talk," said Mr.
McKee, "for more than four years here. What bill has been introduced
into and passed by Congress since this war began that this same party
has not been accustomed to denounce as a monstrous usurpation of
power? When the President of the United States issued his call for
troops they cried out, 'A monstrous usurpation of power.' When he sent
a requisition to the Governor of my own State, what was the response?
'Not a man, not a dollar, to prosecute this wicked war against our
Southern brethren.' And the Union party, God help them! in Kentucky,
indorsed the sentiment at that day. I did not belong to that part of
the Union party; I never belonged to that 'neutrality concern.' I
never put in my oar to help propel that ship which was in favor of
thundering forth with its cannon against the North and the South
alike. I never belonged to that party which said, 'We will stand as a
wall of fire against either side.' I thank God I never stood upon but
one side, and that was the side of my country, against treason,
against oppression, against wrong in all its forms."

In arguing the necessity for some such legislation as that provided in
this bill, Mr. McKee asked, "Has any Southern State given the freedmen
'their full rights and full protection?' Is there a solitary State of
those that have been in rebellion, (and I include my own State with
the rest, because, although she has never been, by proclamation,
declared a State in rebellion, I think she has been one of the most
rebellious of the whole crew,) is there a single one of these States
that has passed laws to give the freedmen full protection? In vain we
wait an affirmative response. Until these States have done so, says
this high authority, the Freedmen's Bureau is a necessity. This is to
my mind a sufficient answer to the arguments of gentlemen on the other
side. In none of those States has the black man a law to protect him
in his rights, either of person or property. He can sue in a court of
justice in my State, but he can command no testimony in his
prosecution or defense unless the witness be a white man. We have one
code for the white man, another for the black. Is this justice? Where
is your court of justice in any Southern State where the black man can
secure protection? Again there is no response."

Mr. Grinnell, of Iowa, a member of the committee that had reported
this bill, took the floor in its favor. Much having been said by
Representatives of K