein set forth, and yet permit those same persons to become members of the very Legislature which were to ratify or reject that constitutional amendment? H' 1 . 1 . i . . . 1 ? ma you miena to perpetrate ine incon sistency? Did you intend to place it in the power of those who have been war ring unon the Government, and would be disqualified under the proposed amendment to have the power to reject that verv amendment which Congress and the country had declared to be nec essary to guard against future rebellion and as a guarantee lor luture peace ! The very statement of the case shows the inconsistency of the course. Sir, it was but just and right at least that they should be required to take the same oath which all others are required to take who enter upon offices ot honor or trust under the Government of the United States. Mr. President, if any measures have ever received tho sanction and approval of the American people the reconstruo tion measures have received that sanc tion and approval. They were submitted to the people in the canvass of 1868, and after a canvass unsurpassed for exhaust- lessness of argument and thoroughness of discussion these measures did receive the sanction and approval of the Ameri lean people ; and it there is one principle running through those measures which received their sanction more than another it is that one which guarantees to all the people of the Union who are law-obedi ent and law-abiding equality of justice, eauality of law ; it is that one which rec ognizes citizenship in those once enslaved and guarantees to them the nation a pro tection. And it there is one course which they will approve above another on the part of their national legislators it is that one which those shall follow out to the end who are determined to see the provisions of the reconstruction laws finally triumphant in all the States of the South. We have got.e through struggles in the field and struggles in the civil de partments of the Government; we are struggling to-day with the rebellion, not in the field but in another form, and the question is not yet settled which is tri umphant. 1 propose to tollow out the course which I have indicated and vote against the admission of Virginia, be cause we have not, in my judgment, the proper guarantees for present and future oAonrity ...... Do you ask whence comes the power to secure these guarantees ! I answer, the power is inherent in the Government itself to preserve its existence, to main tain its own authority, to execute its provisions. It not expressed, it Ls there is selt-evident, is selt-existing. It is the God given right of self-prese. vation which is in all Governments. The pow er exists within this Government to pre serve itself ; if not expressed it is im plied. It is there. The right to exist implies the power to preserve. The end to be attained implies the right to do that which is necessary to attain lL It is lawful to execute all the provisions of the Constitution to save the Govern ment; it is the sovereignty of govern ment ; and it it is not set forth in statu tory or constitutional form it exists in this higher ground, that there is power within the Government to secure its own self-protection and 6elf-perpetuation, which is to the Government as the right of self-defense to the individual. Eng- and has no written constitution, but she has a strong Government. Tins princi ple lies at the foundation of all govern ment, the right to preserve its own ex istence, and in the absence of it all gov ernments must fail. It is the common aw of government That Government which cannot sustain itself is a failure. That Government which cannot protect the rights of its citizens is a mockery. If the State tails to do this, then the United States must enable her to do it, if the failure results from want of power, or compel her if it is a voluntary failure, for the United States are sovereign and the State but a constituent part. In the absence of this principle the Government of the Union falls. But we are not left to inferential grants of powers. Sec tion eight of the first article of the Con stitution of the United States declares that "The Congress shall have power to mak all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other pow ers vottadby the Constitution in the Gov ernment of the United States, or any Department or officer thereof." 1 h -foregoing powers and all other powers vested in the government must be executed in order to form a perfect union in Virginia; in order to establish justice in Virginia; in order to insure domestic tranquility in Virginia; in order to provide for the common defence in Virginia; in order to promote the genera! welfare in Virginia; in order to secure the blessing of liberty to the people of; Virginia, and to their posterity for- j ever. If Virginia has not secured these ob jects for her people then the powers ne cessary to secure them must be executed and Congress must make the law requi site for their execution. The day of State rights dogmas has come to an end. There is a national government, a central government, to which States must yield the supremacy. I claim for the govern ment the exercise ofthis power in the case of a State which has not rebelled. How much stronger and more substantial is the claim for its exercisejn the case of a State which has severed its relations with the Union and destroyed all civil govern ment. ! But there is further authority in the Constitution for this intervention, this interposition of Federal power. Section four, article four, declares that "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Unien a republican form of government." There can be no dispute on this propo sition namely, that congress i the power to execute this trust, this guarantee; and it is equally clear that Congress must determine the mode and manner c-fitsex-ecution, what is to be done, how it is to be done, and when it is to be done. It may be by legislation and it may be by refusing representation. It i r-t course left to Congress to determine what is a re publican form of government; that being determined, its dutv is binding to see that such a government is enforced in all the States. Under this constitutional trust tho obligation rests upon Congress to make sure that such a government is established in Virginia. A failure to ac complish this result is a failure of the war for the Union. We are charged with hiehand responsible trusts: we must sec that they are faithfully executed. No clamor for immediate admission should shut our eves to the danger of such ad mission. It is the command of the American people that the reconstruction laws should be completely and effectually executed to secure the rights and the liberties of all citizens of the Republic. Let reconstruction be radical, sure, com plete, perpetual; then the war for the Union will indeed be triumphant. Mr. President, I harbor no bitterness toward the people of Virginia or the people of the South who have been in rebellion. I am actuated by no vindic tive feeling toward them. I only ask for equal laws and equal justice and equal protection. We have shown to the peo ple of the south that we are ready to take them by the hand when they meet us with a corresponding spirit; when they evince a disposition to carry out the re construction acts and sustain them in good faith we would receive them with generous hearts and forget the past. Uutunltl I can see that spirit in the people of Virginia I shall withhold my vote for her admission. Farm ers VISITING PLATTSMOUTH WILL FIND GOOD STABLING ACCOMODA TION AT THE Farmer's Feed Stable Corner of Sixth and Vine Streets, One Block North of the Presbyterian Church, Plattsmouth, Nebraska. BATES Sl DeOARMO, Tro !. janl3wt& MACHINE SHOP! WAYMAN & CURTIS Flattsniouth, Neb., Repairers of Steam Engine. Boilers. Saw and Grist Mills. Gaa and bteam i lttinfrx. Wrought Iron Pipe. Force and Tift Pumps, Steam Uuuees, Balanee Valve Governors, and all kinda of Brass Engine Fittings, furnished on nhort notice. FARMING MACHINERY Repaired on short notice. auaotf CLOTHING! CLOTHING! William Sfculelmaiiii, DEALER IN Ready-Made Clothing, GENTS' FURXISIIIEG GOODS. Hats, Caps, Boots, Shoes, Trur t. Valises and ISTOTIOisrS. South Side Main Street, PlaUsnioiitli, Neb. PIANOS, ORGANS. ULLOI) EOMS I am Aeent for the beet Musical Instrument mnde. Persons wishing to buy Piauos. Cabinet, Metropolitan or Porfabls Ortruns. or Melodeons can purchase through my Acency on as liberal terms as they can from the inaufacturers them selves. Al Instruments fully warranted. aprltf. J. N. WISE. PLOWS! PLOWS! IB. FORO-Y Manufacturer of all kinds of Farming Eiiiplemen ts. Such as the celebrated Rod Break in e Plows. Mould Board Breakers. Stirring PIowh, Single nd Double hhovclx. Cultivators and Harrows. KepairinK done on short notice. All work war ranted. Havinar had much experience in the business. I feel aexured that I can give fteneral satisfac tion. Please give me a call before purchasing; elsewhere. C. K. FORUrT FlaUsmouth. Neb.. May 6, 1867. IT. J. BOND. C. W. BORAX. J. H. p. EOSAS JT. J. BOIVD & CO., COMMISSION MERCHANTS, AND WHOLESALE DEALERS IN Flour, Grain Provisions, and Canned Goods, HIDES, WOOL, etc., Corner Pearl and Court Streets, Council Blufr.Iowa AND Cor Iflain and Second Sts , PLATTSMOUTH, JSTEB Rkperkwcks. First National Bank. Ctnneil Bluff j officer f-Pusey. Bankers. Council Bluffs; First National Bank, Omaha: Omaha National Bank, Omaha; Rogers -Co., Cheyenne; Bough ton f- Bartholow. Bryan; Gilbert t- Field, Chi7o. Bartholow, Lewis Jk Co., St. Louis, Mo. jUlylMU J. M. KUAN & CO,, (Successors to J. M. Uinchman.) Druggists & Apothecaries. DEALERS I Drugs and Hediciiies, PAINTS. OILS. DYES. NOTIONS. PERFUMERY, FANCY SOAPS, URE WINES AND LIQUORS For Mechanical and Medicinal pnrposaa. Keep constantly en band a fall and well assorted SUtCK Of PATENT ITlEDICIftES. Physicians prescriptions carefully compound ed by an experienced Druggist. None but the purest medicines used. All (roods warranted aa epresented. Call and see. Main Street, South Side. TI5RM8 CASH. SilIOSSOUra VALLEY LIFE INSURANCE CAPITAL, - - No. 70 DELAWARE STREET, LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS St. Louis, Mo., Chicago, II!., Memphis, ALL POLICIES XMvicleiulH on the Pecuniary Securing the Greatest REASONS FOR INSURING IN THIS COMPANY : 1st. This is a Western Company, managed by Western men, whose known (irinn:iin i;il i l,:,r.. ter, ability and position, afford ample guaranty Jil. 1U folK-es are an nou-irninu. 3d. Premium all . It receives no notes to pay, and no outstanding notes as liens upon 4th. Dividends anJ losses are paid in cash. 5th. It insures at lower rates than any Eastern company. 6th. Its risks are in the n out, where the higher than in the East; hence the accumulation in any Eastern Company. 7th. It has no restriction upon travel. 8th. 9th. Its dividends are made upon the contribution plan. Its business is exclusively life insurance. Arc the accumulations of interest upon premiums paid, hence tho Company that loiins it j u -.-rt.- atthc highest rate of interest can give you the largest dividends. Eastern companies inn tin ir moneys at 6 percent., while this makes its investments at twelve per rent, or more. The advantage of Western investments to the policy holder a. pours in the following .-t.irtlii (,- figures: The amount of $1,000, invented for fifty years ut 6 per cent, compound interest, is $ 18,431.11 " " " 3.fjl.:i " " 117.300. 12 " " " " S18,008.0ti OPPICEES : H. D. Mackay, President, E. Henseley, Vice-President, Geo. A. Moore, Secretary, E. W. Eaves, Treasurer, D. M. Swan, General Agcrt J. L. Wever, M. D., Consulting Physician. EX EOUT1 V il H. D. Mackay, George H. Edgerton, TIi is Comnany Iiinupon - any Eastern T'-NOW ALL MEN' BY THESE PRESENCE 1 Kansas, do hereby certify that the Missouri Valley Life organized and doing business under the laws of In witness where I have hereunto subscribed my ( 1 r t 1 t ii: i i owu ui nuu- t am jlou, luc uaj atuu year aoove itor of State. -:o:- CERTIFICATE OF ine umiorsignea saiL"iaciory evidence tliat it has invested One jluinire.l i. .i,. V i i lam of iu capital in United States Government Bond,, of the den," i, -m V ve-T wen , ' and are possessed of the same. And I do further certify that sui.l c.m, ,,! i ' . : . I dred Thousand Dollars of said United states lionds'fllh Company ; and that I hold in trust and ou deposit for the benetit of -ai, ,,li yUl.lers the s ' -nr v aUve mentioned, and I am satisfied that sueh securities aro worth One Hundred Thou-a id . Wr lawiul money of the Lnited Mates of Amer ea au aiiou. uim iMiur OmCH OK ScPERISTKSDr.XT OF THK InsURANTI! D IS HEREBY CERTIFIED, That the Missouri Valley Life Insui surauce Company, organized under the laws cated at the city of Leavenworth has complied with the rruiremr; the h, 'A n 'tl ,r lyl 'X thirty-second, thirty-third and thirty-fourth sections of an Act of tt.e lienen.l A,,e, , i , i U State of Missouri, entitled An act for the incorporation and regulation of I.i(e ,-..r,. ....... mes." approved March 10th. a. d. iSi'J. so far aa pursuant to the thirty-sixth section of uh.uI Act, the said Missouri Vulley Lily Iritinifjee Oimr.-in1 is herebv authorized to do business as a Life Assurance Coiiiounv will. in ihuai.;,i ...... . c . '" subject to the several provisions and requirements rnary, in the year of our Ixml eighteen hundred ami seventy. ' In testimony whereof, I, W'yllys Kino, undersigned. Superintendent of the Inr.n... ti. . beal of Insurance JJe-I ment oi sait htate or Superintendent of the -:o: CERTIFICATE (To expire on the 31st day of January, 1870.) Ikscrakce Dbpartmest. Ofvk-k of State Acditoi:.! Wherkas. Abram B. Covalt. State Aa-ent for th MU,.h' vl! : i .,i-'ra."kaV A "ril. ls,;'-'- c:ited at Leavenworth. Kansa. has filed in this office a copy of the Aet of ' I ration "l Company, and a statement under oath, showing IU condition, as required bv ih fifth T Ve. ti.,., . lnw of the State of Nebraska, entitled "An Act in Relation to InsiirVJw.o i- jettiun I iebruary 15th. 1U: approved February 12th. 15; and whereas T!..,V - n!"",l'? ',l,rV'; undersigned sntisfactory evidence that it is posses-ed of Wnereui'' Ba,d Company has furni.died lb uive Hundred Thousand Dollars. of actual capital, ; invested in the i stocks of at least estate worth double the amount for which the same an'i in utuau ui i vuiupaui IUVIIIJ lV.hKUMtKCUIIl. ill MUUrLI " " "7 i";m tor ami in i.; l . j .n.i r. ii . r jV ointment as sucn agent, and by the laws of this .n witness whereof. I have subscribed mv name, C. 8. affixed this 1st day of April. A. D.l. -:o;- If . 5 yalio. a it serve.1 upon the Company, according to the 1;.hs ofthis Si.te or ny ,tv r State, and waiving all claims of error by reason of sueh service : rid where-!- A1,V . . V. V Vt has furnished satisfactory evdence that he is the authorized Awn t of bwSPut There ore be it known by these presents, that in pursuance of the aforesaid Art f' J..l.n fiill.-i-le. Auditor of the State of Nebraska, do herebv n:rv.h.i 1 1..." i,.,ul J",,nV. ':. GOOD TRAVELING SOLICITORS WANTED. -:o:- State Agent for Nebraskaatid Xortlieru Kansas. J.W. MARSHALL. Agent. R. R. LIVINGSTON, Med. Examiner COMPANY. :o:- - - $500,000.00 -:o:- :o:- OFFICES Tenn., Indianapolis, Ind., San Francisco, Cal. -:o:- NON-FOKFEITING. -:o:- Contribution J5.l:m, Advantage to the Policy Holders. :o:- lor its careful uud rui-ctrlul iiniiiat;i iiii i.t. and gives none. Polii y holders have no Int. r -t their policies. mto of mortality is lower and tho rate f i 1 1 1 -1 -1 of dividends to the policy bolder i- 4;re:il :o:- -:o:- R. Hines, E. Henseley. d. W. Eaves. - - m. ajr I i i j Con.fmiiy. AUDITOR OF STATR oi ncr. ( ri.y JiN?A8' February -Wli. l-wi: lhat I, A. Iuoma.v, Auditor of the : Insurance Company, the State name, and cau.cd the seal of my ofTU-e , written. A. TKQMAN. Auditor of State of Kjii-;i. -'. ..oiioii u I II .t Ullliri tl'IJ I i' rti : il'.l if It nno.i. .1 , i Auinuiuii iu lit) mxTWy Kl'AHTMKXT UV MlSlfRI. of th Xtut ..r .... " r.i ?. ." " Xj.i'' ')" the ks-:1 of the Act aforesaid, uutil the firsi il,v , ,"i ' ' Missouri, have heret i et my hand miT.I ,.i , v. 1 Insurance Department of tho Sua of Mit. dun. OF AUTHORITY. par viilue. or in bonds or morhrs.es on r -A is inortimired and where! ! . , . V ,t ft PV . V inBl.M.,... . 1 l ' . . L i ;."''' wiopnuy, in mediate in . State, until the 3lt , ..r t ....... . .. i- Denail OI sunt Irinimnv tl,, I l.v l,u and v, c i ....u.. . , . .' i .. J oil N Gl I.I. KS IMK s'ii A H i t 'r , TTSMO UT1L consenting tnat service of process um.n l.im l,,.ii ... ;..l.. .