A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT OUR FIRST DUTY AND THE
ESSENTIAL CONDITION OF PEACE. Bills and Resolutions in the
Senate, at the Opening of the Session of Congress,
December 4, 1865 1
COLORED SUFFRAGE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Bill in the
Senate, December 4, 1865 5
IMPARTIAL JURORS FOR COLORED PERSONS. Bill in the Senate,
December 4, 1865 10
OATH TO MAINTAIN A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN THE REBEL
STATES. Bill in the Senate, December 4, 1865 12
PART EXECUTION OF THE GUARANTY OF A REPUBLICAN FORM OF
GOVERNMENT. Bill in the Senate, December 4, 1865 14
EQUAL RIGHTS OF COLORED PERSONS TO BE PROTECTED BY THE NATIONAL
COURTS. Bill in the Senate, to enforce the Constitutional
Amendment abolishing Slavery, December 4, 1865 16
REPRESENTATION ACCORDING TO VOTERS. Joint Resolution in the
Senate, to amend the Constitution, December 4, 1865 19
SCHEME OF RECONSTRUCTION ON THE BASIS OF EQUAL RIGHTS. Bill in
the Senate, to enforce the Guaranty of a Republican Form of
Government in Certain States, December 4, 1865 21
ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ABOLISHING SLAVERY.
Concurrent Resolutions in the Senate, declaring the Adoption,
December 4, 1865 30
FIVE CONDITIONS OF RECONSTRUCTION. Resolutions in respect to
Guaranties of the National Security and the National Faith,
December 4, 1865 33
RIGHTS OF LOYAL CITIZENS, AND A REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT.
Resolutions in the Senate, declaring the Duty of Congress,
December 4, 1865 35
THE LATE SENATOR COLLAMER. Speech in the Senate, on his Death,
December 14, 1865 38
“WHITEWASHING” BY THE PRESIDENT. Remarks in the Senate, on a
Message of President Johnson on the Condition of the Southern
States, December 19, 1865 47
ENFRANCHISEMENT AND PROTECTION OF FREEDMEN. ACTUAL CONDITION OF
THE REBEL STATES. Speech in the Senate, on a Bill to maintain
Freedom in those States, December 20, 1865 55
THE WHITES _vs._ COLORED SUFFRAGE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Remarks in the Senate, on presenting a Petition from Citizens
of the District, December 21, 1865 98
PROTECTION OF THE NATIONAL DEBT, AND REJECTION OF EVERY REBEL
DEBT. Constitutional Amendment in the Senate, January 5, 1866 99
KIDNAPPING OF FREEDMEN. Remarks in the Senate, on a Resolution
of Inquiry, January 9, 1866 101
THE LATE HENRY WINTER DAVIS. Article in the New York
Independent, January 11, 1866 104
DISFRANCHISEMENT INCONSISTENT WITH REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT.
Remarks in the Senate, on the Credentials of a Senator from
Florida, January 19, 1866 109
IMPANELLING OF JURIES, AND TRIAL OF JEFFERSON DAVIS. Remarks in
the Senate, on a Bill removing Certain Objections to Jurors,
January 22, 1866 111
CARRYING OUT THE GUARANTY OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT, AND
ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROHIBITION OF SLAVERY. Joint Resolution in
the Senate, February 2, 1866 113
THE EQUAL RIGHTS OF ALL: THE GREAT GUARANTY AND PRESENT
NECESSITY, FOR THE SAKE OF SECURITY, AND TO MAINTAIN
A REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT. Speech in the Senate, on the
Proposed Amendment of the Constitution fixing the Basis of
Representation, February 5 and 6, 1866. With Appendix 115
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE REPUBLIC OF DOMINICA. Bill in the
Senate, February 6, 1866 270
PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS. Remarks in the Senate, February
9, 1866 271
THE CITY OF BOSTON AND MR. SUMNER. Letter to the Mayor of
Boston, in Acknowledgment of a Resolution of the Board of
Aldermen, March 5, 1866 280
POLITICAL EQUALITY WITHOUT DISTINCTION OF COLOR. NO COMPROMISE
OF HUMAN RIGHTS. Second Speech in the Senate on the
Proposed Amendment of the Constitution fixing the Basis of
Representation, March 7, 1866 282
OPPOSITE SIDES ON THE MEANING OF THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT. Final Speech in the Senate on this Amendment, March
9, 1866 338
NO MORE STATES WITH THE WORD “WHITE” IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION.
Speeches in the Senate, on the Bill for the Admission of the
State of Colorado into the Union, March 12 and 13, April 17,
19, and 24, and May 21, 1866 346
OPPOSITION TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON THE BASIS OF
REPRESENTATION. Letter to the Boston Daily Advertiser, March
15, 1866 375
A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT OUR FIRST DUTY AND THE ESSENTIAL
CONDITION OF PEACE.
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS IN THE SENATE, AT THE OPENING OF THE SESSION OF
CONGRESS, DECEMBER 4, 1865.
This session of Congress was occupied by Reconstruction,
especially the question of suffrage for the colored race, with
differences between Congress and President Johnson, culminating
at the next Congress in his impeachment.
Mr. Sumner, on the first day of the session, as soon as he
could obtain the floor, introduced the following measures.
A bill to carry out the principles of a republican form of government
in the District of Columbia.
A bill to preserve the right of jury trial, by securing impartial
jurors in the courts of the United States.
A bill to prescribe an oath to maintain a republican form of government
in the Rebel States.
A bill in part execution of the guaranty of a republican form of
government in the Constitution of the United States.
A bill supplying appropriate legislation to enforce the Amendment to
the Constitution prohibiting Slavery.
A bill to enforce the guaranty of a republican form of government in
certain States whose governments have been usurped or overthrown.
A joint resolution proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States.
Concurrent resolutions declaring the adoption of the Constitutional
Amendment abolishing Slavery.
Resolutions declaring the duties of Congress in respect to guaranties
of the National Security and the National Faith in the Rebel States.
Resolutions declaring the duty of Congress, especially in respect to
loyal citizens in the Rebel States.
This series of propositions attracted the attention of the
country. Expressions of sympathy and gratitude were abundant.
Colored fellow-citizens at Philadelphia addressed Mr. Sumner in
earnest words.
“PHILADELPHIA, PA., December 6, 1865.
“HON. CHARLES SUMNER:--
“DEAR SIR,--At a large and enthusiastic meeting of the
colored citizens of this city, held in the Philadelphia
Institute this evening, the undersigned were charged with
the duty of conveying to you, in behalf of twenty-five
thousand disfranchised Americans here, their most heartfelt
gratitude for the noble, fearless, patriotic stand taken
by you at the opening of the present Congress. No day of
our lives seems brighter than that upon which the foremost
champion of Freedom boldly directs the attention of the
nation to a series of clear, sound, statesmanlike measures
looking to the complete enfranchisement of America.
“We speak but faintly, though truthfully, when we say
that four millions of Americans will ever cherish with
the warmest gratitude of their hearts, and hand down as
a precious legacy to their children, the name of Charles
Sumner,--Charles Sumner, who has at all times and under all
circumstances, even when friends faltered and foes exulted,
stood firm, unflinching, immovable, _uncompromising_, on
the rock of Justice and Liberty.
“God bless the Christian gentleman and scholar, the ablest
of American statesmen! God bless the noble, spotless man,
Charles Sumner! is the fervent prayer of four millions of
disfranchised Americans, not less than of
“Yours, admiringly and sincerely,
“EBENEZER D. BASSETT,[1]
ISAIAH C. WEAR,
NATHANIEL W. DEPEE.”
Parker Pillsbury, the devoted Abolitionist, wrote at once from
the office of the _Antislavery Standard_, in New York:--
“No need of many words to-day. Your openings yesterday were
sublime,--a genuine Apocalypse! God grant it be but the
key-note to the grandest oratorio ever performed by less
than the morning stars and all the sons of God shouting
together!”
Rev. Joshua Leavitt, an editor of the New York _Independent_,
and a constant Abolitionist of great practical sense, wrote
from New York:--
“We look to you to forbear when necessary, and to dare when
the time is right.”
William Lloyd Garrison, an honored leader in the long warfare
with Slavery, who had just returned from a lecture tour in the
West as far as the Mississippi, wrote from Boston:--
“I have found but one opinion, whether the test was made
publicly or privately, in regard to that _questio vexata_,
Reconstruction,--and that is, that not one of the revolted
States should be admitted into the Union without being put
under a longer probation.… Thanks for your prompt action
and untiring vigilance in this matter, in the series of
resolutions presented by you to the Senate.”