Page:Conspectus of the history of political parties and the federal government - Houghton - 1860.djvu/45

Rh was passed by Congress, June 18th, 1866. The Democrats opposed it, and the President sent a message that he could not approve it, but would submit it to the states. It was proclaimed in force July 28th, 1868.

NEGRO SUFFRAGE.—On the 7th of January, 1867, an act was passed giving the right of suffrage to the negroes in the District of Columbia and the territories. It was vigorously opposed by the Democrats.

LIMITING THE PRESIDENT’S POWER.—The antagonism between the President and the Republicans led to systematic efforts to limit his power. He was deprived of the right to proclaim general amnesty in January, 1867, though he denied the validity of the act and continued to exercise the right. The 40th and all succeeding Congresses were authorized to meet directly after adjournment, so as to keep a constant check on the President. A provision of the Army Appropriation bill nullified his command of the army, by requiring him to give orders through the General in command. In March the “Tenure-of-Office bill” was passed, providing that the President should not remove civil officers without the consent of the Senate, and making a violation of it a “high misdemeanor.” He was allowed to suspend, but not remove an official; and if the Senate, at the next session, refused to concur, the official should be restored. The Democrats opposed all these acts.

REMOVAL OF SECRETARY STANTON.—The President, on the 15th of August, 1867, attempted to remove Edwin M. Stanton from the office of Secretary of War. Mr. Stanton, refusing to leave, was suspended under the Tenure law, and General Grant put in his place. The next January, the Senate refused its assent, and General Grant gave up the office to Mr. Stanton. Then, on February 21st, 1808, the President determined to remove him in defiance of the “Tenure act,” and put General Lorenzo Thomas in the office. Mr. Stanton held firm, and notified the Speaker of the House of the President’s action.

IMPEACHMENT.—The violation of the “Tenure-of-Office” act being a “high misdemeanor,” the House resolved, February 24th, to impeach the President, the Democrats opposing. The articles of impeachment were mainly for violating the “Tenure-of-Office” act. The trial, resulting in the President’s acquittal, was begun in the Senate, on the 5th of March, 1868, and continued until May 16th.

CONFEDERATE.—After the war, most of those who had belonged to the Confederacy associated themselves with the Democratic party.

ELECTION IN 1868.—The Republican national convention met in Chicago on May 20th, 1808, and nominated General U. S. Grant for President, with Schuyler Colfax, of Indiana, for Vice-President. The Democrats met in New York City on July 4th, and nominated Horatio Seymour, of New York, for President, and Francis P. Blair, of Missouri, for Vice-President. [See D. and Pl.] The contest was made almost wholly upon issues growing out of the war and the reconstruction policy of Congress. General Grant and Mr. Colfax were elected by 214 electoral votes, to 80 for Seymour and Blair, counting the vote of Georgia, which was contested. Without it their vote was 71.

RECONSTRUCTION.—The Congressional scheme of reconstruction was prosecuted during Grant’s administration, with little resistance save the opposition of Democrats in Congress, and a good deal of local disturbance in the more strongly disaffected regions of the south. The ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment was made a prime condition of readmission with all the states.

FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.—On the 25th of February, 1869, the fifteenth amendment of the constitution, conferring the right of suffrage on all citizens, without distinction of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude,” was passed by Congress, and ratified by twenty-nine states, the necessary three-fourths required by the constitution, and the fact reported to Congress, by the President, March 30th, 1870.

SOUTHERN TROUBLES.—The hostility of a large portion of the population of the confederate states to the constitutional amendments, especially the fourteenth and fifteenth, and to the white Republicans, who were supposed to control the negro voters, was exhibited in many localities, in various forms of resistance to the laws, and of abuse of the obnoxious parties. Organizations calling themselves the “White League” and “Ku Klux Klan” warned many whites, of opposing political opinions, to leave the country. Conflicts of a serious nature, between the factions, were of frequent occurrence. In Louisiana these troubles affected the elections, and made serious contentions as to the legal possession of the state offices. Investigating committees were sent by Congress to ascertain the causes and magnitude of the troubles, but never with any alleviating result. Troops had to be sent there, and to other states, to protect the citizens, and maintain the authority of the government.

THE ENFORCEMENT ACT (KU KLUX ACT).—To repress these cruelties, and lawless interferences with the rights of the freedmen, Congress, in April, 1871, passed an act giving to the President extraordinary powers to enforce the laws against the perpetrators. It was generally called the “Ku Klux act.” It was strongly resisted by the Democrats, and by a few Republicans, as unconstitutional, and a dangerous centralization of power. The law was enforced very moderately by General Grant, and the disturbances continued, with hardly any diminution, till the Presidential election of 1876.

SAN DOMINGO.—President Grant, during his first term, made some efforts at procuring a harbor and naval station on the coast of San Domingo, and a protectorate of a portion of the island, and sent three commissioners there to look after the business. The project, being opposed by the greater portion of the Republican press and by Congress, was abandoned.