New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-06-09

sent to withdraw military rule Just in proportion as they
should by their acts manifest dis oston TO preserve or
der among themselves. establish governments denong
loyalty TO the Union and exhibit settled determination
return to their allegiance leaving with the law making
power TO fix the terms of their final restoration to ali tir
rights and privileges States of the Union That tins IS
the view of his power taken by the President is evident
from expressions that effect in the communications OF
the Secretary of State 10 the various Provisional Governors
and the repeated declarations Of the President himself
Any other supposon, inconsistent with tins, would IN
pute to the President designs of encroachment upon CO.
ordinate branch of the Government which should not be
lightly attributed to the Chief Magistrate Of the nation.
When Congress assembled in December last the people
most of the States lately in Rebellion had under the adj
vice of the President organized local governments and
some of them had aceeded the proposed by him.
In his annual message he stated in general terms what
had been DONE but he did tit 20 communicate the
details for the information of Congress. While in this
and in subsequent message, the President urged the
speedy restoration of these States and expressed the
opinion that their condition such TO justify their
restoration yet it is quite obvious that Congress must
either have acted bndy that nion Of the President
or proceeded obtain the information requisite for lnfe
gent action the subject The improperly OF proceed
ing wholly the judgment Of any one man, however ex-
allied his station in matter involving the welfare Of the
Republic in all future time, or Of adopting any plan, com
ing from any source without fully understanding all It's
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The first STEP therefore, o obtain the required IN
formation call accordingly made on the President
for the information in his possession as 70 what had Deeh
done in order that Congress might judge for itself as TO
the grounds Of the belief expressed by him IN the hness
of the States recently IN rebellion 10 participate illy Ia
the conduct Of National AFFAIRS. ms lni0rlna-
ton was not Immediately communicated. When
the response was finally made, some SIX
weeks after your Committee had been IN actual session. II
was found that the evidence upon which the President had
based his suggestions was incomplete ana unsatisfactory
Authenticated copies of the new Constitutions ana oId
II IN pf of
had been submitted extracts from newspapers furnished
scanty information 70 the action OF one oher STATE ana
nothing appears have been communicated ~ 10 the re-
mainder There was no evidence OF the loyalty OF those
who had III these conventions and IN State
alone any proposition made to submit the action OF the
conventions 70 the final Judgment of the people.
Failing obtain the desired Information, and leit 70
gropc for light whcreon it might be found your Commit
te. did not deem IL advisable safe 10 adopt without
further examination the suggestions, especially
he had not deemed II expedieut 70 remove the military
force suspend martial law, or 10 restore the wHt OF
habeas corpus but s thought II necessary 10 exercise
over the people Of the ebelOus States his military power
and jurisdiction This conclusion derived stu greater
force from the fact undisplied, that IN al these States,
except Tennessee and perhaps Arkansas the elections
which held for State officers and Members Of Con-
rcs had resulted almost universally in the defeat OF can
dates who had been true 10 the Unon and IN the election
of notorious and uupardoned Rebels who could not
take the prescribed oath of Office and who made no secret
of their hostility 10 the Government and people Of the
United States Under these circumstances anything like
hasy action would have been dangerous as II vas oby
ousy unwse. IL appeared b. your Committee that but
remained, viz. 10 investigate thoroughly aLd
carefully the state OF feeling existing among the people Of
these States ascertain how far their pretended loyalty
could be relied upon and thence 20 infer whether IT would
be safe 10 admit them at once TO full participation IN TIE
Government they had fought for four year. 10 destroy.
II equally important inquiry whether their rcsora
,ion 10 their former relations with the United states should
only be granted upon certain conditions and guarantees
which would eectuay secure the nation against rcour-
renee Of evils disastrous those from which II had es-
capped at 80 enormous a sacrifice.
To obtain the necessary Information recourse could only
be lad 10 the examination Of witnesses whose position
had given them the best means Of forming an accurate
Judgment who could state facts from their observa
ton and whose character and standing afforded the best
evidence Of their truthfulness and imparaliy work
like this covering g. largo extent Of territory and
bracng such complicated aud extensive inquiries
ry required much time and labor. To shorten the time
much possible the work was divided and placed IN
the hands of four subcommittee who have been dill
gently employed in its accompls The results Of
their abors have been heretofore submitted and the
try will Judge how far they sustain the Presidents views
and how far they Justify The conclusions to which your
Committee have finally arrived
THE QUESTION or READMIssIoS.
claim for the immediate admission OF Senators and
REPRESENTATIVES. from the socacd Confederate States has
been urged which 10 your Committee not to be
founded either or in law aud which cannot be
passed without comment; Stated IN few words II amounts
10 this that nasmuch as the lately nsurgent States had
no legal right 10 separate themselves from the Union they
still retain their position States and, consequently the
people thereof have night 10 immediate representation IN
Congress without the imposition II any conditions what
ever; and further that until such admission, Congress
has no right them for the support Of the Govern
mspt II has even been contended that until such ad
mission all legislation affecting their interests s II not
unconstitutional at least unjusfable and oppressive
1t is believed by your Committee that all these PROPOSE
tons are not only wholly untensble but if admitted
would tend TO the destruction Of the Government
1t be forgotten that the people Of these States
without Justification or excuse rose IN insurec9n Against
United States They deliberately abolished their State
Governments far as the same connected them political
y with the Unon members thereof under the Consiitu
ton They deliberately renowned their allegiance to the
Federal Government and proceeded 10 establish an indie
pendent government for themselves nhe prosecution OF
this enterprise they seized the National forts, arsenas
dockyads and other public property within their borders
drove out from among them those who renamed true TO
the Unon and heaped every imaginable insult and injury
upon the United States and its citizens. Finally, they
opened hostities and levied against the Government
They confined this for four with the most de-
termned and malignant spirit killing in battle, aud other
WISE large numbers ofoyal people, destroying the property
of loyal citizens on the sea and on the land
and entailing on the Government an enormous
debt, incurred to sustain its rightful authority
Whether legally and consttuonaly or not they did IN
fact withdraw from the Union and made themselves sub
ects Of another Government Of their creation and
they only yielded when after long and bloody and vast
ing war they compelled by utter exhaustion to lay
down their arms and this they did, not willingly but de-
cang that they yielded because they could no longer re-
ss affording evidence whatever OF repentance for
their crime and expressing regret except that they had
no longer the power continue the desperate struggle
1t cannot think be denied by any one having toler
able acquaintance with public laws that the war thus
waged civil war Of the greatest magnitude. The
people wagng il necessarily subject 10 all the rules
which by the law Of nations, control contest OF that
character, and TO all the legitimate consequences
within the limits prescribed by humanity the conquered
Rebels mercy of the conqnerors That Govern
ment thus outraged had most perfect night TO exact IN
demnity the injuries done and security against the re-
curcnce of such ourages in the future, would seem too
clear dispute. What proof should De required OF re-
turn 10 allegiance, what time should eapse before Poo
pie thus demorazed should be restored In full to the en-
Ioyment Of political rights and privileges, are questions
| Law. NAL m