form or purpose.
Let them not only be ignored as legal governments, but set aside
because they are illegal." Mr. Lawrence suggested some amendments
that would give to all the people the protection of the judiciary
under National authority.

--Mr. Russell Thayer of Pennsylvania argued warmly for the bill, and
said, "This measure will be of brief duration, and will be followed,
as I am informed, by other measures, which will secure the permanent
and peaceful restoration of these States to their proper and just
position in the Union, upon their acceptance of such terms as are
necessary for the future security of the country. When that is done,
and when order is restored, and permanent protection is guaranteed to
all the citizens of that section of the country, this measure will be
abrogated and abandoned."

--Mr. Shellabarger argued in favor of the bill, and said in conclusion,
"This measure, taken alone, is one which I could not support
unaccompanied by provisions for the rapid and immediate establishment
of civil government based upon the suffrages of the loyal people of the
South. I could not support a military measure like this if it was to
be regarded as at all permanent in its character. It is because it is
entirely the initiative, because it is only the employment of the Army
of the United States as a mere police force, to preserve order until
we can establish civil government based upon the loyal suffrages of
the people, that I can support this measure at all. If it stood by
itself, I could not, with my notions of the possibility and
practicability of establishing civil governments in the South, based
upon loyal suffrage, vote for this bill."

--Mr. Dawes made the pertinent inquiry whether, "after the General of
the Army has, under this bill, assigned a competent and trustworthy
officer to the duties prescribed, there is any thing to hinder the
President of the United States, under virtue of his power as
Commander-in-Chief, from removing that officer and putting in his
place another of an opposite character, thus making the very
instrumentality we provide one of terrible evil?"

--Mr. John A. Griswold, who became the Republican candidate for
governor of New York the ensuing year, earnestly opposed the bill. "By
it," said he, "we are proceeding in the wrong direction. For more than
two years we have been endeavoring to provide civil governments for
that portion of our country, and yet by the provisions