Mr. NYE. Mr. President, when the Senate adjourned last evening I was aying a passing respect to a remark made byt e Senfrom De aware [Mr. SAULSBURY] in a speech on this question some days ago. But, sir, I propose now to return to the Senfrom ise onsin [Mr. DOOLITTLE] and the Senfrom Pennsylvania [Mr. COWAN] for the purpose of determining whether they or others stand upon this Baltimore platform. The honora by e Senfrom Wisconsin says that no power on earth shall drive him from it; whether he sieged by Radicals on the one side or by Dem ocrats on the other, there he is to stand, and stand forever; and Iunderstand the Senfrom Pennsylvania to occupy the same atti tude upon that platform. If that platform is large enough, if there is any room or others, I propose to stand there with them for awhile, until they push me off or they leave it. This Baltimore platform was the political direction, the scriptural direction if such a term is applicable to polities upon which the last battle was fought and won, and I propose to hang to it. It was said by a distinguished member of the Cabinet not long a of that in these fiurries and gales some few won (1 be washed overboard and some left. I propose to weather thisgale by standing upon the deck of the Baltimore platform. In examining this platform, sir, you will find that it contains only 2 very important provisions, and the 1st is the most important: “Received. That it is the highest duty of every American citizen tytoof maintain. against all their one authority of the Constitution nionan and the he lapwesrm of the U.S.:" I understood the distinguished Senfrom Pennsylvania to say that the Democrats had got on to that portion of the platform. I trust that no power on this side will be exercised to drive one of them off. If they have been converted by the distinguished Senators from Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, so that they are content to stand upon that, it is a new era in their political history, one that will be noted with great favor as an iustance of the wonderful power of the 2 Senators who have wrought the change “and that laying aside all differences and political opinions, we plediih ourselves as Union men, animated by u.common sentiment and aiming at it common object. to do everything in our power to aid the Governmentin quelling. by force ofarms. the rebellion now r ing againstits authority and in bringing to the prinilifiiment due to their crimes the rebelsaud traitors arrayed against it." That sir, is the great cardinal principle of the Baltimore platform, and to eve line and word of itimost heartily assent. H, declared it to be our dut to maintain the Union. the Constitution, and y the laws against all their enemies; but our Democratic friends did not see it in that light; they did not agree and I refer to that portion of them who are now acting with the 2 distinguished Senators with whom I am holdin this controversthey did not agree then to that sentiment. f they did, that other convention which they now, with me wish had never been held, at Chicago, would never have taken place. This platform, by the cogency of its reasoning and the potency of its argument, commanded the support of a large majority of the Union loving men of this country. 1 hey had ascertaine and I ulate the members of that conventionc, onfgorrnt I understand my friend claims to have taken a distinguished part in itthat the rebellion had reached that point where nothing but the force of arms could put it down; and the Baltimore convention pledged themselves to the country that no other weapons should be used, and when it wa. but down it followed as a sequence, in the just Judgment of the members of that convention, that “ the punishment due to their crimes” should be “awarded to the rebels and traitOrs arrayed against it.” Mr. President, the distinguished Senfrom wisconsin 3 times thanked God during his 8 eech that AndrewJohnson wasted and old tt imeeosfiictehatnhkatGhoeddoiefsh. eIcsahrarilel sthoreuet ttihmees 3 provisions of the Baltimore platform as expounded by himself. I suppose one reason for thanking God was the c ear vision with which he saw his duty; and I am going to read now his own understanding, when that platform was fresh before him, of its meaning; and either President Johnson entirely misunderstood its meaning then or the distinguished Senfrom Wisconsin does not interpret it truly now. In acceplting the nomination for VEEP, Mr. Johnson said: “ The question is whetherman is capable of self government. I hold, with Jelicrsnn, that Government was made for the convenienceofmnn, and not man for government. The laws and Constitution were designed as instrumentsto promotehis welfare and hence from this principle I conclude that governments can and ought to e changed and amended to conform to the wants.to the r5. uirements and progress of the people and the enlightened spirit of the age." Sir, I hold that as the announcement of a greatand living truth. I do not suppose that it ever entered into the heads or hearts of the framers of that glorious instrument, our Constitution, that it was never to be altered, amended, or changed to meet the wants and exigencies of a progressive and advancing people. If it has so entered into the heart of my distinguished friendfrom Wisconsin, why does he boast now of being the foremost and 1st advo cate of ainending that instrument so as to keep pace with the progreSs of the times? So far, then. I indorse most cordially that sentiment which seems to be in union with the music of the times. But to proceed: “And let mesaythat now is the time to socuro those fundamental principles, while the land is rent with anarchy and uphcaveswith the throes of a mighty revolution." What greater truth could be announced than that? and the Senate will remember that this is all under the authority of the Baltimore plat form, as understood by its expounders. “While society is in this disorderedstate and we are seekingsecurity. let us fix the foundationsof the Government on principles of eternal justice which will endurefor all time.” Most heartily do I, ranking among the radicals of this body and I venture to speak for all who are thus designated indorse the sentiment of the POTUS “But in calling a convention torcstoro the State. who shall restore and reestablishit?” A pregnant inquiry; and hi! answered it: "Shall the man who gave his influence and his meansto destroythe Government? Is he to articipate in the great work of reorganization? shall he who brought this miseryupon Ihcslllle bepermitted to control itsdestinics? If this be so. then all this recious blood of our brave soldiers and otheers so recly pouredout will have beenwantonlyspiiled; all the glorious victories won by our noble armieswill O for naught, llntl all the battle fields which have been sown with dead heroes during the rebellion will have beenmadememorablein vain.” Again let me pause to give in my most cordial and hearty adherence to that doctrine. “Why all this carnage and devastation? It was that treason might be put down and traitors punished. Therefore I say that traitors should taken back seatin the work of restoration." Again let me say that I most cordially concur in that; and that is the question that is now really under discussion. et the traitors take a back seat, said the President. Sir, that sentiment was echoed from every hill top and through erery valle of this nation. So said Congress then, an so says Congress now. Traitors to the rear, ” according to the order of the CommanderinChief. The commanderinChief of the Army and Navy orders on to the rear; and why does the Senfrom Wisconsin beckon them forward? “Traitors to the rear; back seats; ” is the order of the Commander in Chief of this great nation. " If there be but 5,000 men in Tennessee loyal to the Constitution, loyal to freedom.loyal to justice. thesetrue and faithful men should control the work of reorganization and reformation abso lately." Will the distinguished Senfrom either of the States I am now addressing tell me why these men should be allowed to artake in the great work of reconstructing al these States when Mr. Johnson at that day said they should not.be allowed to aid in the work of reconstruction in a single State? This was caring out the spirit of the Baltimore platform. e went upon the doctrine that “ while the letter killeth, the spirit maketh alive.” He had drank what the istinguished Senfrom Wisconsin, from his remarks made upon it, seems never to have tasted, the spirit of the Baltimore platform; and speaking in that spirit be declared, “Traitors to the rear; bac seats; you shall not be allowed even to aid in reconstructing Tennessee, though there be not 5,000 loyal men in the State.” Exactly right was the President then. Around that little nucleus, charged with the spirit and living fire and zeal of the glory of our institution, would have gathered and clustered an army of Union men as resistless in its march as the army of the Potomac when led by Grant. But, sir, in an evil hour and I propose to turn the Senfrom Wisconsin exactly to the oint that doctrine was departed from, and shall examine now with entire fairness what I think led to the departure from that doctrine. Sir, I am not through with this oracle. To what I shall now rea I call the attention of his distinguished champions here: “I say that the traitor has ceasedto be a citizen, and indioining the rebellion has become a public enemy. So say I; so says every fair minded man, that the traitor ceased to be a citizen; and in addition, so says the voice of the intelligent world; so says the law, before whose majesty the distinguished Senfrom Pennsylvania bows with such respectful deference always. Sir, that enunciation was from the very fountain of truth. It welled up; itwas the gushin of an honest spoken sentiment, and it received an echo everywhere on this continent. What, sir, has it come to pass in fact that a man can be red dyed with treason one day and washed as white in the waters of loyalty as the lamb the next? Away with reading your miraculous conversion 0t Paul! Sir, that miracle would cease to be quoted if this theory were adopted here a miracle in view of Almighty pQWer, a miracle in view of the just understanding of mankind, a miracle in the eyes of justice, and an overthrow of every principle of law. What d“id he mean by this? He said to traitors, Your garments are red with the hlood of trea son, ” and he gave the same direction that was given by Elijah to the mud prince of old, “ GO wash 7 times in t ie waters of Jordan, and be healed.” So I say to these traitors, o wash 7 times 7 in the waters of loya ty, and be cleansed. But, Mr. President, I am not quite done with this speech: “I say that the traitor has ceasedto be a citizen, and in joining the rebellion has become a public enemy. He forfeitedhis right to votewith loyal men when he renounced his citizenship and sought to destroy our Government.” Sir, human lips never uttered a more striking truth than that. That again awoke an echo in every heart, and raised and elevated the worlds hope. Was ittrue then? lfso, it is true now, an will remain true through all coming time. But I am not quite through: “We say to the most honest and industrious foreignerwho comesfrom England or Germany to dwell among us and to add to the wealth of the country, Before you can be a citizen you must stay here for 5 years. If we are so cautious about foreigners who voluntarily renounce their homesto live With us, what should we say to the trailer who, although born and reared among us. has raised aparricidal gandragainst the government which always protected iinIf language is to be understood at all in its usual signiheation, that means this, and no more, that no man who had been engaged in this treason should have a less probation than the foreigner. So say I, and so says Congress. “My judgment is that he should be subjected to a severeordeal beforehe is restored to citizenship." So said an afllicted continent; and to what ordeal has he been subjected? I speak what is patent to the world, and what is recorded history today, when I say that the only ordeal to which he has been subjected is to have been under the special charge and kind care of a most indulgent and magnanimous Administration. Who would have believed from these utterances that Lewis E. Parsons would have been made provisional governor of Alabama a man who partook, in the darkest hour of our trials, in the legislation of the State of Ala bama, introducing resolutions which I had here the other day in my hand denouncing in the most unmeasured terms the loyal citizens of this country? and yet the ordeal to which he was subjected was to receive a commission to go down and be doctor in chief of a disease which he had dia nosed most thoroughly, rebellion, treason. e knew every bone, artery, fiber, vein, that pervaded it, for he had treated every one of them. Oh, what an ordeal that was to passl and a severer ordeal still was to receive his salary for it, out of money that you and I are taxed to ay, and that, too, without takin the prese ried oath by Congress! Oh, how arsons must have suffered! What a change in “ my policy” from before till after election! I have no doubt, however, that the distinguished Senators to whom I am addressing the most of these remarks will be able to explain it. [Laughter] “ A fellow who takes the oath” I beg the Senators attention to this "A fellow who takes the both more] to savehis propertv, and denies the validity of the oath is a DBTJUIO man, and not to be trusted." He knew of what manner of men he spoke. So said the POTUS;. and, remember, all this time he was accepting the Baltimore platform as his guide. Now, there is a change, whether for the better or the worse we shall see by and by. “Before those repenting rebels can be trusted let them bring forth the fruits of repentance." Amen. That is precisely what Congress has said all the time: brin forth fruits meet for repentance; come here in a spirit of repentant hulimission; come here as the sinner should come; come as the felon should come; no knowledge your crime, and though your sins be as scarlet we will make them white as snow. Is that the way they come? No, sir. The distinguished Senfrom Kentucky [Mr. DAvis] told us the other day what he would do if he were President; he would call approforma the rebels who have been elected to Congress, and if he were President he would regard them as such. We who echo every sentiment which I have read are to be driven from these Halls to make room for these anything else than repentant rebels. Their 2nd state is worse than their 1st. I know not whom that distinguished Senator echoes, but I have seen in nearly every print of the South, I have read in prints in this city recommendations that this iigh priest should dispose of this “irregular” Congress, that have no better indorsement than a loyal people, to make room for those whose skirts smoke now with the blood of this rebellion. I know not what may come. I entertain no particular fears for myself. If that issue come, let it come, and an outraged people will settle the question very quick y. Sir, if the votaries of treason have not had victims enough, let them invade these Halls and vic timize the representatives of a great people. They are, it seems to me, more voracious an the grave, more unsatisfied than the horse leechs daughter that cried “Give, ” “Give, ” till there was no more to give. They are not satisfied with passing by the countless new made graves; they demand additional victims here; that this Hall, so sacred in the recollections and in the history of the country, slsll be made to run with loyal blood to male! sari m for those who but yesterday were trying to tear dowa its pillars. Can an American Senate long discuss such a question? Has it come to this, that mcm born sitting here with the high commission of a loyal people are to be threatened, and upon this floor, with an exercise of that power which would have made Nero blush to utter its name? Letit never be uttered here again; but I repeat, if liberty and freedom demand that further sacrifice, your victims are ready. Sir, the sentences and utterances which I have read were the expressions of the now POTUS just before the election. These utterances, these expressions, were like an electric touch to the wire; they electrified the whole community, and he Was borne n on the shoulders of as loyal a people as ever reathed to the highest place of power on earth, borne there by the exertionsof many of the members of this circle. But I am not quite done with this speech: "He who helped to make all these widows and or hunt, who draped the streets of Nashvillcin mourning. shouldsutlorfor his greaterime. The work isin our own hands." What work? To make them suffer. The work of making the rebels under, said the President, is in our hands. That portion of the work, if done atoll, has been one so as not to excite the observation of the world. Who suffers? I will tell on, Mr. President who suffers; it is those who are fleeing from the presence of the unwashed rebels. This work is in our hands, said the President; he falters in it; Congress proposes to take up the work and do it without him. I ask the Senfrom Wisconsin whether any of the rebels have suffered since the war. “Ahl these rebel leaders have a strong personal reasonfor holding out." What reason? “To save their necks from the halter." Why, sir, the hemp is not grown yet, nor sown, that will hang a rebel in this country. They held out and they are not hung. They held out longer than they ought to have done, and they have gone longer without hanging than they ought. So says an intelligent world, and so said, above all, the President himself. He said further "Treason must be made odious and traitors must bepunished.“ I have often heard that quoted; but he did not stop there. “Treason must be made odious and traitors must be punishedand impoverished.” That is a thing that hurts the traitor worse than anything else, toimpoverish him. Where is the traitor that has been impoverished 7 What does imoverishing mean? It meanse onfise ution. There has been none of that of any consequence thut there was not a respectful obel sance by the authorities of this country in returning the property to its much abused rebel owner! What, sir, return their property to the rebels when the great high priest of this Union party declared that they must not only be punished but impoverishodl Why is not that promise kept? Sir, I do not ask that question alone; it is the voioo of millions why has not that promise beenkept? Let him who made it answer, or his friends for him. “Their great notations must ho seized and divided into 5 farms and sold to honest.indus trious men." “a Where is threat plantation that has been sold and divided among honest men as contra distingnished from its former owners? The Senfrom Wisconsin when he replies will probnbl tell us where these confiscated estates are, on where these honest men have found homes on these cut. up plantations. "The day for protecting the lands and negroes of these authors of rebellion is put.” So said President Johnson. If he spoke prophetically, it has not turned out as be prolicsied. Then he is no prophet. If he spo c by virtue of the power that was about to be conferred upon him, I think he has not exercised it.:11. Now, to every one of these living, breathing announcements, Congress says, amen. Then what is the occasion of any difference between the President and congress? I venture to assert that, I have not res. in this whole speech a declaration that every member of this body who pretends to be loyal will not respond to as true. Remember, too, that all this was said under and hyvirtue of the Baltimore platform said by this intelli out man when he accepted the nomination under that platform. “The day for rotoctimr the lands and nagruos of these authors of the rebellion is past. It 18high time it was." I shall be pardoned for saying I think so too. It was high time that.protection to rebels should cease. What have they done since to enLitle them to the confidence of an outraged icople? Let the history of the times answer. c next proceeded to give some Union officers wh“at I have no doubt was a.truthful reprimand: I have beenmost deeply pained at somethings which have come under my observation. We not men in command who under the influence of flat to. fnwninfl. null caressing.crnnt protection to the ric traitor. while the poor Union man stands out.in the cold. often unable to get a receipt or a voucher for his losses. The traitor can get lucrative contracts. while the loyal mm is pushed aside.unable to obtuu a recognition." Then the President had on a holy glow of indignation at such outrages as these, and most properly; he spoke as became a man of feel in. It was an outrage; it is an outrage. Has it cen changed? Go to the mountain gorges of Tennessee, and see the fresh made tracks of the fleeing fugitives, the Union men, from the fury of their pursners, the traitors. Who hunts the pursucrs? No one. I therefore reiterate this same complaint on behalf of the fleem fugitives who loved their fhig better than their State, who are now finding homes at the sources of the rivers and in the gorges of the mountains. Far distant are they; but I stand here on their behalf to maintain the fulfillment of this promise. It is due to the dignity of this nation; our dignity demands it, and the people will have it. I am now through with the particular speech from which I have been reading, but a little later, on the 24th of October, 1864, the present Presidents gushing heart gave forth other nt terances. He was called upon by a few returning braves who represented a regiment which had been thrice recruited, because it had been thrice decimated in battle, a regiment of colored soldiers, and he addressed them thus: “Negro cqnality.indoed.cried he; wh.passany day along the sidewplk of Hlilll street. w ore these aristocratsmoreparticularly dwell – those aristocrats whosesonsare nowin the bondsofgucrrillns and cut throat: who prowl and rob and murder around our city pan by thesedwellin I say, and you will see as many iniilatto as negro children. the former bearingan unmistakable resemblance to their aristocratic owners. Colored men of Tennessee. this. too. shrill com!" Hechanged the entire color of the African race in Tennessee from that day, by order. [Laughter] Your wires and daughters shall no longer be dragged into a concuhinuire. compared to which polygamy is a.virtue. to satisfy the brutal lust of slaveholdersand overse crs. Thence forth the sanctity of Gods holy law of marrialre shall be respectedin your persons and the great State of Tennessee shall no more uivu her sanction to your degradationjnnd your shame.” and having, in language which you all remember, promised to be their Moses, he added: “I Speak now as one who feels the world his country an all who love equal rights his friends." What a pinnacle of excitation that must be! I almost envy him who stands on it. Standin on it he would be expected to speak words of encouragement to these men: “I speak. too. as a citizen of Tennessee. I Unihere on my own soil; and burial menu to stay and fight this battle of truth and justice to a triumphant end. Rebellion and slavery shall by Gods goodhelp. no longer pollute our State. Loyal men.whether white or blue shall nlono control herdestinies: and when this strife in which we are all cunaged is set. I trust I know. we shall have a better state of things and shall all rejoice that honest labor reaps the fruit of its own industry and that every man has a fair chancein the race of life. Sir, I often envy men when they seem to speak from this high exaltation. I have some times tried to reach it; but my wings are too feeble. The sentiments, however, that drop from such on exalted position make a deep lodgment in my heart. These utterances are to a nation, white and black, needed now s of encourauument; and the downtrodden slave breathed freer and deeperas these utterances were echoed to him. congress, full of this inspiration my distinguished friendfrom Illinois [Mr. Tnmrnuu. 1st catching it passed ii billto establish agreedmens Bureau to give power to carry out and perfect the essence this exalted sentiment. The President, I need not say, refused to sign it. My distinguished friendfrom Wisconsin came panting in here one day in a hurry to say that if he had been present on the question of the passage of that bill he would have voted for it. I mourned over his disappointment that he could not have recorded his vote for so holy and righteous a measure. the distin uished Senfrom connecticut [Mr. DlXONg]shared in the early glory of having voted for it. That little parchment came bac; and where then were the regrets of my distinguished friendfrom Wisconsin? I Iis disappointment had fled. Where then was the gushing sympathy with this immortal sentiment uttered y the distinguished Senfrom Connecticut? When that dread question came, Shall this bill become a law notwithstanding the objection of the President? up went Wisconsin, or half of it, half of Connecticut, half of Pennsylvania Several Smurons. The whole of it.