The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-23
The Minority Report.

The Minority Report.
tz Ehe minority report of the Recon
struction Committee was read In Con
sress, on Tuesday. 1t is very volu-
sninons, and is4 remarkable for clear
analysis, logical precision of argu-
ment, and is evidently from the pen
of the Hon. Reverdy johnson, by
whom, with Messrs. Griver, of Ken
tucky, and Rogers, of New Jersey,
it is signed. The following is an alb
stract of the report:
The minority proceed first to con-
slider what was the effect of the late
insurrection upon the relations of the
States where it prevailed to the Gene
raj Government, and of the people
collectively and individually Of such
States. They contend that the in
fsuITection never legally dissolved the
| connection between these States and
the Government. In its nature, the
Government is formed of States pos
sessing equal rights and privileges
and powers. States unequal are not
known to the Constitution. In it's
original formation, perfect equality
was secured. The equality of rights
was the condition of the original
thirteen States before the Govern
mcnt WAS formed. In every State
admitted since the Constitution was
adopted, each State is declared to be
zone of the United States, on an
equal f""in9 of all the original States
III I!l t,.NlI,.,.tc xyhatovae -
he minority argued ut length the
'G rs OLA State, and maintained that
Wh9i: State Is once in the Union she
must abide by it forever. She can
never withdraw, or be expelled from
1t. The majority concede this by
submitting Il constitutional amend
ment to these Southern States. the
same rs to other States. a different
doctrine would lead to Il dissolution
of the Union. The Constitution does
not give the power to subjugate the
State, but to suppress the insurrec-
ton within the State, anil thereby
preserve the State The power is
conservative. 1t is to protect the
State and not to destroy it. In re.
ferring to the local governments of
the South, and the charge that the
President illegally created them, the
minority say that, conccding for the
arguments sake that this was so. does
it not follow that Congress is cuuallv
unauthorized to interfere? Congress-
may admit new States, but Il State
once admitted ceases to be in it's con-
troll and can never again be brought
within it. Whatever changes her
people may make in their Constitu-
ton, Congress has nothing to do
with it.
In allnding to representation, the
minority say that the representatives
OF the States not i'm ins,lrrection. if
the Others were represented, would
exceed, III the House, (undcr the pre-
sent apportionment,) by n majority of
seNenty-two votes, and have q decided
pfepondcrance i'll the Senate. What
danger to the Government, then. can
possibly arise from Southern repre-
sentation? Are the present Senators
and Representative fearful of them
selves? Are they apprehensive that
they might be lostto distinction? The
idea that the country is to be kept in
turmoil, States to be reduced to bond
age, and their rights under the Con-
stltutlon denied, and the rights of
their citizens disregardcd, with view
to the continuance in power of mere
political party, cannot, fora moment,
be entertained, without imputiug
gross dishonestyof purpose and gross
derellction Of duty to those who en-
terrain it. The minority claim that
there is nothing in the evidence taken
to show that this denial of representa-
ton should be made. They have
complied with every requirement of
the President, rcpudiated the rebel
debt. The proposed constitutional
amendment IS looked npon by the
minority us impolitic
The amendments suggested have
no connection with each other. and
each ought to have been submitted as
a separate article. In discussing the
legal status of the rebel State Go
vernments of the South, the minority
add, i'll conclusion, that the majority
report states that "they do not, for {,
moment, impute to President John
son any design to extend executive
power, but cheerfully concede to him
the most patriotic motive" And we
cannot forbcar 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