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' AFPOKTIOMMf NT OP RkfB E Jl TaTlOJf.
' Mr. PUCKALEW. I more that the
fienaU reamo tba ooosider&tioo of the
joint resolution proposing to amen J the
Constitution. -
The motion was agreed to j and the
Senate ii in Cotnmiiteo f the Whole
resumed the eonsidsratiott of the joint
reiolution (II. R. No. 61) proposing to
amend the Constitution of the United
fitteaJ.
Jlrw BUCKALEW. Mr. PresrJenS
t shall not rpeak to-daj aa a party map,
nor aa a sectional man, but a n Amer
ican, as a cit:zeu of the United States
anxicas to maintain its unity, and to
mote, so far as mr hamMa efforts can
do it, the welfare of our common coun
try. I have .looked forward daring tLe
dreary months of the recent war to a
time arheo a new class of subject woald
arise ' for oar consideration. The d a
ussion of measures of force in the pros
ecution of the war and the discussion cf
the Yarions questions connected wijh tbe
tuf jeel of liYery did not provoke me
upon any single occasion to address tbe.
Senate at length; It a turning from a
foreign country after the commencement
cf the war, when it was in full progress,
and when no human power could avert
the storm whifti fell upon us, I foa&d
myself, as did most oft: c citizens of our
country, absolutely controlled by the
circumstances which surrounded us and
which pressed us tbrward upon a course
of conduct which we could not aroid.
I thought thf-n, and I think now, that
there waa bat one thing to do. We were
engaged ia a eontest which was, aa it has
been often described, a contest ' of life
and death, and there was nothing to be
done except to fight it oat, to fight on.
to promote or assist the coiluion of forces
whiih were then arrayed again. t each
other until soma ultima'e re.ult should
be reached. .
A a member of the minority in this
Chamber, I gave my vote for those meas
ures of (he majority which directly point
J to the use of tbe force of this Gov
ernment "to subjugate tbe insurrection
which raised its head against us. I was
opposed .to the political policy of that
. majority, and have continued to entertain
fcnd evince that opposition down to this
time in a respectful and proper manner.
But upon the question of prosccuticg the
war to a conclusion, I never bad any
dificuity, I nevtr bad any hesitiion.
Upon an examination of ay record iod
tumble as it may be, even v it may by
some peraons tt aomo lime be cxamiaed
it will be found, that f;om tbe time I
assumed the seat to which mj Siate had
. ass'gnad me in this Chamber, my course
was such as I have indicated, anJ wis in
eiact 'accordance with the convictions
that I held. "
I thought there was little to be attains
d by speech-making by a member, even
fi oia the great Commonwealth of Penn
tylv3Cta,upon political questions during
the war. While the passions of the coun
try frere inCamea by the wsr.rcason could
cot be heard. 'Log o is thrown away
upon the passions. -It can only bs beard
Hr t'Jey fcava'.subaded .But, sir, I
loykodvjorward to - the days tbroagh
which we are novi - passing, contcmpla
licg a cjt.ditiod x( things entirely bhang
d, th coming up cf new question, es
pecially qwtiota connected with econo
my, with revenaS, with finance, with or
dinary lfglalatiou with the administra
lioncCjAlici isliexever the jurisdiction
of ttisGoYernment extends all those
questions... which; rsquira intelligence,
which' require ' investigation, which re
quire labor, the habita of the stadtnt. I
looked forward " to that class ol ques
ticas, intending to speak upon them on
t and proper " bccaaioiss, and when, io
tnr opinion, I : ctghi contribute some
thing 03efcl ta the current of 'ygar dc-
j.Bot.thre ?ras one thmj which I did not
s'.kipaifl; -1 diJ tax anticipate that nearly
one year a.r;er thf lefmiuaiioa v the war,
cue ) ji- i':er th-grsat jaie whljrTwefe
atrared : against ot had aobmiued ta oor
poer aril fcal capHa!;ed to our forces ia
J, "nearly a year after open rej islance
to oar ssihori'y haJ triwiaa edj'ani when
ia point of fact (herd was no reaiitince to
tha Govern rrent cf tie TJaited States' !ij arry
frl j rl cjt era vr in lha'Conjreas
cf 1..2 's'....J biu-essloald be i!iai:a?i3g
ti? .';-:?stiatj cf ...whsthrr.tha war hail been
? ' r re', wb ' r Mr eovv.'.:ry was,
IT,
, trnp.e:?, . a unit
J under the Constitution of tbe United States,
' no longer broken and severed into part?,
hot one homogeneous whnle, cnited to
gether by the fondamental law, the Con
stitution established by ocr fatter. 1 ; diS
not anticipate the necessity of debasing aub
jects of this description, because coald
not foresee either the passions or interests
of party wbich precipitate opoa ns ibe qoes
lions oat of which ttreae debatea arise. Bm,
air, thee sobjcis are here, and they are to
be met, and it ?a because with reference to
some of these question I have not heard
my own ideas presented by others, ibat I
now trespass upon .the attention of the
Senate apd pray tneir attention lor a brief
time. "
Among thtt other subjects which are
brought before us by this celebrated
committee of fifteen, which seems to
have taken charge to a great extent of tbe
affairs of the Gas erument, which seems to
have assumed io itself the functions of
Congrei and the functions also of an advi
sory body to the Executive -among the
other enbjocta thrown into Congress for the
operation of the previous question in the
House of Representatives and for the
prompt Insb of party discipline in the Sen
ate, is the subject of representation in this
Government, one that has undergone no
1 consideration, pt very slight consideration,
from the year 1789, when the Constitution
of the United States went into operation, to
this day. We have talked about etrrrything
else, a;o have considered everything else
except this great utj3Cf, because we sup
posed that represen'ation in this Govern
ment had been established upon just and
proper foundations by oor fathers. We were
content with their work. We took it for
granted that they had made a proper ar
rangement in that portion of the Constitu
tion which related to this subject.. Bat the
com ml tree of fifteen hare iotiO(!oced to
oor attention a resolution proposing a lim
itation upon tbe representation of the States
of thi Union io the Home of Representa
tives in all caes whvre the right of suffrage
shall be abridged by such State as to any
class ot its inhabitants en recount of race
or color.
TLe resolution of the committee raise
one ot lae question a whicri we are now to
consider. That resolution had a swift pas
sags through tbe Hoo.e of Representatives,
but here it has had a somewhat prolonged
consideration, and it is well that it has
been considered, because as tbe debate has
progressed more and more oT opposition to
it has been manifested, and more and more
plainly have appeared to ike Senate and
the peopla of the country who read our
debates the imperfections of the plan of
amendment proposed by that resolution.
. Mr. President, I shall speak to-day upon
the subject of representation of States in
this Senate, and of the people ot States in
the House of Representative; and the par
ticular questions eiamioed will be
1. The senatorial representation of the
eastern States ;
2. TLe preent admission o Senators and
Representatives from the South ; .
3. The proposed amendment of the Con
stitution,, limiting representation in the
House of Representatives in future.
The provisions of the Constitution of the
United States which will come under re
view in oor present inquiry, are the three
following; all to be louud io the first ar
ticle :
"The SenVe of the United Sta'es abatl be
composed of two Senators Irom each State,
cb&sao by the Legislature thereof, for six
years; and each Senator shall have one
vote.1' Section 3, clanse I.
"The House ol Representatives shall be
composed of members chosen every sec
ond year by the people of the. several
Sta'es. and tbe erectors in each Slate -ehafll
have Ibe qualifications requisite for electors
of the most nomeroos branch of the State
Legislature." Section 2,ctdtue 1.
"Representatives and direct taxes shall
b apportioned amnn? tbe several States
which may be included within this Union,
according Io their respective, nombers,
which shall be determined by adding to
the whole, unmber of tree persons, inclu
ding those bound to service for a term of
year, and exclodin Indians not taxed,
three-fifths of all other persons." Same
seclion, clause 3.
These provisions, regulating representa
tion io the Government of tbe United States,
have remained unchanged from the forma
tion ot the Constitution down to this day.
or for more than seventy-five years. Shall
ibey continue to stand, or shall they be
chaoged ? . That question must now be met
and answered, for the committee of fifteen
has proposed, and the House of Represent
tatives has passed, a resolution proposing
a material change ia one of these clauses ;
and other changes have been proposed, in
both Houses, and are now pending; and
for the lime being Congress declines or de
lays to execute these clauses of the. Con
stitution so far as they relate to the repre
sentation of southern States. .
I shall apeak, in the first place, of tbe
representation o( the eastern States in tbe
Senate; for ahhoogh this subject has not
been raised d'ectly by any bill or resolu
tion presented in either House, or been re
ferred to in debate in either House, so far
as I have observed, it is intimately con
nected with the questions which have beeo
raised, and which are undergoing public
debate, j '. t .-. - ' , . i v'' -''
aiFRCflSTATlOX CTVRt EAST IX TUE StlUTC
The six Stales beyond t?9 Hudson river,
commonly called -"Newi England," have
twelve Senators on -this Boor' by tirtSa of
that clause of the. Constitution relating .lo
senatorial 1 represcratlon which I iave
r?ad. Esch State Is to havetwo' Senatora
-naiiher more nor Iswi:hoor any "ra
j gard to the number of inhabitants it may
contain. And by the concluding clause of
the fifth article cf the Constitution, relating
to amendment, it is provided ibat
"No State, without its consent, shall be
deprived of its equal suffrage in the Sen
are." .. . ' . - , '. .
By referring to the Censes of I860, the
population of ihe eastern. Stale ia found to
be as follows ;
(asms ararcs.
Mairte
New Hampshire
Masachuetia
. ttt 219
' 326 073
1,231,066
174,620
4"60 147
315,098
3 135,283
Rhode Isand
Connecticut
Vermont
Total
Six States with twelve Senators.
Dividing this total of population by the
number twelve, will show the number of
inhabitanta to each Senator upon an equal
apportionment according to numbers. The
resulring ratio or number for a Senator will
be found to be 261,273. In other words,
there ia one Senator to each 261,273 inhab
itants It requires a tittle over a quarter of
a million persons in the East, (the whole
population there bejng considered in the
computation,) for one Senator in this body.
Having thus ascertained the ratio of ap
portionment for tbe East let us ascertain
what it will be for the other States repre
sented in the Senate and which adhered to
our Government during the war. 1 Their
population in 1360 waa aa follows :
CENTRAL A KB WC3TKRN BYATEa
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
Maryland
West Virginia
Ohio
Michigan
Indiana
Illinois
Kentucky
Missouri
Wisconsin
Iowa
Minnesota
Kansas
California
Oregon
Total "
3,8$'0.735
67 2,03 5
2,906,215
112.216
C87 049
349 69
2,339 511
?4S,1I3
1,350 428
1,711,951
1,155 681
1,182.012
775 881
674 913
172,023
I07,20t
379,991
52,465
19 259,129
Here are eighteen States with thirty-six
Senators, and dividing iheir whole popular
lion by the number thirty six will ahow a
ratiofor one-senator of 534,976. It reqaires
therefore, more than half a million inhabit
ant sTu those Stales lor one voie in the
Senate.
Fr the purpose of further comparison
let us next lorn to the States of the South,
which are now unrepresented in Congress.
Their population in 1860 was as follows;
SOUTHERN STATES.
Virginia
North Carolina
Sooth Carolina
Georgia
Florida
Alabama
Mississippi
Tennessee
Louisiana
Araansaa
Texas
Total
I 248:B20
992 622
703,708
I 057. 28
140 424
964 201
791 305
1 109 8C1
70S.002
435,450
604.115
8,75a 634
Here are are eleven States with twenty
two Senators, and dividing their total pop
ulation by twenty two, there results a ratio
or number to each Senator of 397.892. I
have deducted from the popalation of Vir
ginia tbe population of tbe forty-eight'
counties which were, under the name of
Wet Virginia, admitted into the Union as a
new State by ibe act of 31st of December,
1862. The new State, with Its proper num
ber of inhabitants, appears in the table of
the central States already given, inasmuch
aa it waa represented iq the last Congress.
Let us now consolidate these totals of
population in.lhe several divtaions of the
country, as jest given, to obtain a common
ratio of distribution :
Six eas:ern States 3,135,283
Eighteen central and western . 19 259,129
Eleven Southern States 8,753 634
Total ,
Here are
31.148.046
thirty-five States in all, with
seventy Senators, and by dividing their to
tal popolation by the number seventy, wa
obtain a common ratio for tbe whole coun
try of 444,972.
We arenow prepared for a compstison
cf eastern representation with that of other
sections upon exact data. The Territories,
not being represented, are excluded from
tbe calculation, as is also the Slate cf Neva
da, which was not represented during the
war.
But it is to be remembered that as the
new States of the West increase much more
rapidly in popolation than the old Atlantic
States, the inequality between the East and
the ceutral and western sections is now
greater than it was ic 1860, when Jhe cen
sus was taken. . .
Bat upon tbe figures as now slated, tbe
case will som op as follows v
ratios roa a sen AToa.
For eastern Statea 261,273
Ceotral and western Statea 534,976
Southern States 397,892
Common ratio 444,972
Deducting tbe ration of New England
from the common ratio for the whole Union
will ebow'a deficient dopulation Jin tbe for
mer, upon each. Senator allowed her, ol no
less than 183,639 and multiplying this de
ficiency opoa one Senator by twelve, (the
whole cumber of her Senators) .will show a
total deficiency to the enormous extent of
2,204,383, That is, aha has representation in
this SenateYor nearly two aod a cmrsr
million persona who are actually located in
the centra! and western States.
But-, astonishing aa these figurea are, they
do not exhibit the full extent of the ir.equat
itr Which now exists with Ibe South onrep
resented. Tbe popalation of all the States
is taken into account to produce tbe result
just staled. But drawing the comparison
between her and the central and 'western
States, actually represented here, will show
het deSciency in popolation greater than
before by 253,336, or a total deficiency of
2.463.324. These two and a half million
people exist. Tbey are rota wiyth not
imaginary persons but real breathiog men,
women and children, in New York, Penn
sylvania, Ohio, Indiana. Illinois, Kentucky,
and Missouri. They are found along ibe
Hudson and the Mobawk, by the Susque
hanna, tbe Wabash and tbe Ohio. And the
men among them are a main support of
this nation, bearing ita industries forward
and abiding by ita laws. They turn the
furrow in Ihe field, or push the plane in the
workshop, or smite tbe anvil in tbe smithy,
or dig fuel from the bowels of the earth, or
build great towns and smiling hamlets
throughout the great Statea of the center
and tbe West. Not one of ibera ia found in
East, though men of tbe East vote for them
in this Senate. Not a dollar of fishing
bounties wrung from an impnveri-hed
Tre ascry ever reached them in its disburse
ment. They hare been content to receive
justice Ta'iber than favcv Irom Government ;
Their patriotism has been spontaneous, con
stant ami sure, without calculation of imme
dl ate advantage, and with no thrawd cal
culation of future profit or dominion.
When, therefore, the readjustment of
representation in .this Government is pro
posed; when Congress and the country are
considering piopositions ol amendment and
ol change in ihe basis of p'o.litical power, I
insist thai their viewa and interests shall be
taken ioio account rather than those which
exist io a section which has been.beretofnre,
lavored at theirexpense if not to their injnry.
But, before snggealing any change in the
senatorial representation of tbe East, cr
showing the connection which exists be-i
tween the inequality already described and
the question of southern representation in
Congress, it will be instructive and useful to
ilia irate eastern "in-uence in the Govern
ment (resulting from her senatorial repre
sentation) by some pertinent examples.
I bat influence i shown in the selection
of Presidinz Officers ol tTie Senate. Fcr
I v
four jears from the4ih of March, 1861, an
eastern Vice President occnpitl the chair
at the opcaing of sessions and occasionally
af:erward,with the power of the casting vote.
He waa chosen by the peop'e. But the of
ficer tvbo usually presides over ocr deliber
ation" ihe President pro tempore is selec
ted by the Senate itself, and, io selecting
him, the power of ihe East is manifested.
All our presiding Officers recently have
been from that quarter ; in the TWrty-Sev-entb
Congress the Senator from Vermont,
Mr. Foot, 1 in the Thirty-Eighth Congress
the Senator from New Hampshire, Mr.
Clatk, and in the present Congress, the
Senator from Connecticut, .Mr. Foster.")
In .brief, the East has held Ibe chair ol the
Senate during the whole war, and holds it
now. Aer grasp upon it has not been re
leased for a moment, and still continues.
In caucuses or consultations of the ma
jority, jvhere very often the course of ac
tion in open session is determined; where
the laws ol party discipline are applied to
crush out dissent and to overrule individual
judgement,!! is most evident that the twelve
voices irom the east must be very potential.
But upon this point I must speuk with some
prudent reserve. Tbe m)steries ol the
caucus-room are shut off Irom direct obser
vation; and my curiosity is circumscribed
by tbe limits of the possible. As I cannot
know whet occurs in those secret consulta
tions I shall not speculate much upon them
and shall limit my remarks on tb's point to
the general inference concerning eastern in
fluence which naturally atises.
- 1 pass to another point which is not ob
scure, the fscts ol which are open and
known, or rosy be known to all. I mean
tbe constitution of committees, and particu
larly ihe selection of their chairmen. The
Congressional Directory, just published,
shows twenty-three standing committees ot
the Senate, and three joint ones established
In connection wib tbe House. Among
them tbe following have eastern chairmen:
Foreign Relations, Mr. Sumner, of Massa
chusetts i Finance,- Mr. Festeudeo, of
Maine; Manufactures, Mr. Sprsgoe, of
Rhode Island ; Military Affairs and Militia,
Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts ; Post Offices
and Pot Roads, Mr. Dixon of Connecticut ;
Claims, Mr. Clark, of New Hampshire;
District of Columbia, Mr. Morrill, of Maine;
Public Buildings and Grounds, Mr. Foot, of
Vermont "
These are all standing committees. Of
the three joint committees, that on Priming
has for its chairman, Mr. Anthooy,of Rhode
Island. The general result is, that while
the popolation of the East ialesa than one
seventh of the popolation of Ibe Slates rep
resented in the Senate, she baa the chair
manshipaof one third of the committees,
including tbe leading ones. The case was
still stronger in ihe last Congress.
I observed, at one time, that of the twen
ty eight joint, standing and select commit
tees then organized, fourteen, or one half
the whole number, bad New England chair
men' At the same time tbe great State' of
New York bad' 50 be, and rcy own State a
single one that on Patents. Let oi -con-tamp
fate the figures which apply here for a
Population of eastern States , 3,135,283 action in Congress and in ihe Government.
Population of Pennsylvania , 2,906 215 j . the Thirty-Eighth Congress the Senate
Population of New York 3880i7S',s , consisted of forty-nine members, including
The East, with her three million, bad the j one from Virginia. By a resolution adopt
cootrol of fourteen committees out of the . d by the Senate a quorum ol the body for
twenty-eight, New York none, and Peonsyl- the transaction of business was declared to
vania the Committee on Patents. Well,,sirr be a majority of tbe members from adhering
New York bassiuce Leen promoted in the J States, in other words, a majority of mem-
senatorial scale. One of ber .enators ai
tbe present session has been assigned to the
bead of the Committee on Private Land
Claims. I am-not sure that that Committee
ever meets, but it is displayed in tbti list of
committees in elegant type, doubtlesa very
much 10 the satisfaction of the good people
ol the empire State, who are thua honored
through their representative.
As to the Committee on Patents, I look
upon it with special eciion. I have a
faint recollection that some bill was report
ed from it at a former session ; but my par
ticular interest in it arises from the fact
it was assigned to my State as her particu
lar post ol honor during the war. Massa
chusetts took charge ol Foreign Relations,
Military Affairs, and Slavery and the Treat
ment of Freedmen. Post Offices and Post
Roads and Public Boildings were in charge
ol Vermont, Connecticut attended to Pen
sions and matters in this DiMiict, New
Hampshire had charge of tbe Navy and
Claims, Maine looked a'ter the Finances,
while little Rhode Island burdened herself
with ihe subject of Manufactures and the
sutject of Public Printing. Trios there was
en engrossment by those Slates of tbe lead
ership of most of the committees which
commanded effective power, patronage, and
influence. Bet it ia refreshing for a roan
from my own Stale to reflect that she was
not altogether overlooked. Her modesi
claims received'dua recognitiop, and the
position then assigned her she yet retains
Sir, whenever, the Senator from Mastachn
saitis, Mr. Wilson, chairman of the
ommittee on Military Affairs and the Mili
tia, shall marshal the Senate Committees ir
military array asa borne guard, in defense
of the Capitol, each with its appropriate
organization, there in the midst of trial pa
triotic throng, will be seen the stalwart form
of my colleague bearing alolt in proud defi
nee the banuer of the Committee on Pat
ents! . Mr. President, the chairmanship of a
committee ia a position ol much influence
and power. The several distinguished gen
tlemen boldiog that position have virma!
control over tbe transaction of business.both
in committee and in the Senate. Each one
bas also control of of a committee room,acd
the services of a competent clerk, not only
1 for public business but for conducting pri
vate correspondence, and for the various
other labors imposed upon a Senator by Lis
station.
' I will say here, in view of complaints
made in ihe country, that t consider the
employment aa clerk of a son or other rela
tive by a chairman as wholly unobjectiona
ble. The relation of clerk and chairman is
both confidential and intimate, and hence
such clerkship is qni'e unlike any other
office which may be filled by senatorial in
flaence. A President of the United Stales
may very properly employ his son as pri
vate secretary, and it has been the practice
from ibe foundation of our Government for
our ministers sent abroad, among whom
have been tbe most distinguished and able
men of ihe country, to take iheir aons with
them as secretaries of legation.
The uewspaper criticisms which have
been directed against tbe employment of
young gentlemen as clerks ol committees
who are related by ties of family or blood
to chairmen, are wholly misapplied. Nep
otism, '.he appoin'ment of relations to office,
or tbe obtaining their appointment by the
use of one's official influence, is justly odi
ous, and shouldalwayn be denounced as of
evil example and corruptive tendency. But
an appointment 10 private and confidential
service or to duties which involvesuch ser
vice is not within the general objection, and
is justified by the opinions and practice of
tbe best ofmcn.
Mr. President, the burden of correspon
dence and of other besinesa independent of
ordinary legislative duties, thrown upon
members from populous States is very great.
Their lime is consumed and ibeir exertions
expended upon variooa matters outside ol
public business transacted in the Senate.
Their time for study and proper legislative
labor is thus curtailed, and tbey are likely
10 be over asked by the multtfarious duliea
which press upon them.
Now.it is evident that in the last Congress
by the distribution of a dozen clerks or
more among ibe twelve New England Sen
ators, they obtained an amount of assistance
which removed Irom them a great part of
the labor tbey woold otherwise have borne,
and enabled them to act with more efficien
cy and influence in their high office. But
these advantages .were not enjoyed by a
large par: ol tbe members Irom other States
to whom iheir allowance would have been
more reasonable.
I know it may be said'ihat many of the
oldest members of the Senate, possessing
fitness for chairmanships, are from the East.
The same explanation was made in behalf
of the Sooth in former years wben she was
charged with engrossing 100 many positions
of influence here. But tbe explanation ia
insufficient in the present case, as it was in
tba former, and besides it does not meet
the main point of my argument, which ia
that the East ia over-represented.
. Tbe over-representation of tbe East, and
her consequent.undue power in thia Senate
must Jbe taken into acconnt by aoy one who
would correctly understand past or preset? t
bers elected and admitted to seats.
Membership Irom insurgent States was
wholly excluded Irom the computation.
Twenty-five members, iherefore. constitu
ted a quorum for the transaction ol business
and thirteen constituted a majority of that
quorum. In other words, it was a possible
case that a law ahoold be enacted by ibe
IweUre eastern votes with a single vote add
ed to them fiom all the rest of ihe Union.
So nearly had the East approached com
plete control it) this body.
Nevada bas since been admitted into the
Union, and is rapres ented here by two Sen
ators. A quorum under tbe resolution just
raenticned is therefore at present twenty
six. If Colorado should be admi-ted as a
Stae and her Senators to seata herehe quo
rum would bo twenty-seven ; but whether
Colorado be admitted or roi, the number of
votes required to constitute a majority ol
the quorum under the existing resolution
woold be baiely lourteen, requiring, to se
cure it, bet two votes lobe added to tbe
vote ol the Eat ; and yet the whole popu
ation of the East is less ihan one seventh
of the population ot the States represented
btre !
It would require much more time than ia
at my command, and much more inclina
tion, for the tark than I postess, to describe
tbe effect upon tbe legislation of the coun
try of the predominance of the East. But
I will mention two sobjecls which clearly
illustrate it.
F.rst, the fishing bounties, or donations
of money from the Treasury of the United
States to men along our northeastern coaM,
engaged in the fisheries of the ocean. Thia
money is bestnwed uoder pretense of en
coorsginging the training and making of
seamen and ihe annual expenditure lor
the purpose amounts to three or four hun
dred thousand dollars. The whole amount
heretofore expended exceeds twenty-five
minions dollars. This is the most ques
tionable of all our appropriations of public
money, and it would long since have teen
stopped she Saws authorizing it swept from
the statute-hook if the disbursement Vrere
made in any other section of the cocotry
except the East. The enormous political
power of that section bas maintained these
bounties in existence, and was foend saffi-ciet-t
to maiutnin tbem even during the se
verest financial pressure cf the war.
Take, next, the third section of the sup
plementory conscription act of July 4,1864,
by which the agents of States were author
ized to go into ihe southern country and
procure enlistments ot men, white or black,
to fiil their quotas under the conscription
laws. It was material to the East to retain sires tbe concession to be made upon Con
ner laborers at home to maintain her Indus- j dition of negro suffrage. Tbe proteges cf
trial interests and general prosperity, not- . ber policy, the objects of ber long contind
withstanding the war. j ad agitation cfthe country, however unfit
Accompanying this measure was another ( 0r onWorrhy of the elective franchise, are
for ihe payment of liberal bounties by the ' 10 be endowed with it as her political aUiea
Luited Mates, to meet the outlays ol which,
the celebrated special five per cent, income
tax was imposed. I need not recite the
the proceedings upon these measures the
debates and votes connected with their pas
sage. The East triumphed throughout.--Voted
down or repulsed upon more than
one occasion, she rallied her strength, and
by persistence secured her objects.
We were cooly informed upon one occa-'
sion that if we did not assent to one of
these propositions, the Massachusetts mem
bers in tbe House had determined to de
feat, and would defeat, the whole of an
important public bill in which it was con
tained. Of course, the point was conceded
and perfect harmony reigned over the con
cluding boors of a great session.
Very active and energetic efforts (n ob
taining recruits in other States of the North,
negro recruits in the South, and foreign em
igrants, enabled the East to fill her quotas
without exhausting' her laboring population
at borne, in consequence of which, in-con-nection
with ibe expansion ol the currency
secured by her votes, the dividendl of her
manufacturing companies became spleo
did, and her profits in furnishing Govern
ment supplies immense.
Her lecrnitment of southern cegroea to
fill her quotas was checked the following
year by the repeal of the seciion nuthoiiz
ing itj upon a motion submitted by me.
There was a prolonged contest over the
question of repeal, but for once there was a
sufficient force rallied to overcome the
eastern interest. One fart shown In the
debate may be again mentioned. No sooner
had the news been f.asbed North by tele
graph thai General Sherman had captured
Savannah, than agents were despatched by
Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts, to en
list all tbe negroes that could be obtained at
that point. Having dene this, he applied
to the Secretary ol War for permission to
bia agents to go South and make the enlist
ments; and the computation of time was
made with such exactnesa thai it was be
lieved the permission from the Secretary
would reach Savannah precisely at tbe
time hen the negroe should be shipped
North Enterprise and smartness are fine
things in limes of war as well as in times
ol peace, and, influence. With Government
opena a fine field for their exercise, as io
the case in question.' .
It might be interesting to go 00 'in this
connection and examine the tariff aett and
internal revenue -4 awe which have been
passed since 1840, and Io abowMbat iq ihe
particular arrangements made of duties and
taxes the East received more than ber 3ae
share of consideration and favor. But why
multiply proota that political powfr 111
always seek its own tends, and givfj- such,
direction to Government as shall becr be
thought to be, favorable to its Own interests?
Look over the whol field of Government
policy, whether political, sectional, or
economical, aoofeyoa will disco vet the
marks ol eastern power in every pari.
And by its alliance wiib, or. rather, master
ship of, a great political party of the North,
it is at thia moment almost omnipotent ia
the Government. - . . .. ..
Sir, the East controlled the Senate dating
the war, as av.e controls it now, and by
virtue of that control she bas dominated the
House of Representatives and influenced
powerfully and consiactly tbe Execotive
department. Her power here baa been, in
fact, a power over tbe whole Government,
and when considered, in .jts totality has
been enotmous and irresistible: Necessa
rWy, the action of the House of Represen
tatives has had reference to the action, of
ijve Senate whenever the concurrence of
the latter in any measure waa necessary. -Besides,
tbe House is frequently filled with
new men, while the Senate, on account of
he long duration of senatorial terras, and
of frequent re-election of its members., ia
less subject to change. For thia reason,
and because of its participation with the
President in the distribution of offices and
in tbe formation of treaties, the Senate
rr.nst possess a larger measure of influence
than tbe Hoosq, and must extend more of
influence to that body than it receives from
it. For tbe same reasons, and for oihere
equally obvious, the influence of the Sea
a'e over the executive branch of the -Gov.
ernment (especially when the President il
united by party bonds with a Senate ma
jority) must be very considerable. Id the
case of Mr. Lincoln this influence was t
important force in giving direction to exec
utive policy and conduct. He complained
sometimes of the "pressure" brought to
bear upon him, but aoooer or later - be
always submitted to it, and performed ita
behests. And onqcestionsbly the same
eastern power hopes ultimately to obtain
from the present Piesideot an equal degree
of acquiescence in its present and future
demands. "Itis enthrone here; it grasps
firmly the scepter of authority, and has to
intemion tn abdicate Its function or surra a
der any portion of its power. Intrenched,
as it believes firmly and forever within the
Constitution as to its senatorial representa
tion, it is unwilling to weaken that re pre
sentative power by the admission of mem
bers from the South. It resists the admis
sion of members even from Colorado and
Tennessee, and bases its opposition to in
creased representation upon grounds which,
must long continue to exist; And if repre
sentation must hereafter be conceded-10
southern States and to new States, the de
for the future.
Mr. President, it is in human nature that
power once held or wielded shonld be sur
rendered unwillingly. The individual who
has held high office very commonly retiree
from it wi h reluctance and under the pres
sure of some constitutional or popular
poorer which he cannot resist. And thus,
a'so, great sectional or social interests yield
power unwillingly, aod when compelled to
do so bitterly regret the aacrifice. It re
quired the stroke of war to loosen tbe grasp
of the slaveholder upon his slave ; be aur
renders bis power only When compelled by
overwhelming force.
A manufacturing or agricultural popula
tion, protected by the most extravagant of
tajiffs or by the most oppressive ol corn
laws, will never willingly yield their power
over marketa and consumers. Political in
terests stronger than they must wrest from
tbem ihe advantages which tbey possess it
they are ever to be deprived of their en
joyment. No one, therefore, need be surprised at
the roluctance manifested by the East ta
surrender any portion of th power which
she has held during the war, aod now holds,
in the Government. In this particular she
but exhibits another illastratioa of that
cbaracteriatie of human nature which t
have mentioned, and which, outside the
breasts of saints and heroes, is universal.
Twenty-two Senator! from the southern
States and two Irom Colorado being duc
tile the number of those from tbe East
would reduce tbe importance of the latter
in the Senate and remither back to the
condition in which she stood in her relatione
to tbe Union before the war. True.ehe woold
even then possess ranch more than her pro
portion of weight in ihe Senate, regard be
ins had to ber population, but she would
no longer dominate or control the Govern
ment of the United Slates. A balance of
power in the Union, utieriy broken by ac
cession and war, would be restored, and
existing interests iu all sections of the
coontryewould be heard in Congress, and
be regarded in the enactment of laws. And
the effects of this charge would be felt ia
the executive snd judicial braochea of ihe
Government. Tbe principles. f the Cor
atitntion would waken to a new life. Jus
tire and tolerance would return to thecoaa
cila of the Government and to the hearts of
he people. Publi a expenditures would bo
diminished, a'ona with the pre'endad ne
cessities which now create or excuse tbem.
Trade would revira, production increase,
and the public credit be established upott
sure foundation. More than ibis, we Wos'd
stand strong before the nation of the earth
by being made thoroughly secure sgatcrt
their secret intrigues onopen teatility.