t's approval might meanwhile be secured to certain
great measures for protecting the helpless and maintaining the civil
rights of citizens. To accomplish these important ends, the suffrage
bill was deferred many months. The will of the majority in Congress
relating to this subject did not become a law until after the opening
of the second session of the Thirty-ninth Congress.

CHAPTER V.

THE FREEDMEN.

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.

The necessities of three millions and a half of persons made free as a
result of the rebellion demanded early and efficient legislation at
the hands of the Thirty-ninth Congress. In vain did the Proclamation
of Emancipation break their shackles, and the constitutional amendment
declare them free, if Congress should not "enforce" these important
acts by "appropriate legislation."

The House of Representatives signified its view of the importance of
this subject by constituting an able Committee "on Freedmen," with
Thomas D. Eliot, of Massachusetts, as its chairman. The Senate,
however, was first to take decided steps toward the protection and
relief of freedmen. We have seen that on the first day of the session
Senator Wilson, of Massachusetts, introduced a bill "to maintain the
freedom of the inhabitants in the States declared in insurrection and
rebellion by the proclamation of the President of the 1st of July,
1862," of which the following is a copy:

_Be it enacted, etc._, That all laws, statutes, acts,
ordinances, rules and regulations, of any description
whatsoever, heretofore in force or held valid in any of the
States which were declared to be in insurrection and
rebellion by the proclamation of the President of the 1st of
July, 1862, whereby or wherein any inequality of civil
rights and immunities among the inhabitants of said States
is recognized, authorize