The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-05-08
May 8, 1866.

THE REPORT OF THE RECONSTRUCTION
Communicative publish to-day the plan agreed
upon by the Congressional Reconstruction Com
mittee for admitting the Southern States into the
Union 1t requires the people of the South, be-
fore they to be permitted to exercise the
rights of free American citizens, to degrade them
selves by voluntarily adopting the proscriptive
schemes of a fanaticaE tyrannical party-it re-
quires US to dsfranchise ourselves and forever
prescribe and degrade some of our officers and
soldiers-and after do all this, we are to be
allowed representatives in Congress aoho can take
the Odious test OdMt
Without the slightest hesitation we declare
that we will never voluntarily consent to or agree
to adopt such tyrannical, outrageous measure;
and we are confident that the people of North
Carolina, although anxious to be restored to
peace and their rights in the Union. will never
degrade themselves by endorsing adopting the
scheme proposed by the so-called Reconstruc-
zion Committee.
When our State Convention meets, we hope it
will declare by resolution. that, while North Car
Ulina would do anything that is fair and honorable
to restore the Union Of the States and promote
good feeling among the people. she uoiU neuer col
untarity consent to prescribe and degrade nine
tenhs other oaon people. The Northern people
and Congress ought to be notified at an early day
that no Southern State will ever ACCEPT the terms
proposed by the Reconstruction Committee; and
that it is believed that the object of said com
mittee in proposing such degrading terms is to
prevent a union of all the States and keep the
South out of the Union.
We hope the following statements correct,
and that the President will adhere to his original
policy:
WASHINGTON, May lit is understood that
at the meeting of the Cabinet to day the Presi-
dent invited an expression Of opinion from the
Heads of the Departments respecting the recent
report of the Reconstruction Commit ee, and it is
reported that in animated discussion which
sued thcrcupon, Secretaries Seward. McCulloch,
Welles and Stanton were decided in their Opposi-
tion to the plan of the committee, and earnest in
their support of the Presidents policy for resto-
ration. Postmaster General Dennison in
favor of carrying out the Presidents policy, but
expressed some doubts as to the precise time at
which val representatives from the Southern
States should be admitted. Attorney G enera1
Speed was not present.
The President emphatic in his opposition
to the committees report, and declared himself
against all conditions precedent to the admission
of loyal representatives from the Southern States
in the shape of amendments to the Constitution
and the passage of laws. He insisted that, under
the Constitution, State could be deprived of
its equal Suffrage in the Senate. and that Senators
and Representatives ought at once to be admit
ted into the respective houses prescribed by
law and the Constitution. He for strict
adherence to the Constitution as it is, and
marked that. having sustained ourselves under it
during terrible rebellion, he thought the Gov
eminent could be restored without resort to
amendment. and remarked. in general terms, that
if the organic law is to be changed at ALL it should
be at a time when all the States and all the peO-
pile participate in the alteration.