March 7th, the following resolutions were introduced by Mr.
Sumner, and on his motion ordered to lie on the table and be
printed.
“RESOLUTIONS declaring certain further guaranties required
in the Reconstruction of the Rebel States.
“_Resolved_, That Congress, in declaring by positive
legislation that it possesses paramount authority over the
Rebel States, and in prescribing that no person therein
shall be excluded from the elective franchise by reason of
race, color, or previous condition, has begun the work of
Reconstruction, and has set an example to itself.
“_Resolved_, That other things remain to be done, as
clearly within the power of Congress as the elective
franchise, and it is the duty of Congress to see that these
things are not left undone.
“_Resolved_, That among things remaining to be done are the
five following.
“First. Existing governments, now declared illegal, must be
vacated, so that they can have no agency in Reconstruction,
and will cease to exercise a pernicious influence.
“Secondly. Provisional governments must be constituted
as temporary substitutes for the illegal governments,
with special authority to superintend the transition to
permanent governments republican in form.
“Thirdly. As loyalty beyond suspicion must be the basis of
permanent governments republican in form, every possible
precaution must be adopted against Rebel agency or
influence in the formation of these governments.
“Fourthly. As the education of the people is essential to
the national welfare, and especially to the development of
those principles of justice and morality which constitute
the foundation of republican government, and as, according
to the census, an immense proportion of the people in the
Rebel States, without distinction of color, cannot read and
write, therefore public schools must be established for the
equal good of all.
“Fifthly. Not less important than education is the
homestead, which must be secured to the freedmen, so that
at least every head of a family may have a piece of land.
“_Resolved_, That all these requirements are in the nature
of guaranties to be exacted by Congress, without which the
United States will not obtain that security for the future
which is essential to a just Reconstruction.”
March 11th, on motion of Mr. Sumner, the Senate proceeded to
consider the resolutions. Mr. Williams, of Oregon, was not
prepared to vote on these resolutions until they had received
the consideration of some committee, and he moved their
reference to the Committee on the Judiciary.