Written notes by Thaddeus Stevens concerning the military government of the South: 2 April, 1867
Transcribed by Mark A. Rowe and reverse-order proofed by Meryle Holdredge, Furman University, from the Thaddeus Stevens Papers.
INTRODUCTION:
In 1867, two conflicting visions of reconstruction confronted the nation: a Presidential vision which retained the statehood of the former rebel states and a Congressional vision which considered the rebel states as conquored provinces subject to Congressional rule.
Thaddeus Stevens fully supported the Congressional vision and clearly articulated the necessity to consider the former rebel states as territories rather than states. According to Stevens, this necessity stemmed from several factors concerning the political composition of Congress and Congress's authority to act within the rebel states. Stevens held that the Presidential vision of reconstruction was dangerous to the republican majority in Congress and thus the security of the Union because if the rebel states were allowed to re-enter the Union immediately, a major shift in representation and thus the balance of power in Congress would occur. With the elimination of the three-fifths clause, all men including the freed slaves would be counted in determining Congressional representation. The final outcome would be larger Confederate representation in Congress than before the rebellion. In essence, the very men who sought to destroy the Union would have the ability to take control of it; something Northerners were not about to allow. Keeping the rebel states as territories would delay any shift in Congressional representation and allow Anti-Union sentiment to die.
Considering the former rebel states as territories would provide the Congress with a means to legally impose reconstruction and reorginization directives upon the former states. In doing so, the Congress would ensure a loyal, Republican form of government through military occupation. The notes below were written by Mr. Stevens on April 2, 1867 and are representative of his view and support of the Congressional vision of reconstruction.
1. [Illegible] Confederate States of America shall be deemed and held as territories of the United States until otherwise or said by Congress.
2. That each of the said states according to its original limits and boundaries shall form one territory except the state of Texas, which shall be divided into two territories.
3. The committee on territories shall [Interlined:separate] territorial governments for each of said territories; and in the mean time they shall be governed by military rule.
(benson/HST41/silver/stevens3.htm)