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


der the concurrent resolution of Dec. 18th,
1863. Although nominally mere report
TO Congress OF committee appointed by
1t, the report is In fact an unanswerable
defense of the policy of Congress as against
the policy of the President The resolu-
tions under which the committee was
appointed directed them to inquire into
the condition Of the Confederate States,
and to report whether they or any of
them were entitled to be represented in
either House of Congress. We think the
pith of the report will be found in the
following synopsis.
as TO THEIR CONDITION.
1st. They were in state of utter ex-
naustlon, and OF complete anarchy. In
the words of President johnson, Gthey
were deprived of all civil government and
must organize anew. Their State institu-
tions were prostrated, laid out on the
ground, and they must be taken up and
adapted to the progress of events.''
"a. The President, as Chief Magistrate.
had power only to execute the laws of the
land, and therefore had no authority over
tie subject of reorganization. As Com
mander-ln-chlef, his duty was to restore
order, to preserve property and to protect
the people from violence, until lawful
provision be made for their government
He might, as President, assemble Congress
and submit the whole matter to the Law.
making power, or he might continue mill
tary supervision and control until the
regular meeting of Congress
Sd. The appointment of provisional
governors was by virtue of military au-
thoFity, and the governors so appointed
had no authority save such as ;nhered in
their persons under their commissions.
9TH. The President in two messages
to Congress urged the speedy restoration
OF the rebel States, but Congr did not
deem 1t prudent to act solely on the opin-
Ion OF the President, in a matter of such
grave Importance, and therefore proceeded
to obtain the Information necessary to
Intelligent action. A call was hence made
tor the information in possession of the
President, but it was not communicated
TIL the committee had been in session
some months, and after being communi-
Gated, 1t was found incomplete and unsat-
lsfactory.
oth. But one course therefore remained:
to investigate carefully and thoroughly
the state of feeling and opinion existing
among the people of these States to
ascertain how far their pretended loyalty
could be relied upon, and thence tosinfer
whether il would be safe to admit them
aG once to full participation in the Gov
ernment they had fought for foar years to
destroy 1t was an equally important
inquiry whether their restoration to their
former relations with the United States
should only be granted upon certain con-
ditlons and guarantees, which would
eftectually secure the nation against
recurrence of evils SO disastrous as those
from which it had escaped at so enormous
a sacrifice.
AS TO THEIR ADMISSION.
9th. Claim for the immediate admission
of Senators and Representatives from the
lately rebellious States which, stated in
few words, amounts to this That, mas
muc h as the late ;nsurgent States had no
legal right to separate themselves from
the Union, they still retain their positions
as States, and consequently the people
thereof have right to immediate repre-
seatatlon IN Congress, without the impo-
sltion of any conditions whatever; ard
further, that until such admission, Con-
gress has no right to tax them for the
support of the Government. It has
even been contended that, until such
admission, all legislation affecting their
interests Is, II not unconstitutional, at least
unjustifable and oppressive.
7th. 1t is held by the committee that
llthese propositions are untenable, and if
admitted wopid tend to the destruction of
the government. That one of the conse-
ounces of therebellion is that within the
limits OF humanity the conquered rebels
were at tho mercy of the conauerors.-
That Government, outraged as was ours.
had most perfect right to exact indem-
nifty for the I'M uries done, and security
against the recurrence of such outrages
in the future, would seem too clear for
dispute. What the nature of that security
should be, what proof should be required
of return to allegiance, what time should
elapse before people thus demoraIized
should be restored in full to the enjoyment
OF political rights and privileges, are
questions for the law-maklng power to
decide, and that decision must depend on
grave considerations of the public safety
and the general welfare.
Sth. TO hold that as soon as Govern
ment is reotored to its full authority, it
can be allowed no time to secure itself
against similar wrongs in the future, or
else omit the ordinary exercise of its
power to compei equal con-
tribution from all toward the expenses of