Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-06-22

until proper precautions shall have been
taken to secure the national faith and the
national safety.
Eighth 1t has been shown in this re-
port and in the evidence admitted, no
proof has bsen afforded to Congress of a
constituency in any of the so-called Con-
federate States, unless we except the
State Of Tennesses, Qualified 10 elect SeRa-
tors and Representatives in Congress. No
state CONSTITUTION or amendment to q
State Constitution has had the sanction Of
the people. All the so-calied legislation
Of State Conventions and Legislatures has
been held under military dictation. If
the President may at his will un-
der has own auth0Tity, whether as
military commander or chief executive,
qualify persons to appoint Senators and
elect Representatives, and empower others
TO appoint and elect them he thereby
practically controls the organization Of
the Legislative Department The Con-
Btitutional form Of Government is hereby
practically destroyed, and its powers abb
sorbed IN the Executive; and while your
Committee do not for moment impute to
the President any such design, but cheer
fully concede to him the MOST patriotic
motives, they cannot but look with aiarm
upon a precedent so fraUght with danger
to the Republic. H 1 oaf .lt1s
Ninth The necessity of providing
adequate safeguards for the future be-
fore restoring the insurrectiOnary States
to a participation in the direction of pub
lie affairs, is apparent from the bitter
hostility to the Government and people
of the United States yet existing through
out the conquered territory IS made IN
contestible by the testimony of many wit
nesses and indisputable facts.
TeHEH--The oOholusion Of your Com
mittee. therefore, is, that the sO-caIled
Confederate States are not ct present en-
titled TO representation IN the Congress
Of the United States (; that before allow
ing such representation, adequate security
for future peace and safety should be re-
duired that can only be found 10 such
changes of the organic laws asshall de-
termine the civil rights and privileges Of
the citizens in eli parts of this Republic,
shall base representation on an equitable
basis, shall fix q stigma upon treason and
protect the loyal people against future
claims for the expenses incurred In sup
port of the rebellion, and for the manu-
mitted slaves, together with an express
grant Of poWeF IN Congress TO enforce
these provisions. 70 this end they 0iter
a Joint resolution for amending the Con-
stitution of tho United States, and the
two several bills designated to carry the
same into effect, before referred to. be-
fore closing this report, your Committee
beg leave to state that she specific rec
concentrations submitted BY them are
the result of concession, after q long and
careful comparison of conflicting opinions.
Upon a question of such magnitude in
Safely important as Il is to the future
Of the Republic, il was not 20 beiezpected
that all should think alike. Sensible OF
the imperfsetions of the scheme, your
COMMITTEES submit It TO Congress as the
best that they could agree upon, Ia the
hope that It's imperfecti0ns may be cured
and its deficiencies supplied By the ieg.
islative wisdom, and that when finally
adopted it may tend to restore peace and
harmony to the country, and to place our
Republican Institutions on p more stable
foundation -.n
[Signed] w. r. FEssENDEN.