"From The Civil War Day By Day: An Almanac, 1861-1865" by E.B. Long.
July 4, 1864, Monday
The first session of the 38th Congress of the United States adjourned amid new tensions over what would be the policy of reconstruction of the seceded states and who would control it-- Congress or the President. Lincoln signed many bills, including one setting up the Office of Commissioner of Immigration and one repealing certain exemption clauses of the Enrollment Act.
He did not sign the controversial Wade-Davis reconstruction bill, enraging radical members of Congress (Republicans). Big pressure was applied, but the President pocket-vetoed the bill backed by Sen. Benjamin Wade of Ohio and Representative Henry Davis of Maryland.
The bill called for the recognition of the seceded state only after a majority of its enrolled white male citizens (key word here, white) had taken an oath of allegiance and adopted a constitution acceptable to Congress and the President. No one who had held any Confederate state or national office or who had voluntarily borne arms for the South would be able to vote on or serve as a delegate to the convention whether he took the oath or not.
More to Come Tomorrow. --Old Secesh
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