Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-05-09
Report of the Reconstruction
Committee.

One of the most important measures yet
presented to Congress, is the report of tbs
Reconstruction Committee. In the outline
we gave of its supposed features, in last weeks
paper, were some inaccuracies, as the full
text of the Report shows. The proposition
favoring universal suffrage was not made
positive feature of the Report, although the
second Section has q bearing inthat direction
The report consists of three separate doc
uments a.: Ist, q joint resolution proposing &
Constitutional amendment; ID, a bill to re-
store the late rebel States to full political
privileges; Sd, a bill declaring certain classe
of traitors ineligible to United States offices
The first article of the proposed amend
ment forblds any State from enacting partial
laws, or depriving any citizen of the United
States of equal privileges and immunitiei
and equal protection of the laws.
The second section refers to the apportion'
ment of Representative, which is to be accor'
ding to the whole population Of each State
excluding Indians not taxed. But any
State that refuses the ballot to any Of it
citizens not less than 81 years of age, except
for treason or other crime, shall not be al,
lowed to count those persons thus refused, in
their basis of representation. By this pro
vision it is made the interest of each State
to enlarge its number of electors, as i
thereby increases its power in Congress
nLs- $1,000 ,~o-feson
Section 9 excludes all voluntary rebel
from voting for Members of Congress ant
President and vice President, for four years
until July 4, 1870. We would haves liked
this section better had it extended the dis
franchisement until 1900, at which date the
present generation of traitors would have
generally been beyond the reach of doing
mischief. As j. is, it excludes them from
meddiing with the next Presidential election,
q fact that will be very discouraging to cop
perheads, who are counting on Southern aid
in the campaign of 1868. Now that the 10y
al party of the Nation has the shaping of its
laws, they should not fail to render the cita-
del of Liberty invulnerable to the combined
assaults OF rebels and copperheads. Let US
not, at least put weapons in their treacher-
Gus hands.
Section 4, of the proposed Amendment, is
very important 1t prohibits the United
States, or any State, from assuming or pay
ing any rebel debt incurred in making war
against the Union. The 9th and last section
grants Congress power to provide for carry
ing out this article.
The Second patio the Report, which re-
fers to the restoration of the late insurgent
States, provides that when the foregoing re-
cited amendment shall have become part of
the Constitution and the rebel States have
satisfied them and conformed their Constitu-
tons to them they may then be represented
in Congress, provided their members can
take the required oath.
Direct tax for which those States are in
arrears, must also be paid within ten years
from the passage of this act.
The third part of the report consists of SO
bill declaring certain persons ineligible to
Office under the government of the United
States" This includes the rebel president
and the vice president, heaGs ofdepartments,
agents who went abroad; those who held
high, civil and military Offices under the
Federal Government at the breaking out OF
the rebellion, and deserted their places TO
join the rebels also rebel governors, and
military officers above the grade Of Colonel
and last, but not the least infamous, those
who unlawfully treated Union prisoners.
This is the substance of the Committees
report 1t may not be as thorough and sat
isfactory as the more uncompromising I'm
ionists would desire, but it is perhaps the
best that could be had under the circumstan-
ces.