At a late hour Mr. Henderson concluded, and the Senate
adjourned.
* * * * *
February 25th, the Senate proceeded with the resolution, when
Mr. Sumner sent to the Chair resolutions which he proposed to
offer as a substitute, declaring the duty of the States to
guaranty republican governments in the Rebel States on the
basis of the Declaration of Independence,--being the next
article in this volume.
Mr. Howard, of Michigan, made an elaborate speech against the
resolution, and Mr. Reverdy Johnson, of Maryland, for it. The
latter asked: “Are these States to be governed as provinces?
That is the idea of the honorable member from Massachusetts.…
Will the honorable member deny that it would be in the power
of Massachusetts now to exclude the black? I suppose not; and
yet, if by an Act of Congress you place it out of the power of
the seceded States, when they come back, under the authority of
that Act, to change the qualifications of electors, they will
not come back as the equals of Massachusetts.” Then ensued a
colloquy.
MR. SUMNER. Allow me to ask the Senator, whether, in his
opinion, the Ordinance governing the Northwest Territory,
prohibiting Slavery, and declared to be a perpetual
compact, could be set aside by any one of the States formed
out of the Territory now.
MR. JOHNSON. I certainly think they can, except so far as
rights are vested.
MR. SUMNER. The Senator, then, thinks Ohio can enslave a
fellow-man?
MR. JOHNSON. Just as much as Massachusetts can.
MR. SUMNER. Massachusetts cannot.
MR. JOHNSON. Why not?
MR. SUMNER. Massachusetts cannot do an act of injustice.