New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-15
Holm n. Rotts TO Congress.

John n. Hotts 10 Congress.
AsroR House May H. 1850
To he Members Of the Senate aud House o. btPrenHta-
tires Of the United Stote'
GENTLEMEN: I feel that fsny one, str@dy in private
life has night without presumption to 'ldress the loyal
representative of this nation upon subject We are all
alike interested in that might venture TO do so without
osense and without rendering myself obnoxious to tie
charge Of vanity.
have no personal avors ask at the hands OF any
have no FAX 10 grind" am candidate or applicant
for no Office l desire 10 preferment belong 10 10
political organization. am entirely free TO throw the
weight Of any little influence may be able 10 command
in favor Of such and such measures as my judgment
nav approve and against such as that udgmen. may
denim can therefore afford to be honest TO be truthful
independent and patriotic and may be excused for say
ing that occupy standpoint think free from all
prejudice and passion which too apt to have their n-
fuence and 10 control tie action Of those who are sur
rounded by constantly oyerheated political atmosphere
But while belong 10 no political organization my SYM
pahies afEnes and cooperation, ere, as they always
have been entirely with the unconditional Union men OF
the country.
Nav therefore be permitted TO ask your calm and de-
lberate attention TO the views presented below. The
difficulty Of seeing and conversing with each member in
private is my reason iof duoPsibb 's puDo N'N Va WIN
munication.
Twelve years ago. addressed myself as now, from this
home to Congress against tho repeal Of the Msso an Com
promise the bitter fruits of which now all tasting
hope this viii not pass unhceded. as did my urgent
eItIoates then.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JONI NJ. Borne.
OBJECTIONS TO rHB REPORT oP TIE RECONSTRUCTION
COMMITTEE.
First 1t makes no provision Tor the reie OF ne cLlon
white Of the South, bat leaves them nna me sate
Governments in the hands Of the uLeconsTucted Rebels
for the next four year who Will improve the opportunity
TO educate the people, without restraint TO more emb-
tered spirit disaecon and disloyaty 20 the Govern
ment the United States, and in four years We shall
hardly have loyal man left in the SOUTH sepreseiVa
ton Will drive them into the rank1 Of the other party, and
the Southern States will constitute an element OF weak
ness rather than of strength 10 the Government.
Scoad The Acknowledgement proposed IS made TO de-.
pend upon grade Of Office held instead Of the grade OF
oonse committed, and is limited 10 the higher classes OF
officers civil and military the latte. including al over The
rank Of Colonel leaving all the guerrilla CHEFS ana Their
Subordinate officers TO say nothing OF pnyaes-an OF
whom would have been Generals IL they could, many Of
whom too committed the greatest atrocities OF the war
free hereafter 10 participate in the councils Of the natoI
IL also leaves those who voted in Convention Tor odi
nances Of Secession-vhioh vas declaration OF war
against the United States, and in the absence oil when
there wonld have been no Rtbelon-ikewise fiee. IL
imposes 10 disqualification upon those msehieyous 1ot
clans who for 80 years have been stng up dsanecuon
and rebellion among the people Nor does II IN any degree
affect the sympathizers with and co0peratoIs in the Rebel
hon in the Northern States who are, # possible, more
guilty ard more obnoxious than those in the South.
IKyd: The bin proposed cannot receive the Presidents
sanction, is the Constitutional Amendment at all
likely TO receive the approval Of tie necessary number Of
State Legislatures.
Fourth. II is extremely improbable that any Southern
State will adopt the conditions prescribed and four years
hence shah be as far from recontrueuon az we are
now.
suggest therefore iha, all these difficulties may be
remedied by single legislative enactment, which might
PROBABLY receive the Presidents assent and II not might
be carried by vo-hirds vote Of tie House. propose,
then in substitution for the report Of the Committee that
II shall be declared by law:
That no person hereafter shall be capable Of holding any
Office legislative executive Judicial, in the Federal or
State Governments for ten years from the passage o the
act who the age Of twenty-five a, the breaking
out Of the Rebellion, without taking the following oath,
addition to that required Of all such officers BY the
Constitution Of the United States:
LAB % .9lsuny ,hs have so ,se. tn. ooh d.y Of
n. voluntarily TAKEN ams ,s.n', 81. rsd ssie' nor hte
en-. under The coas5essts s,. 6oy,n. or q hat Of any
State in rebellion with view In manner aid the Rebellion
calculated 10 ,,nae ssscen
Of The United sts.e' have o,hew gwen I'D and comfort TO
the Rebellion
Let this enactment be accompanied with an absolute
REMISSION in oil cases Of 1e sS5siidre OF LIE Liberty etd
foriY OF those in rebellion and let it also be declared
that if il shall be ascerained that any person mas swoI
falsely 20 obtain hold any Office hereby prohibited snch
occ SHAH be absolutely vacated and the party held liable
TO prosecution for perjury ,
II This plan should be adopted every loyal citizen would
be subjected 20 the test prescribed before he could hold
legislative executive Judicial Office, while those Of 80
and under who had borne against the country would
be relieved Of such obligations. II would be manfesty
proper therefore that oath should be provided for them
which would have only prospective operation, and sug-
..yyst q. iologinoi
h. u .oleGay swear tia, recognize he Consultation Of
the United se' and oil law, made ~ ra,nss ',s n, ~
Constitution ordinance q m 20 Va, - 90
thereof until declared ey the supreme
S.a O. Of The citizen due to ne tinted State. any
part will hereafter ob,sfve and obey the Avs
Would be Be wRs, Mr. johnson would call an nte
gent treason not holding TO responsibility the boys and
young men, who were msed and dragged Ia by oder,
more experienced and more wicked mem nor those who
were forced in by conscrpon and would leave all now ~
years age and under 10 I'LL the Offices State and Fed
ers Who with the Union men, would constitute MA;
the rcgenerated, under 81 would naturally attach them.
selves the Government that had thus restored hemsnd
aid in circulating spirit ofloyay throughout the South,
and their numbers would daily increase who the other
party would decline in still greater rfoo.
Twelve months ago every Rebel In the Sou,h would
have reoced at the proer Of such terms IL is due to the
nation-duo to postenty and mankindthat some penalty
should be visited those who were wlckedy guilty. 10
prevent repetition Of the oGense at future day. Now
Ia the time 10 establish precedent and 10 mild penalty
was never before cIaced for 80 grave crime Complete
restoration and amnesty only Withholding Tor ten years
political power from those who had voluntarily and treach
crously surrendered and abandoned It, Upon the passage
Of this law reconstruction would be absolute and immedi
ae upon basis Of unquesioncd loyalty the State gov.
cmsnts would be placed In the hands OF loyal men the
chief cause Of dsseon between tho President and Con-
gress would be withdrawn; harmony in the public conn
ellis would be restored the guilty would be mildly
punished and the balance relieved of responsibility and
not the least Of tho advantages Of this mode Of settlement
would be that il withdsws the question Of reconstruction
from the next election. II the President should sanction
IT, and Congress reject it, it would indicate that they had
some Interior object in view and disposition to delay
unreasonsbly restoration upon loyal basis which would
severely damage the Union party; while on the other
hand il Congress should adopt it and the President reject
it. it would strongly indicate his part desire to restore
10 power those elements Of dsoyalty, North and South
which have brought such desoaon and ruin upon the
country Of which many now but do mott suspect him.