The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-06-27

"a. committee OF the two houses OF
r. appointed under tie concurrent
coS7 ..@r Of December Is, 1865. with Iii
10 49,. 20 inquire into the condition Of
a rsc,o1 rhich formed the sO-called Con-
. De So s,stes OF America, ard report
4 isisisle .ssr or any OF them are entitled TO
E1sIls- ..s.a;sd in either house Of Congress
!. Re rep 30 report By bill or otherwise, %
slie -. 81 % report:
sss a.. 49, have attended 10 the dg;y as
u I'm as assiduOusly a. other duties
sss' s rernt and now submit 10 Congress
so-.. ..s.g.t Of their deliberations Z res0iI-
:; Ds.-,no.ing amendments TO the COnstl-
Id ! mi two bills, Of whicn they recon
- he adoption
D-.,.sous for The conclusion u which,
~ --saf federation, your committee
-. .5.-ral they beg leave 10 advert, brief
ls's- 10 course OF tue proceedings they
D. 4, neeessary % adopt and 10 explain
=. - .sasoos therefor.
=, -ssoJqt!Ons under which your com
- xas appointed directed them ~ IN
-. 40 the condition Of the Confederate
- and report whether they are emit
- ~ =, r-nresentatiOn ~ Congress II Is
-, that such an Investigation. cover
-, large al extent OF territory,
inroly.Dg 50 many important con
s.,.-,,o,s must necessarily require no
- AMOR. and consume j very COusid-
- amount Of time 10 must embrace
- -,nd.tiOn in which those states were
- .ttbs close vi the war; tie measures
- ave been taken toward the Organl-
-. a civil government, and the dispO-
- - n the people toward the United
- -. IN word, their fitness 10 take an
-, nsr. IN the administration Of national
l5lE
....ros. The evidence is open TO ALL and
IS Of no dispute. They were in stale
= -rsr exhaustion. Having protracted
,.sr Struggle against Federal authority
.,rT Al hone Of successful resistance had
- and laid down their arms only be-
s,r.s here was no longer any power TO
- hen. the people Of those States were
"a bankrupt in their public finances. They
rs,s also IN q state OF complete anarchy,
.sfbout governments, and without The DOW
= b frame governments, except by the
EMISSION Of those who had been success
q. ID the war The President OF the Uni
al sts.es, 10 the prOclamatlOns under which
= APPOINTED provisional Governors, aud
4 his various communications to them, has,
= exact terms. recognized the fact that the
nsoole Of those States, were when the re-
ialOn was crushed, deprived OF all civil
u7srnment ana must proceed 10 organize
laeT. In his conversation with Mr..
sesrns OF Massachusetts, certified by MIN
Iii President Johnson said: The State
ssi.uilOns are Frustrated, laid out on the
roand, and they must be taken up and
I.spled 10 the progress OF events.
Finding the Southern States in this con-
Lion. and Congress having failed TO pro-
sis for Toe contingency. his duty was OBJ
rls. As President OF the United states
: aal no power except 10 execute the
SIS Of he land rs Chief Magistrate. These
(. avs gave him no authority over the subject
o. reorganization, but by the Constitution
p vas COmmanler-in-Chief Of the army
nl navy Of the United States. These
c11.eteraie States embraced portion Of
ls people of the Union who had been in 4
safe OF revolt, but had been reduced 10 a
STATE Of obedience by force Of arms They
were nan abnormal condition, without civt
-07eTamen- without commercial cOnnec
l0ls, without national or international re-
Au0l; All subject only to martial law. b.
WaldnFing their representation IN Con
-rai .g renOunclng the privilege OF re
l-a;tl'al.On, by organizing "a separat,
g1-almen,, and by ieyying war agains
as Jllted States, they destroyed thei
sss constitutions in respect to the vita
r-c.ple which connected their respective
,les with the Union, and severed thei
sa.erai relations; and nothing OF thosi
a,st.tLtiODS was left OF which The Unite,
sAies was bound 10 take notice. For fOu
ears they had dc Tac'0 government, bu
vas usGrped and Illegal They chose the
-lul4. Of arms wherein TO decide whether
rn0t II should be legaliZed, and they were
lsie4ted At the close OF the rebellion
aereiOge, The people Of the rebelli0us States
IsTe found. as the President expresses 1t,
spr.7ed OF all civil government
Under this state of affairs il was PLANK
De duty Of the President to enforce the
iIlsting national laws. and 10 establish, as
r as he could, such a system of govern
neot as mlgit be provided Tor By existing
1,iOnai statutes. As COMMENCEMENT ME
victorious army. IL was his duty under
-eaw oil nations and the army regulations,
Iestore order 10 preserve property, and
p protect the people against violence from
ay quarter, until provision should be madt
aw for their government. lie might,
Is President assemble Congress. and sub
Tx The whole matter 10 the law making
Sver or he might continue military su
sSysion and control until Congress should
.@em0ie on its regularly appointed day
Setuns The latter alternative, be proceed
oy virtue Of his power as Commander
a+hei to appoint provisional governor,
"e, tae revOlted States. These We're reg
-sg commissioned. and their compensa
"a Vas paid, as the Secretary OF Wal
sAe, from the appropriation from
an! contingencies, because the duties per
~-1 By the parties were regarded as o
esporaFy character. ancillary to The
e.-G4Eal OF military force, the disband
---G armies, and the reduction of mill.
~ apendlture. by provisional Organiza
q q he protection OF civil rights, the
ssd'laOn Of peace. and to take the
t-e o armed force in the respective
eaanot, we think, be cOnteuded that
~ governors possessed or could exer
- aay but military authority. They haC
NFer 10 organize civil governments