ven shape to
presidential policy, "that the attempt at secession having been
suppressed by the physical power of the Government, the States, whose
authority was usurped by the parties to the movement, have never, at
any time, been out of the Union; and that having once expressed their
acquiescence in the result of the contest and renewed their allegiance
to the Union, they are, at the same time, restored to all the rights
and duties of the adhering States."

On the other hand, the policy of Congress, in the opinion of Mr.
Dawson, was "a shameless outrage upon justice and every conservative
principle,"--a "usurpation of Federal powers and a violation of State
rights."

Mr. Maynard gave expression to his opinions by asking the significant
question, "Whether the men who went into the rebellion did not by
connecting themselves with a foreign government, by every act of which
they were capable, denude themselves of their citizenship--whether
they are not to be held and taken by this Government now as men
denuded of their citizenship, having no rights as citizens except such
as the legislative power of this Government may choose to confer upon
them? In other words, is not the question on our part one of
enfranchisement, not of disfranchisement?"

On the 17th of January, Mr. Baker addressed the House in favor of
referring the pending bill to the Committee on Reconstruction. He was
opposed to the use of the term "Government," without qualification or
restriction, as applied to the lately revolted States. He opposed the
second section, as causing the _de facto_ governments to become valid
for municipal purposes long before the scheme of reconstruction
contemplated by the bill is effectuated. "To recognize them in
advance," said he, "would be to incur the danger of further
embarrassing the whole subject by the illogical consequences of our
own illogical procedure."

At this stage Mr. Stevens arose and modified his substitute by
withdrawing the second section, which contained the provision objected
to by Mr. Baker as well as by his "ardent friend" Mr. Paine. Mr. Baker
objected to that feature of the bill which provided that none should
be deprived of the right to vote as a punishment for any crime save
insurrection or treason. "The penitentiaries of these States," said
he, "might disgorge their inmates upon the polls under the operation
of this bill."

Mr. Grinnell was opposed to sending the question to the Committee on
Re