The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-07-11


he Minority Report of the Committee on
Reconstruction.
In the House Of Representatives Tues
,lay Mr.. Rogers. Of New Jersey, submltted
the views of the minority Of the Recon-
structon Committee. lisa lengthy docu-
ment, and IL signed by Senator Reverdy
Johnson. and Representatives Grider, Of
Kentucky, and Rogers. Of New Jersey.
The minority proceed first to consider
what was The effect Of the late insurrection
upon the relations Of the States where il
prevailed. TO the General Government. /.
and Of the people collectively and indivi-
dually, Of such States. They contend
that the insurrection never legally dissoIv-
ed the connection between those States
and the Government. In its nature the
Government is formed Of States possessing
equal rights and privileges and powers.
States unequal are nor known TO the Con-
stitution. In its original formation per.
feet equality was secured. The equality
Of rights was the condition of the original
thirteen States before the Government was
formed. In every State admitted since
the Constitution was adopted, each State
is declared j" 10 be one ni the United States,
on an equal footing OF al the original States
in al respects whatever"
The minority argue al length the statns
81 the States. and maintained that when
State Is oHce in ,he Union she must abide
by Il forever. She can never withdraw or
b. expelled from il. The majority crn-
cedrd this hy submitting Constitutional
amendHent 10 these Southern States III.
same as e. oiher States. A different doc
trins would lead 10 dissolution of the
Enion. The Constitution does naf rive
the power To snhjugate the State. but To
suppress the lnsu,rectinn within the State,
and thereby preserve the State. The power
i nnsrr,ati,e. Its to prnisct the State
and not destroy il. IL referring Ia The To-
cal governments of the South, and the
eharge that The President illegally created
them. the minority say that, conceding
Tor The arguments sake that this was 80.
does II NOT ioll"w that Congress is equally
unauthorized 10 inierferes Congress may
admit n,w States. but a Stsair once ad.
mitted ceases 10 be in iis central and can
never again be brought within il. what.
ever chsnges her people may make in their
cen. li,ulion Congress has nothing 10 do
wlih IL.
In al'uding 10 representation, the minori.
" say that the representatives of the States
n"t ~ insurrection. il the others were rep
resented. would exceed N The House (under
The present apporiianmentl by . majorits
OF seseniy-twn sates. and have decided
prepondefsnce in the Senate. What dan
ger t. the Government. then, can possibly
arise from Ssuihern representation Are
the Senators and representatives. fearful Of
themselves. Are ihes spprehensive that
they might be led TO dcsiruetion! The
llea that the cnuntry y 10 be kept in tur-
mnil. States 20 be reduced 20 bondage,
and their rights under the Constitution
denied and the rights Of their citizens dis
regarded. with view TO the continuance
power of a mere political party. cannot
lor smoment be entertained without imput
Ing gioss dishonesty of purpose and gros.
dereliction Of duty 10 those who entertain
u.
The minority claim that there is nothing
in the evidence taken tu show that thi,
denial uf representation should be made
They have eomplird with ,very require
ment Of the President, and repudiatrd th,
Rebel debt. The proposed Constitutions
amendment is looked upon by the minori
~ as impolitic. The amendments sug
gested have no connection with each other
aud each ought TO have been submitted Al
desperate article. In discussing the lrga
status Of the local State governments .
the South. the minority add. in conclusion
that the majority report states that "the,
do not Tor moment impute to Prssiden