History of the Thirty-Ninth Congress of the United States

Chapter I.--Opening Scenes.

(Page 13-21.)

Momentous Events of the Vacation -- Opening of the Senate -- Mr. Wade -- Mr. Sumner -- Mr. Wilson -- Mr. Harris -- Edward McPherson -- As Clerk of the preceding Congress, he calls the House to order -- Interruption of Roll-call by Mr. Maynard -- Remarks by Mr. Brooks -- His Colloquy with Mr. Stevens -- Mr. Colfax elected Speaker -- His Inaugural Address -- The Test Oath.

Chapter Ii.--Locations of the Members and Cast of the Committees.

(Page 22-32.)

Importance of surroundings -- Members sometimes referred to by their seats -- Senator Andrew Johnson -- Seating of the Senators -- Drawing in the House -- The Senate Chamber as seen from the Gallery -- Distinguished Senators -- The House of Representatives -- Some prominent characters -- Importance of Committees -- Difficulty in their appointment -- Important Senate Committees -- Committees of the House.

Chapter Iii.--Formation of the Joint Committee on Reconstruction.

(Page 33-49.)

Lack of Excitement -- Cause -- The Resolution -- Dilatory Motions -- Yeas and Nays -- Proposed Amendments in the Senate -- Debate in the Senate -- Mr. Howard -- Mr. Anthony -- Mr. Doolittle -- Mr. Fessenden -- Mr. Saulsbury -- Mr. Hendricks -- Mr. Trumbull -- Mr. Guthrie -- Passage of the Resolution in the Senate -- Yeas and Nays -- Remarks of Mr. Stevens on the Amendment of the Senate -- Concurrence of the House -- The Committee appointed.

Chapter Iv.--Suffrage in the District of Columbia.

(Page 50-94.)

Duty of Congress to Legislate for the District of Columbia -- Suffrage Bill introduced into the House -- Speech by Mr. Wilson -- Mr. Boyer -- Mr. Schofield -- Mr. Kelly -- Mr. Rogers -- Mr. Farnsworth -- Mr. Davis -- Mr. Chanler -- Mr. Bingham -- Mr. Grinnell -- Mr. Kasson -- Mr. Julian -- Mr. Thomas -- Mr. Darling -- Mr. Hale's Amendment -- Mr. Thayer -- Mr. Van Horn -- Mr. Clarke -- Mr. Johnson -- Mr. Boutwell.

Chapter V.--the Freedmen.

(Page 95-103.)

Necessities of the Freedmen -- Committee in the House -- Early Movement by the Senate in behalf of Freedmen -- Senator Wilson's Bill -- Occasion for it -- Mr. Cowan Moves its reference -- Mr. Reverdy Johnson advises deliberation -- A Question of time With Mr. Sherman -- Mr. Trumbull promises a more efficient Bill -- Mr. Sumner presents proof of the bad condition of affairs in the South -- Mr. Cowan and Mr. Stewart produce the President as a Witness for the Defense -- Mr. Wilson on the Testimony -- "Conservatism" -- The Bill absorbed in greater measures.

Chapter Vi.--the Freedmen's Bureau Bill in the Senate.

(Page 104-137.)

The Bill introduced and referred to Judiciary Committee -- Its provisions -- Argument of Mr. Hendricks against it -- Reply of Mr. Trumbull -- Mr. Cowan's Amendment -- Mr. Guthrie wishes to relieve Kentucky from the operation of the bill -- Mr. Creswell desires that Maryland may enjoy the benefits of the bill -- Mr. Cowan's Gratitude to God and Friendship for the Negro -- Remarks by Mr. Wilson -- "The short gentleman's long speech" -- Yeas and Nays -- Insulting title.

Chapter Vii.--the Freedmen's Bureau Bill in the House.

(Page 138-157.)

The Bill Reported To the House -- Mr. Eliot's Speech -- History -- Mr. Dawson Vs. the Negro -- Mr. Garfield -- The Idol Broken -- Mr. Taylor Counts the Cost -- Mr. Donnelly's Amendment -- Mr. Kerr -- Mr. Marshall On White Slavery -- Mr. Hubbard -- Mr. Moulton -- Opposition From Kentucky -- Mr. Ritter -- Mr. Rosseau's Threat -- Mr. Shanklin's Gloomy Prospect -- Mr. Trimble's Appeal -- Mr. Mckee an Exceptional Kentuckian -- Mr. Grinnell on Kentucky -- The Example of Russia -- Mr. Phelps -- Mr. Shellabarger's Amendment -- Mr. Chanler -- Mr. Stevens' Amendments -- Mr. Eliot Closes the Discussion -- Passage of The Bill -- Yeas and Nays.

Chapter Viii.--the Senate and the Veto Message.

(Page 158-187.)

Mr. Trumbull on the Amendments of the House -- Mr. Guthrie exhibits feeling -- Mr. Sherman's deliberate Conclusion -- Mr. Henderson's sovereign remedy -- Mr. Trumbull on patent medicines -- Mr. Mcdougall a white Man -- Mr. Reverdy Johnson on the power to pass the Bill -- Concurrence of the House -- The Veto Message -- Mr. Lane, of Kansas -- His efforts for delay -- Mr. Garrett Davis -- Mr. Trumbull's reply to the President -- The Question taken -- Yeas and Nays -- Failure of passage.

Chapter Ix.--the Civil Rights Bill in the Senate.

(Page 188-219.)

Duty of Congress consequent upon the Abolition of Slavery -- Civil Rights Bill introduced -- Reference to Judiciary Committee -- Before the Senate -- Speech By Mr. Trumbull -- Mr. Saulsbury -- Mr. van Winkle -- Mr. Cowan -- Mr. Howard -- Mr. Johnson -- Mr. Davis -- Conversations with Mr. Trumbull and Mr. Clark -- Reply of Mr. Johnson -- Remarks by Mr. Morrill -- Mr. Davis "wound Up" -- Mr. Guthrie's Speech -- Mr. Hendricks -- Reply of Mr. Lane -- Mr. Wilson -- Mr. Trumbull's closing remarks -- Yeas And Nays on the passage of the Bill.

Chapter X.--the Civil Rights Bill in the House of Representatives.

(Page 220-244.)

The Bill referred to the Judiciary Committee and reported back -- Speech by the Chairman of the Committee -- Mr. Rogers -- Mr. Cook -- Mr. Thayer -- Mr. Eldridge -- Mr. Thornton -- Mr. Windom -- Mr. Shellabarger -- Mr. Broomall -- Mr. Raymond -- Mr. Delano -- Mr. Kerr -- Amendment by Mr. Bingham -- His Speech -- Reply by his Colleague -- Discussion closed by Mr. Wilson -- Yeas and Nays on the passage of the Bill -- Mr. Le Blond's proposed title -- Amendments of the House accepted by the Senate.

Chapter Xi.--the Civil Rights Bill and the Veto.

(Page 245-293.)

Doubts as to the President's Decision -- Suspense ended -- The Veto Message -- Mr. Trumbull's Answer -- Mr. Reverdy Johnson defends the Message -- Rejoinder -- Remarks of Mr. Yates -- Mr. Cowan appeals to the Country -- Mr. Stewart shows how States may make the Law a Nullity -- Mr. Wade -- Mr. McDougall on Persian Mythology -- Mr. J. H. Lane defends the President -- Mr. Wade -- The President's Collar -- Mr. Brown -- Mr. Doolittle -- Mr. Garrett Davis -- Mr. Saulsbury -- Yeas And Nays in the Senate -- Vote in the House -- The Civil Rights Bill becomes a Law.

Chapter Xii.--the Second Freedmen's Bureau Bill Becomes a Law.

(Page 294-306.)

The Discovery of the Majority -- The Senate Bill -- The House Bill -- Its Provisions -- Passage of the Bill -- Amendment and Passage in the Senate -- Committee of Conference -- The Amendments as Accepted -- The Bill as Passed -- The Veto -- The Proposition of a Democrat accepted -- Confusion in Leadership -- Passage of the Bill over The Veto -- It Becomes a Law.

Chapter Xiii.--First Words on Reconstruction.

(Page 307-323.)

Responsibility of the Republican Party -- Its Power and Position -- Initiatory Step -- Mr. Stevens speaks for himself -- Condition of the Rebel States -- Constitutional Authority under which Congress should act -- Estoppel -- What Constitutes Congress -- The First Duty -- Basis of Representation -- Duty on exports -- Two Important Principles -- Mr. Raymond's Theory -- Rebel States still in the Union -- Consequences of the Radical Theory -- Conditions to be required -- State Sovereignty -- Rebel Debt -- Prohibition of Slavery -- Two Policies contrasted -- Reply of Mr. Jenckes -- Difference in Terms, not in Substance -- Logic of the Conservatives leads to the Results of the Radicals.

Chapter Xiv.--the Basis of Representation in the House.

(Page 324-372.)

First work of the Joint Committee -- The Joint Resolution proposing a Constitutional Amendment -- Mr. Stevens' reasons for speedy action -- Protracted Discussion Commenced -- Objections to the Bill by Mr. Rogers -- Defense by Mr. Conkling -- Two other Modes -- How States might Evade the Law -- Not a Finality -- Wisconsin and South Carolina -- Amendment for Female Suffrage proposed -- Orth on Indiana and Massachusetts -- Obscuration of the Sun -- More Radical Remedy desired -- A Kentuckian gratified -- Citations from the Census -- Premium for Treason -- White Slaves -- Power to amend well-nigh exhausted -- Objections to the Suffrage Basis -- "Race" and "Color" ambiguous -- Condition of the Question -- Recommitted -- Final Passage.

Chapter Xv.--the Basis of Representation in the Senate.

(Page 373-414.)

The Joint Resolution goes to the Senate -- Counter-proposition by Mr. Sumner -- He Speaks Five Hours -- Mr. Henderson's Amendment -- Mr. Fessenden -- Mr. Henry S. Lane -- Mr. Johnson -- Mr. Henderson -- Mr. Clark's Historical Statements -- Fred. Douglass' Memorial -- Mr. Williams -- Mr. Hendricks -- Mr. Chandler's "blood-letting Letter" -- Proposition of Mr. Yates -- His Speech -- Mr. Buckalew against New England -- Mr. Pomeroy -- Mr. Sumner's second Speech -- Mr. Doolittle -- Mr. Morrill -- Mr. Fessenden meets Objections -- Final Vote -- The Amendment defeated.

Chapter Xvi.--Representation of the Southern States.

(Page 417-433.)

Concurrent Resolution -- A "Venomous Fight" -- Passage in the House -- The Resolution in the Senate -- "A Political Wrangle" deprecated -- Importance of the Question -- "A Straw in a Storm" -- Policy of the President -- Conversation between two Senators -- Mr. Nye's Advice to Rebels -- "A Dangerous Power" -- "Was Mr. Wade once a Secessionist?" -- Garrett Davis' Programme for the President -- "Useless yet Mischievous" -- The Great Question Settled.

Chapter Xvii.--the Reconstruction Amendment in the House.

(Page 434-451.)

A Constitutional Amendment proposed and postponed -- Proposition by Mr. Stewart -- The Reconstruction Amendment -- Death of its Predecessor lamented -- Opposition to the Disfranchisement of Rebels -- "The Unrepentent Thirty-three" -- Nine-tenths Reduced to One-twelfth -- Advice to Congress -- The Committee denounced -- Democratic and Republican Policy compared -- Authority without Power -- A Variety of Opinions -- An Earthquake predicted -- The Joint Resolution passes the House.

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