The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1866-10-23

have not been IN accord in their .siogs
IN tie best method 81 restoring these
irsnrrent communities 20 their true re-
! In IONS "a the Federal Government and
the work has thereby been much delay
"a. the difficulties which environ i
have been much increased, and the
Southern communities have become
much more hostile than az first to the
demands ~ that wise policy which
would render treason odious. obiain
ample security for the turture and en-
able the government % redeem every
pledge il has made 10 its creditors, to
I lis friends, aud to the race which i has
omancipatcd.
The executive branch Of the govern
mout, having inauguratod the work oi
reorganizng the rebellious states with
out seeking the advice or cooperation
lof Congress. has continued 90 insist up
on its exclusive control Of the work, and
has denied 90 the Legislative branch oi
the government any share IN the de-
termination Of the status of the insu-
gent communities, or cond ions oi
their restoration; and while denying TO
Congress oil right to Judge Of the com
pleteness Of Tins work Of reorganization,
I'm has conceded only the right Of each
House Co Judge Of the elections returns
and qualifications Of its own members.
This policy assumes that the Executive
has the sole right TO reconstruct, reor-
!, ganize and restore to their former con.
dition ia the government, the people,
, communities and States which have
wnged a gigantic war against that gov
ernment and it insists, with emphatic
: iteration, that Congress, by refusing t.
, recognize the executive reconstruction
{ as Just, safe, complete and constitution
al, and at once admitting TO seats III the
Senate and House of Representatives
! persons claiming to be elected by States
[ thus reorganized, is assuming functions
which do not belong to it, infracting the
/ Constitution, and attempting with q
guilt equal to that Of the rebellion, e
disember the Union.
On the assembling Of Congress in De.
.cember last, and throughout its last ses-
sion, that body claimed for itself the con
stitutional right to examine this work
Of reconstruction, and Judge both Of its
conditions and completeness After q
, careful and prolonged investigation
/ through its JOINT committee on recon
| struction, of the condition Of the states
lately in rebellion, tho disposition Of
their inhabitants, and the workings and
results Of the executive method of re-
organization, it was fully satisfied that
the political and civil power in those
states was, in almost every instance,
placed in the hands Of those who, dur
ing the rebellion, we're either active IN
their hostility to the national govern
ment, or gave aid and comfort to its en-
emies; while it was apparent that, with
out further conditions than the cxecu-
tive plan proposed, tliose who had boon
during the rebellion the bitierest enc
mics Of the national authority, would
have the unchecked and entire political
control of those states in the future and
would use that control TO oppress and
put under ban those who have never
| sweryed from their fidelity to the Union.
4 Congress, therefore, wisely in myjudg
ment declined TO treat the states which
had confederated in their treason agar
the Government, as rightfully entitlo d
to immediate representation in the ma
tional Legislature, or to be released from
the control of the federal authority; and
this decision was evidently in agreement
with the opinions Of large majority Of
the people who had heartily sustained
tho Government III its contest with the
, rebellion
TO the reading and thinking people
Z of the nation, who Judge by facts and re-
suits rather than by the refncments oi
|. argument, the riots at Memphis and New
: Orleans have furnished the most com
: plete and startling evidence Of the in.
, herent error Of the executive scheme,
and have written its condemnation in
! characters Of blood In those riote
peaccable citizens, with circumstances
of savage atrocity, were cruelty murder
ed by mob, incited and led by local
, officials and inspired by an illlbcrll and
intense prejudice against al inoticnsiye
race and by yengeful hatred Of those
who dared to claim equal political and
civil rights for all men; and these out
breaks have furnished melancholy proof
Of the danger Of committing unrestrain-
/, ed political and civil power to men re-
Gently rebels, and are significant com
mentaries upon that reorganization Of
which they were the legitimate fruits.
Congress, however. did not insist up
on its constitutional right TO inaugurate
the work Of recognizing the govern
ment Of the states which had confede-
rated in rebellion, nor did it surrender
that right, but in its Legislative action
il manifested a willingness 10 suffer the
work Of the Executive to remain undis-
turbed, 50 far as it could do SO with due
respect to the dignity and safety Of the
republic and with a proper regard to the
security and protection Of The property,
liberty and lives Of allthe people of the
United States.
After "a laborious and extended session
and patient comparison Of views both
Houses Of Congress agreed by the nee
easary two-thirds vote, TO propose to the
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