Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-11-23
The Report Of the Joint Committee
on Reconstruction,

there was much complaint because OF ,
the supposed slowness Of that body in
coming to some unity of agreement
with regard to the course to be pur
sued towards the late rebellious states. I
There was so much cutlery made by
the copperhcads, and by the president,
against the committee of fifteen on
reconstruction, that many good repub-
iicans began to fear that the appoint
ment of this committee was a mistake,
and that the committee was doing no.
thing but to delay any decision, and
much needed action. A triumphant
answer to all these fears ard com
plants is found in the large volume Of
seven hundred and ninety one closely
printed pages Of this committees re-
port. The government printer has
been unusually prompt in bringing it
out, anu VT Nl0H IldC CNClI NOICl III
the country could read it. Its read
ing would do more to vindicate the
committee and the action Of congress,
and to convince the loyal people that
they must act with great caution, and !
perhaps with much delay, in admitting
back the rebel states to their seats Of
influence and power on the floor of
congress, than anything else we can
think Of
The value Of the report lies not in
the argumentof the committee. They
hardly attempt to make an argument.
Their report proper occupies only q
Of the 500 pages and is little more
than a brict statement of their meth
Cd of procedure and the results to
which they came, which is the neces,
sity Of the constitutional amendment
now pending the ratification Of the
states The great body Of the book
is the report Of testimony, taken from
a large number Of witnesses on their
oath, as to the condition, feelings and
sentiments towards the government,
the wishes, expectations and purposes
Of the people OF the southern states
These witnesses represent almost ey-
cry class Of both northern and south
ern men, and some women, from ma
jor generals to private soldiers, both
Of the union and the confederate ar
mics, vice president Stephens, minis
tcrs, teachers, newspaper correspon-
dents and business agents. The am
cunt Of matter is enormous and shows
that the committee must have been one
Of the most laborious that ever did
duty for the country. No truly loyal
man can read it without feeling that it
contains Just what congress needed
to know in order to prepare the way
for receiving the southern states back
to their practical and organic relation
with the government. This repor
reminds US of the report made t.
congress by Hon. VIM. A. Howard
and Hon. John Sherman on the lie
compton Constitution, in the time OF
the Kansas troubles. 1t was 50 ful
and made such clear exposure of tn
case that it conclusively settled tn
matter So it seems to us this repor
Of the committee of fifteen will settl
the matter of reconstruction, by show
ing that it is not safe to restore tn
southerners to a full participation
the general government without COZ
ditions, and without probation.
we do not mistake, it is just thes
facts, automatically shown in this +
port. that has so firmly composed an
fixed the sentiments of the countl
since congress adjourned, and has gi
en- such emphatic approval and su
port to congress, as against the polio
Of the president. Again we say, Il
every citizen who can get hold Of
study the report. Let US circula
the copies our congressman have sci
us; ask our democratic neighbors
read it, and we may be sure there
integrity enough and patriotic fir
ness enough in the hearts of our De
pie, to insist on a purer and mo
healthy loyalty in the late rebels
fore they are restored to all the RICH
Of citizens and states.
As a specimen Of the evidence gi
en- in this report, and as 8omethil
that will be read with peculiar al
painful interest by some of our CT
zens who knew Mr.. Buchanan, al
who know under what patriotic al
antislavery sentiments he was educ
ted in this country, and which he hea
tily embraced and earnestly advoc
ted, we will quote part of the ties
mony given before the committee
Mr.. Sidney Andrews, corresponds
Of the Boston Advertiser over the 81
nature " Dixon" Mr.. Andrews hi
spent much time in Georgia after t
rebellion collapsed, and was well qui
flied to say what the southern sen
ment was.
In answer to the question: "Wh
is your opinion of the people of Gee
gia as to their loyalty or disloyalty
thegovcrnment 2" Among other thin