REMARKS IN THE SENATE, ON THE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE NEW STATE
GOVERNMENT OF LOUISIANA, FEBRUARY 24, 25, AND 27, 1865.
February 18th, Mr. Trumbull, of Illinois, Chairman of the
Committee on the Judiciary, reported the following resolution,
which, at the request of Mr. Sumner, was read:--
“_Resolved, &c._, That the United States do hereby
recognize the Government of the State of Louisiana,
inaugurated under and by the Convention which assembled
on the 6th day of April, A. D. 1864, at the city of New
Orleans, as the legitimate Government of the said State,
and entitled to the guaranties and all other rights of
a State Government under the Constitution of the United
States.”
The admission of the State, as here proposed, had the favor of
President Lincoln. It was earnestly opposed by Mr. Sumner, as
not republican in origin or form, and furnishing no security
for the rights of colored persons.
* * * * *
February 23d, on motion of Mr. Trumbull, the Senate proceeded
to consider the resolution, when Mr. Sumner moved the following
substitute:--
“That neither the people nor the Legislature of any State,
the people of which were declared to be in insurrection
against the United States by the Proclamation of the
President, dated August 16, 1861, shall hereafter elect
Representatives or Senators to the Congress of the United
States, until the President, by proclamation, shall have
declared that armed hostility to the Government of the
United States within such State has ceased, nor until the
people of such State shall have adopted a Constitution
of Government not repugnant to the Constitution and laws
of the United States, nor until, by a law of Congress,
such State shall have been declared to be entitled to
representation in the Congress of the United States of
America.”
This was lost,--Yeas 8, Nays 29.
February 24th, Mr. Lane, of Kansas, moved that the resolution
be made the special order for the next day at one o’clock. In
the debate on this motion the following colloquy occurred.
MR. SUMNER. If we are to make any special order for
to-morrow, I think it should be the bill which the Senate
has most maturely considered, and on which it is most
prepared to vote, known as the Railroad Bill, in charge of
my friend from Michigan [Mr. CHANDLER]. The Senator from
Illinois [Mr. TRUMBULL] came forward with his measure----
MR. CONNESS. Will my friend permit me--I know he will--to
appeal to him not to waste the fifteen minutes we have left
in discussing the order of business, but let us take a
vote?…
SEVERAL SENATORS (to Mr. SUMNER). Give up.
MR. SUMNER. Senators say, “Give up.” That is not my habit.