Rather than debate the presidential plan, Stevens took a different tack, questioning the very propriety of having the executive branch direct Reconstruction policy. With the basis unchanged the 83 South In . practice justice to all men, and accustom themselves to make The 14th Amendmentprohibiting local and state governments from depriving citizens of "life, liberty or property," among other important protections for citizenslater served as a basis for civil rights legislation. Though the President is Commander-in-Chief, Congress is his commander; and, God willing, he shall obey. Thaddeus Stevens April 4, 1792 - August 11, 1868. Thaddeus Stevens (1792-1868) was the most famous Radical Republican in the House of Representatives (1849-1853, 1859-1868). . The material spans the years 1811-1927, with the bulk of the collection dating from 1850 to 1868. Since the surrender of the armies of the confederate States of America a little has been done toward establishing this Government upon the true principles of liberty and justice; and but a little if we stop here. The Nobody, I believe, pretends that with their old constitutions and frames of government they can be permitted to claim their old rights under the Constitution. Unless the law of nations is a dead letter, the late war between two acknowledged belligerents severed their original compacts and broke all the ties that bound them together. H.R. 127, Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution On his tombstone were carved the words he had composed, explaining that he had chosen this place so that he might illustrate in death the principle he had advocated throughout a long life; namely, Equality of man before his Creator., United States politician and military officer. Summary of president Thaddeus Stevens term 1853-1857: The Four party system. No State could order the election of members until Congress had ordered a census and made an apportionment. What can be plainer? . If we do not furnish them with homesteads, and hedge them around with protective laws; if we leave them to the legislation of their late masters, we had better have left them in bondage. In other words, that they are not out of the Union, but are only dead carcasses lying within the Union. While slavery sat upon her defiant throne, and insulted and intimidated the trembling North, the South frequently divided on questions of policy between Whigs and Democrats, and gave victory alternately to the sections. Congress must create The day before the Pennsylvania Senate had voted to repeal this act, but Stevens' speech moved the state House to vote against repeal and the Senate to take another vote in support of free public schools. Unless the Constitution should restrain them, those States will all, I fear, keep up this discrimination and crush to death the hated freedmen. [Radical Republican Thaddeus Stevens was a Congressman from Pennsylvania and one of the primary champions of Congressional measures like the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Fourteenth Amendment, and the Reconstruction Act of 1867. This amendment once adopted cannot be annulled without two thirds of Congress. Start your constitutional learning journey. Under such governments, while electing members to the territorial Legislatures, they will necessarily mingle with those to whom Congress shall extend the right of suffrage. Certainly many people shared his outrage and desire to see the former Confederates punished, but his particular bitterness ran counter to the feelings of many others who wanted to see a quick reconciliation with the South and who cared little about anything more than rudimentary freedom for former slaves. Are such men fit to sit in the places of statesmen? I hope I have a heart as capable of feeling for human woe as others. take care of themselves. There are periods in the history of nations when statesmen can make themselves names for posterity; but such occasions are never improved by cowards. 4 0 obj Analytical Services; Analytical Method Development and Validation Speech on Reconstruction | Teaching American History No one then pretended that the eleven States had any rights under the Constitution of the United States, or any right to interfere in the legislation of the country. Best Known For: Thaddeus Stevens, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives during Abraham Lincoln's presidency, fought to abolish slavery and helped draft the 14th Amendment during Reconstruction. Home; Service. If we do not furnish them with >IQ But great events fix the eye of history on small objects and magnify their meanness. Congress and in the Electoral college. A gentleman from Richmond, who had personal knowledge of the facts, told me the circumstances of the murder. I can hardly believe that any person can be found who will not admit that every one of these provisions is just. - wrapinknot Stevens had a long history of opposition to slavery and was outraged over the secession of the South. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. There they can learn the principles of freedom and eat the fruit of foul rebellion. The Southern territories could have non-voting representation, and it would be Congress, which would ensure that they could not exercise any power until Congress was convinced they would pose no further threat to the Union. ?]J2Tw7@F VQ"EQ[?-p_' (E*@zEg* UWQ?-]B[zel}%&H&HR[l`l6$zU~_}s:P)}zVYg7/kxQUDkzd|gno@>nN;q{DG 5%Z. That short delay would not be injurious.