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URL of article: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/1988-State_Reconstruction.pdf Date: 2/4/2010 Article Summary: The Nebraska statehood struggle revealed both the character and significance of national Reconstruction policy on the level of local frontier politics. Nebraska’s admission marked the first time that Congress imposed a “condition” upon a new state that impinged upon its acknowledged power to set suffrage qualifications. Nebraska’s entry into the Union in 1867 marked the reassertion of congressional authority over federal dependencies. Cataloging Information: Names: Andrew Johnson; Abraham Lincoln; Jacob Howard; George L Miller; David Butler; J Sterling Morton; Clement L Vallandigham; John Thayer; Thomas W Tipton; William P Kellogg; William Lockwood; Herman H Heath; Alvin Saunders; Algernon S Paddock; Turner M Marquette; George Francis Train; Thomas Durant; Benjamin Wade; Charles Sumner; B Gratz Brown; James Woolworth Place Names: Fort Kearny, Nebraska; Missouri River; Hannibal, Missouri; St Joseph, Missouri; North Platte; Omaha, Nebraska; Kansas; Colorado; Smoky Hill Branch; Republican River; Michigan Keywords: “Civil Rights Act” “Reconstruction Acts” “Fifteenth Amendment” “Reconstruction” “railroad expansion” “Nebraska territorial assembly” “Pacific railroad” “Union Pacific” “anti-Statehood” “Nebraska Republican” “Omaha Herald” “anti-Negro sentiment” “white suffrage” “Johnson Republican” “Edmunds Amendment” “Nebraska Organic Act” “Home Rule” Photographs / Images: 1867 Map of Nebraska; Drawing by A R Waud of the building of the Union Pacific Railroad; David Butler and Soldiers’ Union Ticket; Pro-state petition; Thomas W Tipton; Turner M Marquette; Alvin Saunders; Dr George L Miller; Omaha 1867, northwest from Fifteen and Douglas streets --7""""~T--,r.;;---"C'--·--~7r--·-....,.·---"-r=-~--.-,-··~-·~-·····-,-·-·---·-~.-- _ ~w By 1867 Nebraska comprised only a little more than a fifth ofthe area it had occupied in 1854. (NSHS-M782- 1867-G14m) NEBRASKA STATEHOOD AND RECONSTRUCTION By James B. Potts Following the decisive military tion of Andrew Johnson, and the preoccupied with the complex issues of defeat ofthe Confederacy in the spring reconstruction process became a Reconstruction, the territorial assem­ of 1865, the North faced the political contest between conservative bly of Nebraska adopted a statehood unprecedented problem of restoring supporters of presidential restoration resolution, including a constitution the broken Union. But for two years the and congressional Republicans who which, in line with national practice, effort to achieve a peace settlement favored a more radical re-formation, restricted the voting franchise to white satisfactory to northern Republicans involving the conditional return of the adult males. A partisan measure, enact­ was thwarted by discord between so­ southern states on a basis offundamen­ ed by a predominantly Republican called radical Republicans in Congress tal political and social change. The legislature and subsequently approved and the president - Abraham Lincoln, radical Congress emerged from the by the voters over Democratic party and then Andrew Johnson - over both contest victorious: It passed over opposition, the Nebraska statehood the procedure and the terms for Johnson's veto a series of measures, bill encountered significant resistance reconstructing the former Confederate including the Civil Rights Act in 1866 in Washington from Democrats and states. Indeed, congressional opposi­ and the Reconstruction Acts of March Republicans alike. Congressional tion to Lincoln's plan for the speedy 1867, to ensure the civil and voting critics objected that Nebraska's pop­ and lenient readmission of the seceded rights of southern blacks. Almost con­ ulation was too small and that the state­ states in 1863 set off a struggle over who currently, Congress also enfranchised making procedure had differed too should take the lead in restoring the black Americans in the North and much from the methods of admission Union. After Lincoln's assassination, West, imposing equal suffrage on the prescribed by Congress in the Ena­ the rift widened during the administra- fledgling state of Nebraska and the bling Act of 1864, which authorized the federal territories in 1867, and on the people of Nebraska to form a state James B. Potts is with the history depart­ remaining states of the Union by means government. Mostly, however, the ment at the University of Wisconsin­ of the Fifteenth Amendment in 1870.1 opposition was political and related to LaCrosse. In February 1866 when Congress was national Reconstruction. Quite apart 73 Nebraska History - Summer 1988 from considerations of population and effects of railroad construction were Republican River.1° Nebraska busi­ legal requirements, the admission immediately apparent. Property values ness and political leaders-par­ debate turned largely on pressing in Nebraska soared, especially in the ticularly those north of the Platte - national concerns involving the place of North Platte region where the JIlere believed that statehood was necessary the Negro in American society, the rumor that Omaha had been to defeat this effort. "Now more than status of seceded states, and the scope designated a starting point of the any other period in our history," wrote of congressional reconstruction power. Pacific railroad produced a spectacular the editor of the Nebraska Republican, In the end, questions raised and increase.5 Most important, however, to "do we need a good strong representa­ decisions made in the Nebraska case many residents the Pacific railroad tion in Congress, to defend and protect would have important local conse­ ensured the region's future develop­ our rights while the Railroad Lines are quences - and ramifications for ment as an agricultural and commercial being established through our territory developing Reconstruction policy as center. The iron rails of the Union - more might be gained or lost for our well.2 Pacific would link the territory "with territory by [this] one act than all the Twice prior to the final statehood the great Eastern roads and the Gulf of additional tax would amount to for the drive of 1866, the Nebraska territorial Mexico," local boosters prophesied, next twenty years to come."l1 assembly enacted legislation that and would "render Nebraska the Still, the 1866 statehood movement authorized special elections to deter­ gateway of commerce, not only for our - like that of 1864 - was essentially a mine whether conventions should be own country, but for the civilized political maneuver, "gotten up" by called to frame a state constitution. On world."6 local Republican leaders "to hold both occasions (in 1860 and 1864) the Railroad expansion combined with possession of the territory."12 Of the voters of Nebraska-moved by the lure of free homesteads and the res­ thirty most prominent pro-state Democratic party opposition, sectional toration of peace also spurred popula­ leaders, twenty-seven were Repub,li­ and local jealousies, and a general con­ tion growth. Prior to 1860 Nebraska cans. And though they declared the cern that the territory could not afford had enjoyed a steady, though modest, question to be above politics, most the added cost of state government - increase in population; thereafter the were influenced privately, according to declared against statehood.3 pace of settlement quickened, and the one of their own number, by the con­ Despite the unfavorable popular number of residents jumped from sideration that their party sustained a reaction to statehood, it was clear by 28,841 in 1860 to 122,993 at the political majority and would control the 1866 that the territory's admission decade's end.? Governor David Butler patronage under the new state would not long be delayed. By mid­ estimated that between 1864 and 1866 organization.B Moreover, twenty of the decade Nebraska had begun to Nebraska's population had increased thirty foremost statehood leaders were experience important economic and more than twofold, from 30,000 to federally appointed territorial officials, population changes which, coupled to 70,000. "The tide of immigration ... is many of whom (like Governor Alvin the exigencies of national arid local ... pouring in with increased momen­ Saunders) were determined to become politics, laid the basis for statehood in tum," Butler explained, "and ... our senators, representatives, or state 1867. The first important change had prairies are being taken up with unex­ officers. The majority of the federal occurred in 1863 when Congress ampled rapidity by enterprising set­ appointees were also supporters ofthe announced that two branches of the tlers; [who] ... change, as if