I am unwilling that Congress should seem in any way to commit itself
to so great an expenditure in one of these States, except with the
distinct understanding that it shall not be until after the restoration
of the State to the Union on those principles without which the
State will not be loyal or republican. We are all seeking to found
governments truly loyal and truly republican. Will any Rebel State be
such until it has secured in its constitution the elective franchise
to all, and until it has opened free schools to all? The proposition
is a truism. A State which does not give the elective franchise to
all, without distinction of color, is not republican in form, and
cannot be sanctioned as such by the Congress of the United States.
Now I am anxious, so far as I can, to take a bond in advance, and
to hold out every temptation, every lure, every seduction to tread
the right path,--in other words, to tread the path of loyalty and of
republicanism. Therefore I seize the present opportunity to let these
States know in advance, that, if they expect the powerful intervention
of Congress, they must qualify themselves to receive it by giving
evidence that they are truly loyal and truly republican.
This is no common survey of a river or harbor. The Senator from Maine
[Mr. MORRILL] has already pointed out the difference between the two
cases. They are wide apart. It is an immense charity, a benefaction,
from which private individuals are to gain largely. Thus far these
levees have always been built, as I understand,--I am open to
correction,--by the owners of the lands, and by the States.
MR. STEWART [of Nevada]. And principally by the swamp lands
donated by Congress.
MR. SUMNER. Now it is proposed, for the first time, that the National
Government shall intervene with its powerful aid. Are you ready to
embark in that great undertaking? I do not say that you should not,
for I am one who has never hesitated, and I do not mean hereafter
to hesitate, in an appropriation for the good of any part of the
country, if I can see that it is constitutional; and on the question
of constitutionality I do not mean to be nice. I mean always to be
generous in interpretation of the Constitution, and in appropriations
for any such object; but I submit that Congress shall not in any
respect pledge itself to this undertaking, involving such a lavish
expenditure, except on the fundamental condition that the States where
the money is to be invested shall be truly loyal and republican in
form; and I insist that not one of those States can be such, except on
the conditions stated in my amendment.
No vote was reached, and the joint resolution was never
considered again.