Lincoln VS Radical Republicans

So, Overall, should the Wade-Davis Bill have been signed? Was the Amnesty Oath the right decision?

No, I do not think President Lincoln should have signed the Wade-Davis Bill. Not because it was politically incorrect, but because if he gave the states the freedom of democracy the states may have made the wrong decision and America would not be what it is now. In this specific predicament with the smart president we have, I do believe the decision of the amnesty oath, 10% of the states voters choice, and the Confederates freedom to vote was a good decision.

Lincoln VS. Radical Republicans

The Political Debate of Lincolns proclamation on Amnesty & Reconstruction

Lincoln's Proclamation on the Wade-Davis Bill

CONGRESS (Radical Republic)

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Wade-Davis Manifesto

• In this message, Lincoln explained his decision not to sign the Wade-Davis Bill. Read to Congress on July 8,1864

• This was Congress's response to the President's veto of the Wade-Davis Bill and his accompanying message on August 4, 1864.

• Lincoln believes the constitution vests the authority for directing policies such as reconstruction to him as the President. This constitutional power is bestowed by Congress.

• Congress believes the Constitution vests the authority for directing policies such as reconstruction should go to them. This authority is bestowed by the Judiciary Branch.

• Lincoln's attitude toward the Wade-Davis Bill is that he did not like the fact that it was discouraging for some citizens.

• They authors would like the Wade-Davis bill to pass in order to keep Lincoln from going back in office.

• They believe Lincoln vetoed the Wade-Davis Bill to give himself more votes in the next election.

• Lincoln says the Wade-Davis Bill would cause to be "Held for nought" because the states of Arkansas and Louisiana had adopted free constitutions and it would have been done for nothing. He did not want to discourage the people's work.

• Congress argues that Lincoln "Holds for naught" in the vetoing this bill because there are no state governments in the rebel states, he (Lincoln) disregards the authority of the authority of the supreme court and is practicing anarchy by his proclamation in December 1863.

• Lincoln agreed that the plan could work if the country wanted to follow through with it, but he does not want to discourage the southern states. Lincoln claims that he vetoed the bill because he was unprepared- only given 1 hour the adjournment.

• Congress's view with respect to the reconstruction efforts already underway is that this decision was made without the consent of the senate.

THE AMNESTY OATH

• The Proclamation shows that Lincoln believes that the specific method for readmitting the rebellious states back into the Union PEACEFULLY is for individuals who want readmission to take an oath.

• No less than 10% in number of votes were needed to take a loyalty oath in order for the state to submit a new constitution and obtain the admittance to the Union.

• All were allowed to take the oath accepting people who broke the new laws from there on after.

“I, , do solemnly swear, in presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union of the States thereunder; and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all acts of congress passed during the existing rebellion with reference to slaves, so long and so far as not repealed, modified, or held void by congress, or by decision of the supreme court; and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all proclamations of the President made during the existing rebellion having reference to slaves, so long and so far as not modified or declared void by decision of the supreme court. So help me God."

• This idea of the amnesty oath seemed very lenient, but it would HELP the cause of reconstruction.

• Overall, Lincoln believed that an amendment had to be added to the constitution before the states drafted new constitutions banning slavery.

In this proclamation, Lincoln declares permanent freedom with provision for there education:

And I do further proclaim, declare, and make known that any provision which may be adopted by such state government in relation to the freed people of such state, which shall recognize and declare their permanent freedom, provide for their education, and which may yet be consistent as a temporary arrangement with their present condition as a laboring, landless, and homeless class, will not be objected to by the National Executive.

• This Proclamation Spelled out the details of Lincoln's plan for Reconstruction.

• President Abraham Lincoln wrote the proclamation and it was issued on the same day as his Annual Message to the Congress on December 8, 1863.

THE AMNESTY OATH

• The Proclamation shows that Lincoln believes that the specific method for readmitting the rebellious states back into the Union PEACEFULLY is for individuals who want readmission to take an oath.

• No less than 10% in number of votes were needed to take a loyalty oath in order for the state to submit a new constitution and obtain the admittance to the Union.

• All were allowed to take the oath accepting people who broke the new laws from there on after.

“I, , do solemnly swear, in presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union of the States thereunder; and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all acts of congress passed during the existing rebellion with reference to slaves, so long and so far as not repealed, modified, or held void by congress, or by decision of the supreme court; and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all proclamations of the President made during the existing rebellion having reference to slaves, so long and so far as not modified or declared void by decision of the supreme court. So help me God."

• This idea of the amnesty oath seemed very lenient, but it would HELP the cause of reconstruction.

Lincoln refers to the "So-Called" Confederate government because Lincoln does not see the Confederate States as separate from the Union. He sees them as still part of one nation. This is one reason why he did not want to punish the states as much as he wanted them to have unity with the Union states

President Lincoln

Lincoln believes that his branch of government has the constitutional authority to direct Reconstruction policies, not congress. He begins the proclamation by saying:

WHEREAS, in and by the Constitution of the United States, it is provided that the President “shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment;”

CONGRESS (Radical Republicans)

Wade-Davis Bill

LINCOLN

• This response to Lincoln's proclamation was written by Congress and was read on July 2, 1864.

• Congress wanted to punish the south.

Lincoln's third Annual Message to Congress

• Congress believe their branch of government has constitutional authority to direct the reconstruction because they believe a majority from the state should declare an oath of allegiance , not just 10%.

• Lincoln wrote this document to read to Congress with the intentions to begin reconstruction states as the war progressed.

• Lincoln DOES NOT want to punish the Confederate States

• Majority of white males were needed to take the loyalty oath in order for the states to submit a new constitution and obtain admittance to the Union.

• Lincoln sees his Reconstruction plan's as peaceful and simple. People will be more willing to cooperate and stand down if they do not receive the punishment Congress has in mind.

• Lincoln views his Reconstruction plan as the ONLY acceptable method.

• Anyone who held office, civil or military, state or Confederate under the rebel usurpation or voluntarily bore arms against the U.S. They did not want anyone who had been unloyal to the Union.

• Lincoln favors a plan offering generous terms for readmitting southern states and pardoning former Confederates because he wants to leave the CSA's mistakes in the past. Lincoln hopes that this will help him begin reconstruction as soon as possible.

• The author's view of slaves is that All persons held in involuntary servitude or labor are emancipated, discharged, and forever free.

• Congress sees the Confederate states as an entirely different government. They believed the southern states gave up their right to be in the Union states and have to be re-established to be allowed back into the Union.

VETOED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!