The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-06-11

Observation-Disclosures Question of
RepresentRtIOn---COn OF the
late RebeIIiOus StateS-.-GuRrantees
for the Future Acknowledgement
81 Grant Desires an Increase of the
Army.
WASHINGTON, June 8.
The detailed report of the Committee
on Reconstruction was yesterday made
in each House of Congress. They set
forth the reasons for the conclusions 10
which they camein reporting an amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States, and the two bills with which the
public are already familiar. Speaking
of the condition of the Confederate
States at the close of the rebellion, the
committee say these States were in
utter exhaustion, and without govern
ments. The President had no power
except to execute the laws of the land
as Chief Magistrate. The laws gave
him no authority over the subject of
REORGANIZATION, By the Constitution
he was Commander-in-Ch Of The
arm y and navy 1t was his duty. under
the laws of nations and the army regu-
lations, to restore order, TO preserve
properly and to protect the people
against violence from any quarter until
nroyision should be made for their
government. He might, as Presi-
dent, assemble Congress and submit
the whole matter TO the law
making power, or he might continue
military supervision and control until
Congress should assemble on its reSu-
Iarly appointed day. AS to the Cover
norS appointed by the President. IL
could not be contended that they pos
sessed, or could exercise, any bur mill
tary authority. They had no power to
mr. y
ercise any authority except that which
inhered in their own persons under
their commissions. Neither had the
President, as Commander-in-C Chief, any
other than mill ary power, but he was
in exclusive possession of the military
authority. 1t was for him to decide
how far he would relax it; when and on
what terms he would withdraw it. He
might, perhaps, permit the people to
assem- BILE and to initiate local govern
ments and to execute such local laws
as they might choose to form, not in
consistent with, nor in opposition to
laws of the United States; and If salts
fed they might safely be lett to them
selves, he might withdraw the military
force altogether, and leave the people of
any or all of those States to govern
themselves without his interference.
The committee, after speaking of the
origin and leading incidents of the war,
say it was wagpd as civil war OF gl-
gAntic magnitude. 1t was neceS-
sarily subject to all the rules which
by the laws of nations controla a con-
test of that character, and TO all the le-
gitimate teconseaueuces iOllOwiDgit. One
of the consequences was this: Withln
the limits prescribed by humanity The
conquered rebels were at the mercy oI
their conquerors. The committee did
not deem II necessary or proper to dis
cuss the question whether the late Con-
federate States are still States of the
Union or can ever be otherwise. Grant
this profitlesS abstraction about whlch
so many words have been wasted, IL by
no IL cans follows that the people OF
these States may not place themselves
in a condition TO abrogate the power
and privileges incident to State of the
Union. and deprive themselves OF all
the pretence OF right to exercise tnelr
power and enjoy their privileges. The
committee maintain that no portion OF
the people of the country, whether IN a
State or Territory, the right, while
remaining on its soil, to Withdraw from
or reject the authority of the United
States. They say it is quite evident
from all the facts, and, indeed, from the
whole testimony by the President, thnt
in no instance was any regard paid to
nny other consideration than obtaining
immediate admission 10 Congress un-
der the barren form of an election, in
which no precautions were taken TO Sc
cure regularity of proceedings or the
assent of the people. NO constitution
has been legally adopted, except,
perhaps, in the State of Tennessee,
and such elections AS were held were
without authority of law. The com
mittee are accordingly forced to the
conclusion that the States referred TO
| have not placed themselves in condi-
tion to claim representation in Con-
e1ress, unless all the rules which have
place in the foundation of the Govern
ment. and deemed essential in such
cases. shall be diSregarded. The com
mittee then reviewed at length the con
dition and feeling of the Southern peo-
nile. saving, among other things, that
| ihe latter claim as right the privilege
| of participating at once in the Govern
menI, which for four years they sought
| to overthrow, while their presses
abound in abuse of the loyal States,
and efforts are made to Perpetuate the
deadly hate and discord between The
! two sections, and excite hostility
against the Federal Union.
The report, which is a long one, con-
cludes as follows, which may be re-
parded as n summary of the whole
case:
..Tbe evidence of an intense hostility
to the Federal Union, and an equally
intense love of the late Confectionery,
nurtured by the w.r, is decisive. While
it appears that all &c Wiling 10 SUI SUI
init. at least for the til, t,oe being, to red
eraI authority, it is eq, THlly S!ear @ Tue
ruling motive is a desire to Obtain the
advantages which will be derived from
a representation in Congress. oHlceIs
OF the Union army, and Northern men
who go South to engage in busin ess, aLe
generally detested and prose. c.VIp gu u.
Southern men who adhered to Lne
Union are bitterly hated and relentle es-
ly Dersecuted in some localities, pros, =
cutions have been instituted in State
courts against Union officers for acts
similar prosecutions are threatened
elsewhere as soon as the United States
troops are removed; all-such demon
strations show II state offeeling against
which 1t Is unmistakably necessary 10
guard. The testimony Is conclusive
fhnt after the collapse of the COnfedera-
cy the feeling of the people of the rebel
lious States was that of abiect submis-
sion; having appealed to the tribunal
OF arms, they had no hope except that,
by the rnagnanimity OF their conquer
ors, their lives, especially their proper
ty, might be preserved. Unfortunately
the general issue of pArdons to persons
who had been prominent in the rebel,
lion, and the feeling of kindness ana
conci1iation manifested by the Ex-
ecntiye. and very generally indi-
Gated throughout the Northern press,
had the effect 10 render whole
communities forgetful of thecri they
had committed, defiant towards the
Federal Government, and regardless OF
their duties as citizens. The concllla-