New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-06-09
Etc.
Etc,
Associated Press plspatchsz.1 l

WASHINGTON, June 8.-The final report of the
Reconstruction Committee, setting forth the rea-
sons for the action of the majority, was read in
both Eouses to-day.
WASHINGTON, June 9.-The Reconstruction Com
mittee in their report say that the governors ap-
pointed by the President could not exercise any
but military power or authority. They had no
power to organize civil governments, neither had
The President any other than military power. He
might perhaps, permit the people to initiate local
governments, and execute such local laws as they
might choose to enact, and as soop as they could
be left safely to themselves. he might withdraw
military force altogether, and leave the people to
govern themselves without his interference. The
gigantic civil war was necessarily subject to all
the rules which by law control in contest of that
character, and to all the legitimate consequences.
One of these was that, within the limits pre-
scrbed by humanity, the conquered rebels
were at the mercy of their conquerors.
The committee continue to say that
from the whole mass of testimony submitted
by the President, it appears that in no in
stance, in the Southern States was any regard
paid to any other consideration than that of OBJ
tanning immediate admission to Congress, under
the barren form Of an election in which no pre-.
cautions were taken to secure regularity of the
proceedings or the assent of the people. No Con
stitution has been legally adopted, excepting,
perhaps, that of Tennessee, and such elections as
were held without the authority of law. The com
mittee are accordingly forced to conclude that the
Southern States have not placed themselves in a
condition to claim representation in Congress, un-
less all the rules which have, since the foundation
Of the government, been deemed essential in
such cases, shall be dsregarded. The com.
mittee review at length the condition Of
the Southern people, saying that the latter
claim as right the privilege of participating
at once in the government they sought tc
overthrow, while the press abounds in abuse ot
the loyal States, and loyal men, and efforts are
made to peFpetuate deadly hate and disGord be
tween the two sections and TO excite hostility
against the government; indeed all feeling Of
Cancellation on the part of the North has beer
treated with Indifference. The bitterness and de-
fance against US has been unparalleled in the his
tory of the world. Considering their duty in return
for our leniency we receive only insulting denial
of authority. In return for our kind desire for
the resumption of fraternal relations we receive
enly insoent assumption of rights and privileges
long since forfeited. The crime we have punished
is paraded as a virtue, and the principles of the
American government which we have vindicated
at cost so terrible, are denounced as unjust and
oppressive.
The committee then recapitulate the events before
and during the war, including the withdrawal Of
Senators, Representatives, ETC., and declares thai
the great mass of the people became insurgents
and traitors, and all of them assumed and occupied
the political, legal and practical relation of enc
mics of the United States. This state Of thing
did not cease when their armies fell and thei
cause was lost. Dhepeople were thenreduced to tn
condition of enemies conquered and entitled onl
to receive such rights, privileges and conditions
might be vouchsafed by their couqaerors. Havin
thus acted, they have no right to complain of thei
temporary exclusion from Congress, but o
the contrary, having renounced vountaril
their right TO representation and havin
disqualified themselves by crime from par
ticpating in the government the burden now rests
upon them, before claiming to be reinstated il
their former position, TO show their right to resum
Federal relations. They must prove that the.
have established, with the consent Of the people
republican forms of government in harmony viii
the constitutional laws of the United States; tha
all hostile purposes have ceased and they mus
give adequate guarantees against future Treason
aud rebellion, which will be satisfactory to tht