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the Union。 The terms he proposed to formally offer them were first illustrated in the case of Louisiana； early in 1863； and later in the foregoing Message and Proclamation； and clearly indicated what was to be his policy and process of reconstruction。
Messrs。 Flanders and Hahn were admitted to the House of Representatives as members from Louisiana agreeably to the President's views thus outlined。 They had been chosen at an election ordered by the Governor of the State （Gov。 Shepley）； who had undoubtedly been permitted； if not specially authorized by the President； to take this step； but they were the last to be received from Louisiana under Mr。 Lincoln's plan； as the next Congress resolved to receive no more members from the seceded States till joint action by the two Houses therefor should be had。
Prior to the election at which these gentlemen were chosen； Mr。 Lincoln addressed a characteristic note to Gov。 Shepley； which was in effect a warning that Federal officials not citizens of Louisiana must not be chosen to represent the State in Congress； 〃We do not；〃 said he； referring to the South； 〃particularly need members of Congress from those States to get along with legislation here。 What we do want is the conclusive evidence that respectable citizens of Louisiana are willing to be members of Congress and to swear support to the Constitution； and that other respectable citizens are willing to vote for them and send them。 To send a parcel of Northern men as Representatives； elected； as would be understood； （and perhaps really so） at the point of the bayonet； would be disgraceful and outrageous。〃
Mr。 Lincoln would tolerate none of the 〃carpet…bagging〃 that afterwards became so conspicuous and offensive under the Congressional plan of Reconstruction。
These steps for reconstruction in Louisiana were followed by the assembling of a convention to frame a new constitution for that State。 The convention was organized early in 1864； and its most important act was the prompt incorporation of an antislavery clause in its organic law。 By a vote of 70 to 16 the convention declared slavery to be forever abolished in the State。 The new Constitution was adopted by the people of the State on the 5th day of the ensuing September by a vote of 6；836 in its favor； to 1；566 against it。 As the total vote of Louisiana in 1860 was 50；510； the new government had fulfilled the requirement of the President's Proclamation。 It was sustained by more than the required one…tenth vote。
In a personal note of congratulation to Gov。 Hahn； of Louisiana； the President； speaking of the coming convention； suggested that 〃some of the colored people be let in； as for instance； the very intelligent； and especially those who have fought gallantly in our ranks。〃 〃They would；〃 said he； 〃probably help in some trying time in the future TO KEEP THE JEWEL OF LIBERTY IN THE FAMILY OF FREEDOM。〃
This action in regard to Louisiana was accompanied； indeed in some particulars preceded； by similar action in Arkansas。 A Governor was elected； an anti…slavery Constitution adopted； a State Government duly installed； and Senators and Representatives in Congress elected； but were refused admission by Congress。 Mr。 Sumner； when the credentials of the Senators…elect were presented； foreshadowing the position to be taken by the Republican leaders； offered a resolution declaring that 〃a State pretending to secede from the Union； and battling against the General Government to maintain that position； must be regarded as a rebel State subject to military occupation and without representation on this floor until it has been readmitted by a vote of both Houses of Congress； and the Senate will decline to receive any such application from any such rebel State until after such a vote by both Houses。〃
A few weeks later； on the 27th of June； 1864； this resolution was in effect reported back to the Senate by the Judiciary Committee； to which it had been referred； and adopted by a vote of 27 to 6。 The same action was had in the House of Representatives on the application of the Representatives…elect from Arkansas for admission to that body。
This was practically the declaration of a rupture between the President and Congress on the question of Reconstruction。 It was a rebuke to Mr。 Lincoln for having presumed to treat the seceded States as still in any sense States of the Union。 It was in effect a declaration that those States had successfully secededthat their elimination from the Union was an accomplished factthat the Union of the States had been brokenand that the only method left for their return that would be considered by Congress was as conquered and outlying provinces； not even as Territories with the right of such to membership in the Union； and should be governed accordingly until such time as Congress should see fit （IF EVER； to use the language of Mr。 Stevens in the House） to devise and establish some form whereby they could be annexed to or re…incorporated into the Union。
It was at this pointon the great question of Reconstruction； or more properly of Restorationthat the disagreements originated between the Executive and Congress which finally culminated in the impeachment of Mr。 Lincoln's successor； and that condition of strained relations was measurably intensified when； on the following July 4th； a bill was passed by Congress making provision for the reorganization and admission of the revolted States on the extreme lines indicated by the above action of Congress and containing the very extraordinary provision that the President； AFTER OBTAINING THE CONSENT OF CONGRESS； shall recognize the State Government so established。 That measure was still another and more marked rebuke by Congress to the President for having presumed to initiate a system of restoration without its consultation and advice。 Naturally Mr。 Lincoln was not in a mood to meekly accept the rebuke so marked and manifestly intended； and so the bill not having passed Congress till within the ten days preceding its adjournment allowed by the Constitution for its consideration by the President； and as it proposed to undo the work he had done； he failed to return it to Congress〃pocketed〃 itand it therefore fell。 He was not in a mood to accept a Congressional rebuke。 He had given careful study to the duties； the responsibilities； and the limitations of the respective Departments of； the Government； and was not willing that his judgment should be revised； or his course censured； however indirectly； by any of its co…ordinate branches。
Four days after the session had closed； he issued a Proclamation in which he treated the bill merely as the expression of an opinion by Congress as to the best plan of Reconstruction〃which plan；〃 he remarked； 〃it is now thought fit to lay before the people for their consideration。〃
He further stated in this Proclamation that he had already presented one plan of restoration； and that he was 〃unprepared by a formal approval of this bill to be inflexibly committed to any single plan of restoration； and was unprepared to declare that the free State Constitutions and Governments already adopted and installed in Louisiana and Arkansas； shall be set aside and held for naught； there