The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-06-21

whereof is to be determined by tie con-
stltutlonal government, and not solely by
the executive power. The question be-
fore Congress is, then, whether conquered
enemies have the right and shall be per-
mltted, at their own pleasure aud on their
own terms, to participate in making laws
Tor their coDquerors whether conquered
rebels may change their theatre of opera
tlons from the battlefield, where they
were defeated and overthrown, to the
halls OF Congress, and, through their
Representatives, seize upon the Govern
ment which they fought to destroy ];
whether the rational treasury, the army
of the nation, its navy, its forts and arsen-
ais, It's whole civil administration, its cred
1t, Its pensioners, the widows and Or
phans of those who perished in the war,
the public honor, peace and safety, shall
all be turned over to its recent enemies,
without delay and without imposing such
conditions as, in the opinion Of Congress,
the security Of the country and its insti-
tutions may demand. The history of
mankind exhibits no other example of
such madness and folly. The instinct of
seit-preServation protests against it. The
surrender by Grant TO Lee, and by Sher-
man to Johnston, would have been disas-
ters OF less magnitude; for new armies
could have been raised, new battles
fought, and the Government saved The
anti-coerciye policy which under pretext
OF averting bloodshed, allowed the rebel
lion to take form and gather force, would
bo surpassed in infmy by the matchless
wickedness that would now surrender the
halls of Congress to those so recently in
rebellion: until proper precautions shall
nave been taken to secure the national
safety. 1t has been shown in this report,
and in the evidence submitted no proof
has been afforded to Congress of a con-
stltuency in any of the so-called Confed-
erate States, unless we except the State
OF Tennessee, qualified to elect Senators
and Representatives in Congress. No
State constitution, or amendment to a
State constitution, has had the sanction
of the people. All the so-called Iegisla-
ton OF State conventions and Legis latures
has been had under military dictation =
Ii the President may at his will and under
bis own authority, whether as military
commander or chief Executive, qualify
persons to appoint Senators and elect
Representatives and empower others to
appoint and elect them, he thereby
practically controls the organization of
the Legislative department. The consti-
tutional form of Government is thereby
practically destroyed and its powers
absorbed in the Executive And while
your committee do not for a moment
impute to the President any such design,
but cheerfully concede to him the most
patriotic motives, they cannot but look
with alarm upon precedent so traught
with danger to the Republic. The
necessity OF providing adequate safeguards
for the future before restoring the insur-
rectlonary States to participation in the
direction of public affairs is apparent
from the bitter hostility to the Govern
ment and people of the United States, yet
existing throughout the conquered terrific
~, as proved incontestably by the
testimony of many witnesses and by
lndisputable facts. The conclusion of
your committee, therefore, is that the So
called Confederate 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 sho'd |
be required 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 Republic; shall place representation
on an equitable basis; shall fix stigma
upon treason, and protect the loyal people |
against future claim for the expenses incurred |
in support of rebellion and for manumitted |
slaves, together with an express grant of |
power in Congress to enforce those provis- |
ions. To this end they offer joint resolu- |
ton for amending the Constitution of the |
United States, and the two several bills de- |
signed to carry it into effect, before referred |
to.
The RNDEhsICAEl EO.sahIaRHlnn |