Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-06-20
REC COMMITTEE

RECONSTRUCTION NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Vs
THE MINORITY
Yesterday in the House Of Representatives.,
Mr.. Rogers, of N, j., submitted the views Of
the minority Of the reconstruction committee.
The report is signed BY Senator Reyerdy john
son and Representatives Griver, Of Ky, and
Rogers, of N. J. 1t contends that the rebel
lion never effected any legal dissolution OF the
connection between those States and the Gov
eminent The Government, by its very nature
is formed OF States possessing co equal rights,
privileges, and powers. States OF unequal
powers were never known to the Constitution.
The Union had been formed upon the basis Of
perfect equality of the States, and this condi-
ton of equality had been expressly and emphat-
which States had been admitted into the Union
since the adoption Of the Federal Constitution.
The minority further contend that State ONCE
in the Union must abide in it forever. She
could neither withdraw nor be expelled from it,
The majority had conceded this by submitting
a constitutional amendment to the action Of the
Southern as well as other States. a different
doctrine would lead to dissolution Of the
Union.
The Constitution gave no power to subiugate
State, but only to suppress lnsurrection with
in the State, and thereby preserve the State
The power is conservative, and was designed to
protect and not to destroy the State
In referring to the local governments at the
South, and the charge that the action of the
President in erecting them was illegal, the mi
nority say that, concediDg for the sake of argu-
ment that this is fact, does it not follow that
Congress is equally unauthorized to interfere?
Congress may admit new States, but when
State is once admitted it passes from the con-
troll Of Congress- and can never again be brought
within it.
Referring to the subject of representation, the
minority call attention to the large peoponder-
ance which under the present apportionment
the loyal States have and must retain in both
Houses Of Congress over the States lately in in
surrection, and argue therefrom that no posi-
bile danger can result from the admission OF the
dishonesty and dereliction of duty to those who,
for the sake of perpetuating party control,
would keep the country in turmoil, reduce States
to political bondage, and tramplc upon the con-
stitutional rights of their people.
The minority further contend that the evil
dence in regard to the condition of the States
lately in rebellion does not Justify their cxclu-
sion from representation. The people Of those
States have complied with all the requirements
Of the President, having repud!atcd the rebel
debt and soemny ratified the constitutional
amendment abolishing slavery. They consider
the constitutional amendment reported by the
Committee on Reconstruction, and lately pass.
ed by Congress, as an impoitic measure. The
several amendments which it cmbodies had no
connection with each other and should have
been proposed and acted upon separately.
In regard to the legal status OF The local State
governments Of the South, the minority quote
the language of the report Of the majority, in
which it is said that 1.-THE committee do not, for
a moment, impute to President johnson any
design to extend executive power, but cheer
fully concede to him the most patriotic motives,
and close their report in the following words
"And we cannot forbear to say, in concluding,
on that point, that he sins against light, and
closes his eyes to the course of the President
during the rebellion, who ventures to impeach
his 1.-THE Presidents 81 patriotism. His life was
Constantly in peril, and he chung to the Union.
and discharged all the obligations which it i'm
posed, the closer on account of the peril. And
now that he has escaped unharmcd, and, by
the confidence of the people, has had devoved
upon him the executive functions of the Gov
eminent, to charge him with disIoyaltyis either
a folly or slander-toly in the fool who be-
lieves it, SANDER in the man Of sense, if any
such there be, who utters it. -
Gen. r. B. Slaughter who died recently in
Mobile, was not son Of Rev. Philip Saugh-