American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-06-20

appehreu tnaL Dut one course remain
ed, viz, to investigate thoroughly
and carefully the state of feeling
among the people of the. Southern
States, and hence to infer whether
it was safe to readmit them to Con-
gress. TO obtain this information
she Committee had recourse to the
examination of witnesses whose posi-
ticn had given them the best means
Of forming an accurate Judgment
The results Of this examination have
been heretofore published. rr
The report of the Committee next
proceeds to examine the claims of the
South for readmission to Congress.
All discussion Of the question wheth-
or the. recovered States are out of or
within the Union is waived, and the
report assumes as, beyond dispute
that the people of the Rebel States
| had in fact tosthard,cn. from the Unso,,
and made themselves subjects of an
other government. The government
Of the United States had undoubtedly
q right to exactindemnity for the in
juries done, andsecurity against their
recurrence in the future; otherwise
tho Government would be powerless
for its own protection. The Govern
menta ahad equally the duty to protect
those in the South who had remained
true and loyal. The Committee was
unable to find in the information OBJ
tanned, any satisfactory proof that it
was safe to readmit any of the sece-
ded States to their former position
in Congress, except, perhaps, the
State of Tennessee. rff
With the evidence evinced before
them, it is the opinion of the Commit
tee that the Rebel States were, at
the close of the war, disorgahlzed
communities; that Congress cannot
be expected to recoanize as valid the
election of men from such communi
ties; and that before their admission
to participation in the Government
Congress must provide such Consti-
tntional or other guarantees as will
tend to secure the civil rights of all
citizens ofthe Republic a just equality
of representation: protection against
claims founded in Rebellion and
crime, and, at least, temporary re-
striction of the right of suffrage to
men of undoubted LOYALTY.
The Committee. therefore, reaches
the conclusion tn at the so-called Con
federate States are not at present,
entitled to representation in the Con-
gress af the United State that be-
fore allowing such representation,
adequate security for future pea &c
and safety should be required; that
this can only be found in such chan
| ges of the organic law as shall deter
mine the civil rights and privileges
of all citizens in all parts of the Re-
public, shall place represented ton on
an equitable basis, shall fix stigma
upon treason and protect the loyal
people against future claims for the
expense incurred in support of rebel
lion, and for manumitted Slaves, to-
gether with an express grant in Con-
gress to enforce these provisions.
To this end they offer a joint resolu-
ton for amending the Constitution,
and two several bills designed to
carry the same into effect. The spe-
cifc recommendations submitted to
Congress were the result of mutual
concession, after long and careful
'comparison of conflicting opinions,
and the final report has received the
signature Of every 3hpublican mem
Der of the Committee except Messrs.
Wsshburhe and Blow, who were alb
sent. 1t aif. ehGa 4sst p.
The report is very abl@ and will
occupy conspicuous place in the
history of the Republican party
Whatever exceptions may br taken
to one or another part. the whole
will commend itself to the friends oi
the Union as a conclusive and admi-
rable summary of the measures which
the majority of the party regard as
indispensable for securing the astine
restoration of the Union and the tri.
umph of the principles of Justice and
Freedom Er- eFl br.a7s fa .6.