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whether once in the Union means always in the Union；agreeably to the formula；
Once in grace always in grace； it is obvious to common sense that the
rebellious States stand to… day； in point of law； precisely where
they stood when； exhausted； beaten； conquered； they fell powerless
at the feet of Federal authority。 Their State governments were overthrown；
and the lives and property of the leaders of the Rebellion were forfeited。
In reconstructing the institutions of these shattered and overthrown States；
Congress should begin with a clean slate； and make clean work of it。
Let there be no hesitation。 It would be a cowardly deference
to a defeated and treacherous President； if any account were made of
the illegitimate； one…sided； sham governments hurried into existence
for a malign purpose in the absence of Congress。 These pretended governments；
which were never submitted to the people； and from participation in which
four millions of the loyal people were excluded by Presidential order；
should now be treated according to their true character； as shams
and impositions； and supplanted by true and legitimate governments；
in the formation of which loyal men； black and white； shall participate。
It is not； however； within the scope of this paper to point out
the precise steps to be taken； and the means to be employed。
The people are less concerned about these than the grand end to be attained。
They demand such a reconstruction as shall put an end to the present anarchical
state of things in the late rebellious States；where frightful murders and
wholesale massacres are perpetrated in the very presence of Federal soldiers。
This horrible business they require shall cease。 They want a reconstruction
such as will protect loyal men； black and white； in their persons and property；
such a one as will cause Northern industry； Northern capital； and Northern
civilization to flow into the South； and make a man from New England
as much at home in Carolina as elsewhere in the Republic。
No Chinese wall can now be tolerated。 The South must be opened
to the light of law and liberty； and this session of Congress
is relied upon to accomplish this important work。
The plain； common…sense way of doing this work； as intimated
at the beginning； is simply to establish in the South one law；
one government； one administration of justice； one condition
to the exercise of the elective franchise； for men of all races
and colors alike。 This great measure is sought as earnestly
by loyal white men as by loyal blacks； and is needed alike by both。
Let sound political prescience but take the place of an
unreasoning prejudice； and this will be done。
Men denounce the negro for his prominence in this discussion；
but it is no fault of his that in peace as in war； that in
conquering Rebel armies as in reconstructing the rebellious States；
the right of the negro is the true solution of our national
troubles。 The stern logic of events； which goes directly to the
point； disdaining all concern for the color or features of men；
has determined the interests of the country as identical with
and inseparable from those of the negro。
The policy that emancipated and armed the negronow seen to
have been wise and proper by the dullestwas not certainly more
sternly demanded than is now the policy of enfranchisement。
If with the negro was success in war； and without him failure；
so in peace it will be found that the nation must fall or flourish
with the negro。
Fortunately； the Constitution of the United States knows no distinction
between citizens on account of color。 Neither does it know any difference
between a citizen of a State and a citizen of the United States。
Citizenship evidently includes all the rights of citizens；
whether State or national。 If the Constitution knows none；
it is clearly no part of the duty of a Republican Congress
now to institute one。 The mistake of the last session
was the attempt to do this very thing； by a renunciation
of its power to secure political rights to any class of citizens；
with the obvious purpose to allow the rebellious States to disfranchise；
if they should see fit； their colored citizens。 This unfortunate blunder
must now be retrieved； and the emasculated citizenship given to the negro
supplanted by that contemplated in the Constitution of the United States；
which declares that the citizens of each State shall enjoy all the rights
and immunities of citizens of the several States；so that a legal voter
in any State shall be a legal voter in all the States。
End