Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-04-26
Con0rsss and its Pet Committee.

Congress and its Pet Committee.
1t is said that during the French Revolution
the National Convention was prevailed upon
bv RoBEsPIERRg to appoint but one committee
that Of Public Safety-to which all important
subjects we're referred, and of which the elab-
orately dressed and powdered ROBEsPIERRE
vas the supreme ruler and master spirit
I Over the door Of the committee room was
written:
| " Engrossed by the affairs of the nation, we
9. have no time to consider private claims"
/ The ROBEsPIERRE, in heart at least, at this
epoch in American histOry-we mean the Radi-
cal Congressional leader from Pennsylvania
evinced the same desire at the assembling of
Congress to create one great, all-absorbing,
all-controlling committee, happily called by
President JOHNSON &" The irresponsible Central
Directory" of which he should be the chief.
His influence prevailed, and that committee
was appointed, with himself at its head. For
all practical purposes, that committee is Con-
gress, and it is animated by all those JacObini-
cal passions that characterized the French
Revolutionists, and that made the " Committee
of Safety" the dreadful and despotic engine Of
cruelty it was, and that fascinated the intoxi-
Gated French people by means Of its monstrous
diabolism. In our issue Of the oath, we pub
lished a striking contribution from an able
source, addressed to Senator SUMNER, which,
in one OF its passages, glanced at the tendency
Of American radicalism toward French Jaco-
binism. Itreminded Mr.. SINNER that for many
years his cry was only " liberty" that he has
now added " equality" and ventures the pre-
iiction that his next demand will be 90 frater-
nity''-the mad cry of the French Revolution
ISIS. Congress and its pet committee are now
in the fifth month of their session, and beyond
the preparation and passage Of measures de-
vised in that L" irresponsible Central Direc
tory" and designed to strengthen and per-
petuate the Radical party, they have done
scarcely anything. The business of the coun-
try is of minor Importance, the restoration OF
the Union Of no Importance. The AARoN's
rod-the negro-swallows up all other rods, for
it is by means of the negro that the Radicals
hope to gain new lease of power. Congress
might, with prOpriety, cause to be written over
its doors "Engrossed by the negro, we have
no time to consider other business"
After a lull of excitement, it begins to be
rumored that the Committee of Fifteen is
ldy to make another report on the subject
of reconstruction, which is said to be the
suggestion of ROBERT DALE OWEN, and to be
more radical than anything that has yet been
proposed. The Washington correspondent of
the New York World thus describes its pro-
visions;
,.Itis in the shape of a joint resolution to amend
the Constitution and processes to provide for the
restoration to the Southern States Of all their potl
Article first of the amendment says that there
shall he no discrimination made by any state, nor
by the United States to the civil rights of persons
because Of race color previous CONDITION OF servl-
tnde Second. That from and after the fourth day
of july in the year 1876, no discrimination snail De
made By any State, nor by the United states as 10
the enloyment by classes Of persons OF the right oil
suffrage because Of race or color. Third Until Ju-
y 1851 no class Of persons as TO the right OF any
Of whom suffrage discrimination shall be made by
any State because of race color or previous con-
lton of servitude shall be included in the basis OF
representation. Fourth. Debts or obligations al
ready incurred, or which may be hereafter incurred
in aid of insurrectOn or against the Union, and
claims for compensation for the loss Of the service OF
persons held TO involuntary servtude or labor, shall
not be paid by any State or by the United states
No state shall make enforce any law which shall
,bridge the privileges or mmunities of citizens
Of the United States IS then further to be pro-
vided by act Of Congress, that whenever the above
amendment shall have become part Of the Constitu-
ton and any Of the Southern States shall have rat
fled Il and modified its constitution and laws IN
conformity thereof the Senator's and Representa-
tves from such State duly elected and qualified, and
~ "a. II flVTNHNN I'D
vided that no person who having been an officer in
the army or navy Of the United States, or having
been a member Of the Thirty-sixth Congress, or OF
the cabinet in the year 1860 did take part in the
ate insurectOn. shall be eligible to either branch
ofthe National Legislature until after July 4 1876
The Tribune learns that the committee will
shortly make definite and perhaps final
report on the subject Of reconstruction, and
appends 20 It's announcement copy of Sena-
tor STEWART resolutions, which would seem
IN imply that they will form the basis of the
plan. We subioin those resolutions that they
may BE- seen by our readers
Joint Resolutions proposing an amendment 10 the
Constitution Of ths United states; also setting
forth certain conditions upon which the States
the people Of which have been lately In nsurrec
ton against the United States shall be restored 10
their representation In Congress.
"Resolred by the Senate and Houss Of Representa-
tires q the United States n America In Congress
asgembled ,two-thirds Of both Houses concurring)
That the following article be proposed 10 the Legis.
latures OF the several States as an amendment tO
,ss Constitution Of the United States which when
fsthsd by three-tourths Of said Legislatures shall
" fs9 v al intents and purposes as part Of the
sai5 Constitution, namely:
ARTICLE -
Sc 4. All determinations among the Deople be.
,Fass - Fscs co0r Or previous condition OF saryi
tsSs ssIlsf ~ civil rights or in the right of suf
fs.zs. sss prohibited but the States NAV exempt
gessess H9s voters from restrictions on suffrage
-efssftef ltsP4Ss1.
- Z Obligations incurred in aid of insurrec-
tioa o. u va sgsihst The Union and claims for
sotapehSsti0H f0f slaves smahepated are void, and
shall Hot he assumed nor paid BY any State or the
United Slstss
o. Rssoissd BIZ me Sshqfs and H0ase Of RePreSen-
tatrss 0fths Daifsd States " AmsricG IA Congress
assemJisd That whenever any one u the eleven
States whose Inhabitants lately IN insurrection
through a Legislature elected by constituency re-
stricted In the right 0f suffrage only by such laws al
existed IN such STATE Ia isO shall have ratified the
foregoing amendments 10 the Constitution Of the
United States and shall have modified is e0nstitu-
uon and laws in conformity herewith, then, and Ia
unt case, such State shall be recognized as having
.ILHy and validity resumed 10 former relations with
{ ms ms government, and IL chosen Representatives
uai Ne admitted into the two Houses Of the National
aud general amnesty shall exist 10 70
: s aiu -. persons in such State who were ia any
ment Of the United Ststes TTELoIiy ,sI,s1ia. tIsn
from All pains penalties or disabilities 10 which they
Z may have become liable by reason IN their connec
! ton with said instruction - '-s'
ATTORNEY GENERAL WALLACE of Tennessee