Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-14
TIE RECoNsrnrCr1ON REPORT.

In one Of the papers Of the Federdtist,
ALEXANDER HAMILTON has recorded it as
his opinion that the greatest danger to the
of the system Of government to
which he and his great compeers of the
era Of the Republic were deyoting
themselves, was legislative usurpation. The
report Of the Congressional Committee on
Reconstruction illustrates the forecasting
wisdom Of this remark. Its whole argument
and purpose is not 10 present plan on
which 10 restore the integrity Of the Govern
ment as a Federal Union Of States, but to re-
strict and undervalue the power Of all co-or-
dinate departments Of the Government, and TO |
assert for Congress claim to declare, that |
precedent 10 such restoration or reconstruc-
ton, there shall be certain organic changes, |
and the power to determine and prescribe |
what they shall be. In order to secure a
foundation for this argument they are COM
PEELED to assume that the civil war destroyed
the Covernment, as it existed under the Con-
stitution, and divided the peopleinto twopor-
tions--the conquerors and the conquered, and
that new system, adapted to this state Of
things, is required for the emergency. This
position has been 50 often and so completely
refuted by the President and every speaker or
writer in the country who has followed the
Constitution as his guide, that it is unneces-
sary to repeat it in reply to the official soph-
istry which now seeks TO uphold it. The
Reconstruction Committee, neither in the
result Of their labors, (Which proved abor-
tive before one branch of Congress, and will
probably do so before the other OF in their
labored argument TO explain why they have
suspense, can give force or dignity to pro-
positions so repugnant to the just
and true republican sense of the
people The rebellion, to speak after the
phrase Of the day, did not destroy the Con-
stitution, and did not convert one portion Of
the people legally subject to it, and to moth
ing else, into dictators and masters and the
other into a subiugated class compelled to
accept the law as it may be laid down to
them. If it did, it was, in a most important
sense, a success, in that it simplifies the
mode Of future revolutions, by dispensing
with the necessity of TIE argument of the
right Of secession, and renders such casual
ties imminent, by the tyranniaal exercise Of
power which such a condition of things
requires.
We do not propose to review this docu-
ment. Its main feature, as above stated,
sufficiently condemns il. 1t manifests in
every line anything but the spirit of true re-
construction, and tends rather to hinder
cordial and fraternal union upon the basis
of republican principles impossible and, if
one could think that the mass of the people
of each section entertained the feelings
which characterize this paper, he might fold
his hands in despair of ever beholding the
restoration Of the Government. 1t is inge-
niously, studiously, shamefully offensive to
the Southern people, and wantonly disre-
spectful of the President. 1t would seem
that the object Ct its authors was to bring in
an indictment against the people of the
revolving States which should combine
all the partizan misrepresentation which
venal ingenuity has been able TO invent, to
endeavOr TO intensity the bitter prejudices of
those whom they claim to be exclusive
judges of the case and to ensure the end
they aim at, TO impeach the conduct of the
| President, and confne the functions of his
| great Office TO 9 mere registry of the edicts
| Of Congress. Ii reviews The testimony sub
mitted to the committee after the style of a
pettifogging attorney, and presents a partial,
| superficial, sOphistical summing up which is
utterly disgracefll to them as men claiming
to be statesmen. II does not, in a single
feature, lift itself to the hight of the
Great argument which involves on the
one hand, the duty of a wise, power
full, and magnanimous Government, whose
strength and greatness is in the Constitution
which charters it with power, and on the
otherhand, therights and privileges of nearly
one half Of the people who yield to it allie
glance and look to it for all that they have
or desire in a Government. II is a misera-
bic, paltry, grovelling, partizan document
throughout.
II will fail to swerve the President an
inch, or jostle him in the high place which
he holds in the confidence of the people.
1t will fall harmless and despised at the
feet Of the Southern people. Instead of tax
ing rank as a great State paper such as
the critical exigency which brought it forth
demanded, it will soon sink into the COM
mon sewer which conveys the vile party lit
erature of the day TO its deserved oblivion.