The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-06-09
RECONSTRUCTION.

RECONSTRUCTION.
S>~>~-~>~~~-~~~~~~~~~~--
Another Report from tho Comm ittee or
Fineen-lhe Southern States Con.
sidered - Conquered Provinces and che
People ~ Conquered Enemies-They
Can Only he Restored 20 Their For
fcited Rights by tho Consent or Con.
gress-Tennessec the Only State In Any
Wise Qualified % Elect Represents.
tives TO Congress.
WASHINGTON, June 8, 1865.
The detailed report Of the Committee on Reconstr,c
ton was day made in each House Of Congress They
set forth the for the conclusions which they
came In reporting amendment to the constitution Of
the United States and the two bills with which the pub.
lie are already familiar Speaking Of the condition Of
the Confederate States at the close OF tho rebellion the
committee say these States in utter exhaustion
without governments The President had no power ex-
cent to execute the laws Of the land Chief Magistrate
The laws give him authority the subject Of
organization BY the constitution he was Commander
nChief Of the army and navy II was.his duty, under
the laws Of nations and the army regulations to restore
order to preserve property and 70 protect the people
against violence from any QUARTER until provision should
be made for their government. He might as President
assemble Congress and submit the whole matter the
law making power, or he might continue military super
vision and control until Congress shoud assemble on
It's regularly appointed day
As to the Governors appointed by the President 1t
could moi be contended they possessed could
ercise any but military authority. They had no power
to organize civil governments, to exercise any
thory except that which inferred In their persons under
their commissions; neither had the President as Com
mander.in. Chief, any other than military power But
he in exclusive possession OF the military authority.
II for him to decide how far he would exercise it.
how far he would relax it-when and what terms he
would withdraw it, He might perhaps, permit the peo
pie TO assemble and to initiate local and TO
execute such local laws as they might CHOOSE 10 FORM
not inconsist mt with nor in opposition to tho laws If
the Unit States, and satisfied they might safely be left
10 themselves he might withdraw the military force
altogether and leave the people OF any all of these
States TO govern themselves without his interference.
The Committee, after speaking OF the origin aud lead
ing incidents Of the war, say II wagnd civil
OF gantc magnitude. II was necessarily subject to all
the rules which, by the laws OF naons control contest
OF that character and to all the legitimate consequences
following it. One Of the consequences this: within
the limits prescribed by humanity the conquered rebels
were at the mercy Of tn conquerors The Committee
did not deem it necessary proper 70 discuss the que
ton whether the late Confederate states arc still States
OF this Union be otherwise. Grant this
proftess abstraction about which so many words
have been wasted, Il by no means follows that the
people OF these States may not place themselves In
a condition to abrogae the powers and priv .eges
incident to State or tho Union and deprive
themselves OF all pretence to right exercise their
power and enjoy their privileges. The Committee
maintain that portion OF the people of the country
u
naming on its SOIL 70 withdraw from reject the
thority of tho United States They say IL Is quito evil
dent from all the facts and indeed, from tho whole
mass OF testimony submitted by tho President that In
instance was any regard paid to any other considera
ton than obtaining immediate admission to Congress
under the barren form Of election in which pre-
cautions taken TO regularity Of proceedings
or the assent OF the people No constitution has been
legally adopted, except perhaps, in State Of Ten
nessee and such elections as were held wore without
authority Of law. The Committee accordingly forced
10 tho couucsion that the state referred 10 have not
n
In Congress unless all the rules which have, since tho
foundation OF tho government been deemed essential in
such cases shall be disregardct
The Committee hen review o, length the condition and
feeling OF the Southern people, saying, among other
things that the latter claim as nght the privilege OF
participation at In the government WHICH, for four
years. they Fought 70 overthrow while their presses
10 porpeuats tho deadly hate and dsccrd between the
two sections and excite hostility against tho federal
Union The report which " a long one, concludes ~
follows, which may be regarded rs summary of the
The evidence hostility the federal Union
and an equally intense love OF the late concderacy by
the war; Is decisive. While it appears that nearly all
willing TO submit at least for tho time being
TO federal authority, 10 Il equally clear tina,
advantages which VIII he derived from a re
presentation IN Congress. oacers Of this Union army
duty, and Northern who South ~ engage VA
business arc generally dctestcd and prescribed South
men who adhered TO the Union bitterly hated
and ro,cntesy persscntcd. In some loaitlcs pToseu
havc boon instituted Stale courts asalns, Union
officers for acts done tho ue OF official duty and SIM
uniod States troops are removed All such dcrnonst
lions show state OF feeling asninst which IL s unmls
takably necessary 10 guard The testimony sconciusive
that after the collapse % the consnerary the feeling Of
the people ~ the rcbeilIons States that
of abjcct submission. Having appealed TO tho
tribunal OF sImE, thsS had hope except that
by the magnanrniiy OF their copquerors their lives
and possibly their property might be preserved Unfor
been rrn.auen tho rebellion and the feeling Of kind
lners and conclllaon manifested by tho Executive and
very generally ind Gated through Tho Northern press
hlHlh nfsE ztafa tti.Hl tnf
the crime they had committed, defiant toward the fed
era government, and regardless Of their duty citizens
fhe courisatory measures 81 the government do not
seem IN have been met half wav. The bitterness
and defiance exhibited towards tho United State under
such circumstances is without parallel IN the hizoty
Of the world In return for loepcy receive only
nsocnt assumption 81 rights and privileges long
forfeited The CRIME 40 have punished IL parlded q
virtue, aud tho principles OF republican government
which W. have INDICATED Ut terrible cost de.
nounced a. unjust and Oppressive.
II add TO this evidences tho feet tina; although peace
has been declared by The President he ha his dny
deemed Il safe 20 ro;1rs tho writ Of hsbea corpus 10
relieve The isurrpconsry state % afiai law nor 20
withdraw the troops from many ic,aeS, and tha, the
commanding general deems an lncfese ~ the army
dispersabie to the pre.rylioa o. order and hc proiec
proof u condition or feeling 0its to the Union and
dangerous 70 s government throughout the ineurrec
tvnGry' states would seem - DC alarm az.
We nov propose u resate' - briefly a. possible tho
general facts and principles applicable " ali 'ha staias
Fr,-Gho seal. % senaiors ana ontatyrs from
the called Confederate states beEme IN
year 1891 during tho second sjn ~ The Thirty Hixt
Congress, ~ the voluntary Withdrawal 81 their inrum-
benta wh The aancton and by ths direction of their
respective states. This done . hostile against
The stitutiou and The gogtrunlent ~ tbs United
states win 'be declared rioui b o.erhfo@ the same
ny orming southern Crr4efefa'Dr. This ut IL DO
cared hostility was spce.y followed rs organlzrtion
VI Tho STATES rt9 errfsnftey Wirh levied
wafeh war by aud land asan1g inc rritsd States.
Tbs ar continued FOR uqra than fsur years. within
which period the rebc Arfnss besrs the national capt
tai Invaded the loyal states, bgrsce ualr town.
ard cities, robbed thalF ctiEeDs de- tfoysd
more thtn 2a0oao loyal a1t,sr. an1 Eupaecd An in.
creascd nj, Ona hurd ~ not ie an 81 800 900,
o. .hicb elN hunGraa raj lions have already
been tnat md pad. From the TIM" these conederatet
States thus sthdros their repre- IN Congress
aud lotio avarst thc Ince stalca the great
81 ui.ir people b'cafrn aui insrrgants traitors
ald ali " tbcin lfnel aud pied The political legal
cad prseisa relation 81 .nomies Of the Tinted siascs
In3 pn1iilcn esibs Dea ~ sct ~ ,onFe-s and judi
rlsl dsridoDs ard recognised ftreatev W the Prcsi
dem IN public proclamation documents and speeches.
ycsfa The states thus corfs4 rated praecgied thcr
war aga-a' she United states 10 tiral ala,ramcrt and
uut r4lNa NJ ALI n