The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-06-23
The Minority Report Of the Committee on Recon-
structi0n.


structi0n.
In the House of Representatives Tues
day Mr.. Rogers, of New Jersey, sub
mitted the views of the minority of the
Reconstruction Committee. 1t is a
lengthy document, and is signed by SEN
ator Reverdy johnson and Representa-
tives Grider, of Kentucky, and Rogers,
of New Jersey. The minority proceed
fist to consider what was the effect of
the late insurrection upon the relations
of the States where it prevailed, to the
General Government, and of the people
collectively and individually, of such
States. They contend that the insurrec-
tion never legally dissolved the connec-
ton between those States and the Gov
ernment. In its nature the Govern
ment is formed of States possessing
equal rights and privileges and powers
States unequal are not known to the
Constitution. In its original formation
perfect equality was secured. The
the original thirteen States before the
Government was formed. In every
State admitted since the Constitution
was adopted, each State is declared s'to
be one of the United States, on all equal
respects whatsoever"
The minority argue at length the sta
tus of the States, and maintained that
when a State is once i'll the Union she
must abide by it forever. She can nev-
er withdraw or be expelled from it.
The majority concede this by submit
ting a Constitutional amendment to
these Southern States the same as to
other States. A different doctrine would
lead to dissolution Of the Union. The
Constitution does not give the power
TO suhjugate the State, but to suppress
the insurrection within the State, and
thereby preserve the State. The pow
er is Conservative. 1t is to protect the
State and not destroy it. In referring
to the local governments of the South,
and the charge that the President ille-
gally created them, the minority say
that, conceding for the arguments sake
that this was so, does it not follow that
Congress is equally unauthorized to in
terfere? Congress may admit new
States, but State once admitted ceases
to be in its control and can never again
be brought within it. Whatever chan
ges her people may make in their Con-
stitution, Congress has nothing to do
with it.
In alluding to representation the min
ority say that the representatives of the
States not insurrection, if the others
were represented, would exceed in the
House (under the present apportion-
ment) by a majority of fseven-two votes,
and have decided preponderance in the
Senate. What danger to the Govern
ment, then, can possibly arise from South
ern representation ? Are the Senators
and representatives fearful of them
selves? Are they apprehensive that
they might be led to destruction The
idea that the country is to be kept in
turmoil, States to be reduced to bond
age, and their rights under the Consti
tuition denied and the rights of their citi-
zens disregarded, with view to the
continuance i'll power of a mere pOlitl-
cal party cannot for 4 moment be enter
tanned without imputing gross dishon-
esty of purpose and gross dereliction of
duty to those who entertain it.
The minority claim that there is moth
ing in the evidence taken to show that
this denial of representation should be
made. They have complied with every
requirement of the President, and re-
pudiated the Rebel debt. The propos-
ed Constitutional amendment is looked
upon by the minority as impolitic. The
amendments suggested have no connec-
ton with each other, and each ought to
have been submitted as a seperate arti-
Gle. In discussing the legal status of
the local State governments ofthe South,
the minority add, in conclusion, that che
majority report states that they do
not for a moment impute to President
Johnson any design to extend Executive
power, hut cheerfully concede to him
the most patriotic motives;'' and we can
not forbear to say, in concluding, on
that point, that he sins against light
and closes his eyes to the course of the
President during the rebellion, who ven
lures to impeach his patriotism. His
life was constantly in peril, and he
clung to the Union and dicharged all
the obligations it imposed upon him,
even the closer because of the peril, and
now that he has escaped unharmed, and
by the confidence of the people has had
devolved upon him the executive funct-
ions of government, to charge him with
disloyality is either folly or a sland-
in the fool who believes it,
slander in the man of sense, if any such
there be, who utters it.