The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-09
The Final Report Of the Rcconstruc-
lion Committee.

lO-uaN. nc conclusions OF lilt committee
are, briefly, that the people south proved
themselves insurgents and traitors, and
forfeited then all political rights and priv
| lcgcs; that the "Sccedcd Confederate
States are not entitled to representation
in Congress; that before allowing it, adc-
quatc security for the future peace and
safety of the country should be required
from them-and this can only be found in
such changes Of the organic law as shall
determine the civil rights and privileges Of
the citizens in all parts Of the Republic ;
that representation should be on an cqui-
table basis a stigma should be fixed on
treason, and protection given to the loyal
people against future claims for Expenses
incurred IN the rebellion and for slaves
cmancipatcd by the war, together with an
express grant Of power to Congress to en-
| force these provisions. To this end the
committee advocate the Joint resolution
amcndatory Of the Constitution, and the
two separate bills designed TO carry the
same into effect. The committee claim,
/ in conclusion, that these bills are the re
suit Of Cancellation and concession. The
report is signed by ten Republican men,
! bcrs. The diSscnticntS are Senator John
son and representatives Order and Rogers.
The committee say that the governors
! appointed by the President could not cX-
crcse any but military power or authority.
/ They had no power to organize civil law or
| governments. Neither had the President
any other than military power. lie might,
perhaps, have permitted the people 10 mi
| tiatc local governments and execute such
! local laws as they might choose to enact !;
and if he WAS satisfied they could be
safely left 10 themselves, he might with
draw the military force altogether, and
leave the people to govern themselves
without his interference. The gigantic
civil war was necessarily subject To all
the rules which by the law of nations con-
troll in a contest Of that character, and t.
| all the legitimate consequences following
il. One Of these was that within the limits
prescribed by humanity, the rebels were at
the mercy Of their Conqucrors.
The committee continue to say, from the
whole mass Of testimony submitted by the
President, it appears that in no instance in
the southern States was any regard paid
10 any other consideration than obtaining
! immediate admission 10 Congress under
the barren form Of All election in which
no precaution was taken to secure regu-
lality Of proceedings, or the assent Of the
people. No constitutions have been legally
adopted, except, perhaps, that Of TcnncS-
see, and such elections as were held were
without the authority OF law. The com
mittec are accordingly forced to conclude
that the southern States have not placed
themselves in condition to claim repre-
seutation in Congress, unless all the rdlcS
which have since the foundation Of the
Government been deemed essential in
such cases shall be disrcgardcd.
The committee review at length the con-
dition of the southern people, saying that
the latter claim as a right the privilege of
participating at once in the government
they sought to overthrow, while their press
abound in abuse Of loyal States and loyal
men, and efforts are made TO pcrpctuate
sections, and 10 excite hostility against the
Federal Government. Indeed, all feeling
of cancellation on the part Of the north has
been treated with contempt. The bitter
ness and defiance against the United States
has been unparalleled in the history of the
world, considering the circumstances. In
return for our lcnicncy we receive only
insulting denial of our authority in return
for our kind desire for the resumption Of
fraternal relations we receive onlyt inSo-
lent assumption Of the rights and privi-
lcycS long since perfected. The crime
We have punished is pardoned as a virtue,
and the principles Of Republican Govern
ment which we have indicated at cost
50 terrible, are denounced as unjust and
oppressive. The committee then reCapitu-
late the events before and during the war,
including the withdrawal Of Senators
and Representatives, etc, and declare
that the great mass of the people
became insurgent and traitorous, and
all of these assumed and occupied
the political, legal, and practical relation
| Of enemies Of the United States. This
state of affairs did not cease until their
army fell and their cause was lost. These
people were then recalled to the condition
of enemies conquered in war, and entitled
only bypublic law to such rights, and priv
lcges, and conditions as might be vouchSatcd
By the conquerors. Having thus acted, they
have no right to complain at their temporary
exclusion from Congress; but, on the con-
trarv, having rcnounced voluntarily their
right to representation, and disqualified
themselves by crime from participating in
the Government, the burden rests upon
them, before claiming to be rcinstated in
their former positions, to show that they
ought To resume their Federal relations.
I'm order to do this, they must prove that
have established, with the consent Of the
people, republican form Of government in
harmony with the Constitution and laws Of
the United States-that all hostile pur-
noses have ceased, and that they have
given adequate guarantees against future
treason and rebellion which will be salts
Factory IN the Government against which