The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-06-21
,ent, and not solely by the Executive

ticipate in making laws Ior tlieiI cVh4uoi
ors? Whether conquered rebels may
change their theatre of operations from
the battlefield where they were defeated
and overthrown, to the Halls of Congress,
and through this representation, seize
mon the Government which they fought
to- destroy2 Whether the National Treas
ury, the army of the nation, its navy, its
forts, and arsenals, it's whole civil admin
istration, it's credit, its pensioners, the
widows and orphans of those who per-
ished in the war, the public honor, peace
and safety, shall all be turned over to the
keeping of it's recent enemies without de-
lay, and without requiring such conditions
as in the opinion of Congress the security
of the country and its institutions may
demand.
Seventh The h ,ry of mankind ex
hibits no examr' such madness ana
folly. The of self-preservation
protest The surrender by
E Sherman to John
less disastrous
,apnitude. mics could have
been raised, new fought, and the
Government saved. Ihe non-coercive
policy, which, under the pretext OF avoid
| ing bloodshed, allowed the rebellion to
take form and gather force, would be
surpassed in infamy by the matchless
wickedness that would now surrender the
Halls of Congress to those so recently in IN
rebellion until proper precautions shall
have been taken to secure the National
| faith and the National safety.
Eighth: 1t has been shown in this re-
port, and in the evidence submitted no
proof has been afforded to Congress of
constituency in any of the so-called Con-
federate States, unless we except the State
of Tennessee, qualified to elect Senators
and Representatives in Congress. No
State Constitution, or amendment to
State Constitution, has had the sanction
of the people. All the so-called legisla-
ton of State Conventions and Legisla-
lures has been had under military dicta-
ton. If the President may at his will
and under his own authority, whether as
military commander or Chiet Executive,
qualify persons to appoint Senators and
elect Representatives and empower 9TH
ers to appoint and elect them, he thereby
practically controls the organization of
the Legislative Department. The con-
stitutional form OF government is thereby
practically destroyed and it's powers alb
sorbed in the Executive and while your
committee do not for moment impute
to the President any such design, but
cheerfully concede to him the most pa
triotic motives, they cannot but look with
alarm upon precedent so fiaught with
dancer TO the Republic
Ninth The necessity of providing ad-
euuate safeguards for the future, before
restoring the insurrectionary States 10
participation in the direction of public
affairs, is apparent from the bitter hos,
tility to the Government and people OF
the United States yet existing through
out the conquered territory-is made
incontestible by the testimony of many
witnesses and by undisputed facts.
Tenth: The conclusion of your Com.
mittee, therefore, is that the so-called
Confederate States are not at present
entitled to representation in the Congress
of the United States; that before allow
ing such representation, adequate security
for future peace and safety should be re-
ouired /; that this can only be found in
such changes of the organic laws as shall
determine the civil rights and privileges
of the citizens in all parts of this Rcpub-
lie, shall place representation on an equl-
table basis, shall fix stigma upon treason,
and protect the loyal people against future
claims for the expense incurred in support
of the rebellion, and for manumitted
slaves, together with an express grant OF
power in Congress to enforce these pro-
visions. To this end they offer joint
resolution for amending the Constitution
of the United States and the two several
bills designated to carry the same into
effect, before referred to. Before closing
this report, your committee beg leave to
state that the specific recommendations
submitted by them, are the result of con-
cession, after long and careful compari-
son of conflicting opinions. Upon
question of such magnitude, infinitely
Important as it is to the future of the
Republic, it was not to bo expected that
ali should think alike. Sensible of the
imperfections of the scheme, your COM
mittee submit it to Congress as the best
they could agree upon, in the hope that
its imperfections may be cured and it's de-
fciencies supplied by legislative wisdom,
and that when finally adopted it may tend
to restore peace and harmony to the
country, and to place our Republican in
stitutions on more stable foundation.
= Generals Steedman and Fullerton
have furnished to the Secretary Of War
their report of the operations of the
Freedmen's Bureau in the Military De-
partments of South Carolina and Florida.
They highly commend Gen. Scott, the
Assistant Commissioner in South Carroll
ma, for the wise policy that pervades his
-. &C e.o.rornincr md fendin, the