Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-06-09
The Report Of the Reconstructior Com-
nittee.

t.
day, is a yoluminous paper setting forth r.le
reasons Tor the conclusions 10 which they can,,,
III reporting an amendme mt 10 the Constitution
oI 'he Ihlted States. and the two bills with
Wnicn the pubic ars already familiar Most
" me results are already familiar TO the pub
ne ont tne committee enter into elaborate ar
guments IN defence Of their positions They
open win general statement of their or0ani
LitIon. and then proceed to say that the condi
uon OF ihe south at the close OF the rebellion
shows II 10 have bern one of utter ex haustion
ne evidence in this respect is open to ali and
admits OF no dispute. They were, besides, in
gave the President no authority on the subiert
OF reorganization, but by the Constitution. he
was Commander-in-C Chief of the army and
navy, and could appoint Military Goyernors
The people OF the late Confederate States were
only subject to martial law. Nothing of their
State Constitutions Were left, OF which the
the slightest notice. For four years they
mad de tdcto Governments, hut they wers
usurped and illegal. In the Language OF
me me fesS fres,aents message, the people of
Inc South were "deprived of ali civil
government" Under this state OF affairs ar
was the duty Of the President, say the commit
zee. 70 enforce existing national laws, and to
establish, as Tar as he could, such a system of
government as might be provided by existing
national statutes. As Commander.in Chez
II was ms duty, under the law of nations and
the army regulations, 10 restore order pre-
serve property and protect the people from
Eioience He might as President assemble
Congress and submit; the whole q uestion 10 me
Jaw making power, or he might continue mill
iiary supervision and control until Congress
should assemble on its regularly apno,nted
day. He selected the latter and appointed pro-
vIsIohal Governors, and organized otherwise
local governments. The committee saw that
these Provisional Governors could .xsrcisa
only military authority, and had no power 10
organize civil governments. The COMMITTEES
20 INTO long argument 10 sustain these con-
clusions, after which they say thew do nor
deem IL necessary 20 discuss the ouestjon
whether the late Confederate States are still
In or our OF the union The committee con-
teno fnaf all OF their local governments are de-
stroyed, and that the fact that the President
does not restore the writ Of Ldbeas corDuS show.
that the people are not yet to be trusted
ne committee say that a report has been
made IN the case OF Tennessee, tney will sub
grpss.
The following are among the importan, CON
ciuslohs which the committee come to in sum-
ming up:
!. That the States lately i'm rebellion were a,
me close OF the war disorganized communities.
wlihout civil government. and without consn
tntions or other forms by virtue OF which no
htical relations could legally exist between J
them "a and the Federal Government : :
Inat congress cannot be- expected to rec
ognize as valid the election of Representafives
from dlsorganized communities, which from
the very nature of the case, were unable 10
present their claims 10 representation nnder
those established and RECOGNIZED rules. the OBJ
servance OF which has hitherto been REQ uired.
3. That Congress would not be justified in
admitting such communities 10 q participation 4
m the Government of the country without
nrss providing such Constitutional or other
guarantees as will tend 70 secure the civil
rights of all citizens Of the Republic, a inst
equality OF representation. projection against
the claims founded in rebellion and crime a
temporary restriction Of The right of suffrage
IN riicse who have not acti veiy participated an
the efforts 10 destroy the Union and oysrthrow
the Government. and the exclusion from no.
siions of public trust OF. att least portion of |
those whose crimes proved them TO he enemies |
of The Union and unworthy of public conf |
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