The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-07-03

nmeulaLe ADMISSION 10 COuSIGSS uuueI
the barren form of an election, in which
no precautions were taken to secure reg
ularity of proceedings, or the assent Of
the people.
No Constitution has been legally adopt,
ed except, perhaps, in the State of Ten
nessee, and such elections as were held
were without the authority of law. The
committee are accordingly forced to the
conclusion that the States referred to have
not placed themselves in condition to
calm representation in Congress, unless
all the rules which haye since the foun.
dation of the Government, been deemed
essential in such cases, shall be disre-
garded. The committee then review, at
length the condition aud feeling of the
Southern people, saying, among other
things, the latter claim as right the
privilege of participating at once in the
Government which for four years they
sought to overthrow, while their press
abound in abuse of the loyal States, aud
efforts are made to perpetuate the deadly
hate and discord between the two sec
tions, aud excite hostility against the
Federal Union.
The report, which is long one, con-
cludeS as follows, which may be regarded
as a summary of the whole case:
The evidence of an intense hostility to
the Federal Union, and an equally intense
love of the late Coufederacy, nurtured BY
the war, is decisive. While it appears
that nearly all are willing to submit at
least for the time being, to Federal au-
thority, it is equally clear that the ruling
motive is desire to obtain the advantage
which will be derived from a representa-
ton in Congress. Officers Of the Union
army on duty, and Northern men who 60
South to engage in business, are generally
dctcsted and prescribed. In some lOcaii-
ties prosecutions have been instituted in
State Courts against Union officers for
done in the line of official duty, and sim.
liar prosecutions are threatened elsewhere
as soon as the United States troops are
removed.
All such demonstrations show state
of feeling against which it is unmistak-
ably necessary to guard. The testimony
is conclusive that after the collapse of the
Confederaey the feeling of the people Of
the rebelliOus States was that of a6ject
submission. Having appealed to the tri-
bunal of arms, they had no hope except
that by the maguaDimity of their con-
querors, the lives, and possibly the pro-
perty might be preserved. Unfortunately
the general Issue of pardoDs to persons
who had been prominent in the late re-
bclliou, and the feeling of kindllness and
Cancellation manifested by the Executive,
and very generally indicated throughout
the northern press, had the effect to rem
der whole communities forgetful of the
crimes they had committed
Defiant towards the Federal Govern
ment and regardless of their duties as
citizens, the conciliatory measures of the
Government do not seem to have, been
met, even half way. The bitterness and
defiance exhibited towards the United
States under such circumstances, is with,
cut parallel in the memory Of the world
In return fer our leniency we receive only
an insulting denial of our authority. In
return for our kind desire for the resump-
ton of rights and privileges long since
forfeited. The crime we have punished
is paEaded as virtue, aud the principles
of republican government which We have
vindlcated at so terrible cost, are de-
nounced as unjust and oppressive.
If we add to this evidence the fact that
although peace has been declared by the
President, he has not to this day deemed
it safe to restore the wri. of habeas corpus,
to relieve the insurrectionary States Of
martial law, nor TO withdraw the troops
from many localities, and that the com.
manding general deems an increase of the
army indispensable to the preservation Of
order and the protection of loyal aud well
disposed people in the South, the proof of
a condition of feeling hostile to the Union
and dangerous to the Government
throughout the insurrectionary States
would seem to be alarming.
We now propose to restate as briefly as
possible the several facts and principles
applicable to all the States recently in
rebellion.
l, The seats of Senators and Repre-
sentatives from the socalled Confederate
States became vacant in the year 1851,
during the second session of the Thirty
sixth Congress, by the voluntary with
drawal of their iDcumbents, with the sane.
ton and by the direction of the respect
i've States.
This was done as hostile act against
the Constitution and Government of the
United States, with declared intent to
overthrow the same by forming South
ern Confederation. This act of declared
hostility was speedily followed by an Or
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