Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1866-06-22
1890 PER ANNUM!

powers OF conqneror are not 80 vested in
the President that he can tix ana regulate
the terms OF settlement and confer con-
gresslonaI representation upon conquered
rebels and traitors. Nor can he in, anv
way qualify enemies Of the Governments
to exercise Its law making. power The:
anthouty to restore rebels to poli:ica pow
er in the Federal Government, can be ex..
ercised Only with the concurrence of all,
the departments in which political power.
IS vested. And hence the several procla-
nations OF the President to the people OF:
the Confederate States cannot be consid-
cred as extending beyond the purposes
declared, and can, only be regarded as
provisional permission by the Command
erin Chief OF the army to do certain, acts.
the validity whereof is to be. determined
by the constitutional government, anu
not solely by the Executive pewen
Sixth. The question before the Cong
ress is, then, whether conquered: enemies
have the right and shall be permitted, Al
their own pleasure and on their own terne.
TO participate in making laws for their
conquerors; whether conquered rebels
may change their theatre of operations.
from the battle field, where they vera de-
teated and overthrown, to the. halls. of.
Congress, and, through their represaata-
tlves, seize upon the Government which
they fought to destroy whether the ma
honal treasury, the army OF the nation, it's,
navy, Its forts and arsenals, its whole civit
administration, its credit, it's pensioners
the widows and orphans OF those who per-
ished in the war-the public honor, peace,
aud safety shall all be turned over to the
keeping OF lis recent enemies. without de-
lay and without imposing such conditions.
as, in the opinion OF Congress, the security
OF the country and its, institutions may
demand. =
Seventh. The history of mankind ex-
hibIts no example OF auch madness and
folly. The. instinct OF self preservation.
protests against it. Tbe surrender by
Grant to Lee, aud by Sherman to john
ston, would have been disasters of less
magnitude, for new armies could have
been raised, new battles fought, and the,
Government saved. The anti i-coercive
policy which, under pretcxt OF avoiding,
bloodshed, allowed the rebellion 10 take.
form and gather force, would be surpassed
Ia infamy by the matchsss wiekedness
that would now Surrender the halls Of
Congress to those SO recently in rebellion.
until proper precautions shall have been
taken to secure the national faith and the
national safety.
Eighth. 1t has been shown. in, this re.
port and In the evidence submitted no
proof has been afforded to Congress Of
constituency III any OF the so,eailed Con-
fedefate States, unless we cxcept the State
OF Tennessee, qualified. to acct Senators.
and Representatives in Congress. No.
! StaEe constitution or amendment to g.
State constitution has had the sanction: Of
! the people. All the so-called legislation.
OF State conventions and Legislatures has
been had under military dictation. 1.-THE.
| President may, AT his will and under his,
own authority, whether As military com
mander or Chief Executive, qnalifE per-
sons to appoint Senators and elect Repre-
sentatives, and empower others to appoint
and elect them, he thereby practically,
controls the organization OF the Legislative
department. The constitutional term OF
government is thereby practically destroy
ed, and its powers absorbed in the, Execu-
tive. And while yoar committee do nor
! for moment impnte to the President any
such design. bat cheertully aoncede to
him the most patriotic motives, they cam
/ not bnt look with alarm upon precedenk
SO franght with danger to. the Republic
/ Ninth. fhe necessity Of providing ade-
quate safeguard torthe future before. re-
storing the insurrectionasy States, IL a
! participation in the direction o6 public
| affairs is apparent from the bitter hostili--