Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-06-14
RUTLAND HERALD.
TUESDAY, JUNE u, 1866.
Report Of the Reconstruction Com
mtttee.

porte by the committee, yet it is an
impor ut paper and ably presents the
views " the committee on the grave
question discussed. 1t is a lengthy doc
ument, occupying some half dozen
closely printed columns in the New
York papers, and we can only give the
following editorial summary Of it which
we ind in the Tribune.
The report begins with adverting
briefly TO the course the committee
found ! { necessary to adopt. They had
been directed by resolution of Con-
gress 10 inquire into the condition of
the confederate states, and report
whether they were entitled to repre-
sentation in Congress The former of
these points admitted of no dispute.
The South was in a state of utter ex-
haustion. Congress having failed to
provide for the contingency, the duty of
the President was obvious. He had no
power except to execute the laws of the
land snd to establish, as far as he could,
system of government. All his acts
were those of military commander, but
no authority was given him by the law
over the subject Of reconstruction.
On the meeting of Congress in Deem
Der, the President officially announced
the organization Of local governments,
and urged the readmission of the late
rebel states. With regard to this re-
commendation, Congress must either
have acted blindly upon the opinion of
the President, or proceed to collect for
itself the necessary information. The
latter course was chosen. Its first duty
was 10 call upon the President for the
information in his possession as to what
had been done. The information, whici;
was not communicated until six weeks
after the committee had been in actual
session, appeared to the Republican
members of the committee incomplete
and unsatisfactory. Under these cir
cumstanCes, it appeared that but one
course remained, viz, to investigate
thoroughly and carefully the state of
feeling among the people of the South
ern states, and hence to infer whether
ii was safe to readmit them to Con-
gress. To obtain this Information the
committee had recourse to the exam
ination OF witnesses whose position had
given them the best means of forming
an accurate judgment. The results of
this examination have been heretofore
published.
The report of the committee next pro-
ceeds 10 examine the claims Of the South
for readmission to Congress. All dis
cussion Of the question whether the re-
covered States are out Of or within the
Union is waived, and the report assumes
as beyond dispute that the people of the
rebel States had in fact acithdFaaon from, the
Union and made themselves subjects of another
government. The Government of the
United States had undoubtedly right
to exact indemnity for the injuries done
and security against their recurrence in
the future otherwise the Government
would be powerless for it's own protec-
ton. The Government had equally the
duty 10 protect those in the South who
had remained true and loyal The COM
mittee was unable to find in the infor-
nation obtained any satisfactory proof
that IL was safe to re.admit any of the
seeded States to their former position
in Congress, except, perhaps, the State
OF Tennessee.
the opinion of the committee that the
rebel States were at the close Of the
war, disorganized communities that
Congress cannot be expected to recog-
nize SIS valid the election of men from
such communities; and that before their
admission TO participation in the Gov
eminent Congress must provide such
constitutional or other guarantees as
will tend to secure the rights of all citi-
Zens Of the Republic, Just equality of
represeD tation, protection against claims
founded in rebellion and crime, and, at
least, temporary restriction of the
right Of suffrage to men of undoubted
loyalty.
The committee, therefore, reaches the
conclusion that the so. called Confeder-
ate States are not at present, entitled to
representation in the Congress of the
United States; that before allowing
such representation, adequate security
for future peace and safety should be re-
quired that this can only be found in
such changes of the organic law as shall
determine the civil rights and privileges
OF all citizens in all parts of the Repub-
lie, and shall place representation on an
equitable basis, shall fix stigma upon
treason and protect the loyal people
against future claims for expenses in
Cured in support of rebellion, and for
manumitted slaves, together with an
express grant in Congress to enforce
these provisions. To this end they offer
joint resolution for amending the Con-
stitution, and several bills designed
to carry the same into effect. The spe-
ciic recommendations submitted to
Congress were the result of mutual con-
cession, after long and careful compari-
son OF conflicting opinions, and the final
report has received the signature of every
Republican member of the committee
except Messrs. Washburne and Blow
who were absent.
The report is very able, and will occu-
py very conspicuous place in the his
tory Of the Republican party. What
ever exceptions may be taken to one or
another part, the whole will commend
itself TO the friends of the Union as a
conclusive and admirable summary OF
the measures which the majority of the