Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-06-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
REOONSTRUCTION.
CONCLUSIONS OF THE REPORT OF
The JOINT COMMITTEE,

tne teCoDu session OF the thUiy-elAth Oon-
gress, by the voluntary withdrawal of their
inoumbents with the sanction and by the d.
rection Of the legislatures and conventions OF
their respective States. This was done as
hostile act against the constitution and gov
eminent Of the United States, with the de-
clared intent to overthrow the same by form
| ing a Southern confederation. This act of
hostility was speedily followed by an organi-
cation Of the same States into confederacy,
| which levied and waged war by sea and land
against the United States This was contin-
ued for more than four years, within which
time the rebel armies beseiged the national
capitol, invaded the loyal States, burned
their towns and cities, robbed the citizens,
destroyed more than $50 600 loyal soldiers,
and imposed an increased national burden Of
not less than 50. 500, O0O, 0OO Of which sew
en- or eight hundred millions have already
been met and paid From the time that
those Confederated States thus withdrew their
representation in Congress, and levied war on
the United States, the great mass OF their
people became and were nsutgents-rebels-
traitors and all Of them occupied the polit-
ioal, legal and practical relation Of enemies OF
the United States. This position is estab-
lished by acts Of Congress and Judicial decis-
ions, and it is recognized repeatedly by the
/ President in public proolamations, documents
and speeches
Second-The states thus confederated pros
! ecuted their war against the United States to
| final arbitrament, and did not cease until all
their armies were captured, their military
power destroyed, their civil officers, State
and Confederate, taken prisoners or put to
fight, every vestige Of State and Confederate
! governments obliterated, Their territory over
run and occupied by the federal armies, and
their people reduced to the condition Of enc
mics conquered in war, entitled only by pub
lie law to such rights, privileges and condit-
ions as might be vouchssfed by the couqueror.
This position is also established by Judicial
decisions and 1t is recognized as sound by
the President in public procamations, docu-
ments and speeches.
Third-Having voluntarily deprived them
selves of representation in Congress, for the
criminal purpose of destroying the Federal
Union. and having reduced themselves by the
act of levyipg war to the condition OF public
enemies, they have no right TO complain Of
temporary exclusion from Congress, but on
the contrary, having voluntarily renowned
the right Of representation, and disqualified
themselves by crime from participating in the
government, the burthen now rests upon them
upon claiming to be Eeinstated in their form
er condition, 20 show that they are qualified
to resume federal relations In order to dc
this, they must prove ehat they have estab
lished, with the &C nsent of the people, repub-
lican forms of government, in harmony with
the constitution and laws Of the United States
that all hostile purposes have ceased ant
should give adequate guarantees against fu
ture treason and re bellion-guarantees which
shall prove satisfactory to the government
against whom they rebelled, and by who's,
arms they were subdued.
} Fourth-Having by this reasonable with.
drawal from Congress, and by fragrant re bell
ion and war, forfeited all civil and political
rights and privileges under the federal cons
= titutioD, they can only be restored thereto by
permission and authority OF that constitution
al power by which they were subdued.
Fihh-Those rebellious enemies were con-
quered by the people Of the United States,
acting through the coordinate branches OF
the government, and not by the executive
department alone. The powers Of the con-
queror are not so vested in the President
that he can fix and regulate the terms of set
Element and confer Congressional represent
alton on conquered traitors. nor can he in any
way qualify enemies of the government to re-
verse its law-making power. The authority
to restore rebels to political power in the
federal government can be exercised only with
the concurrence of all the departments in
which political power is vested, and hence
the several proclamations Of the President to
the people of the Confederate States cannot
4 be considered declared, and can only be re-
garded as provisional permissions by the
commander-ln-c chief of the army to certain
acts, the effect and validity whereof is to be
determined by the constitutional government
and not solely by the executive power.
Sixth-The question before Congress is
then, whether conquered enemies have the
right and shall be permitted at their owl
pleasure, and own terms, to participate il
making laws for their conquerors, Whether
conquered rebels may change their theatre o
/ operations from the battlefield, where the,
, were defeated and overthrow, to the halls 0
, Congress, and their representatives. seize up
on the government which they fought to de
stroy; whether the national treasury, tn
army of the nation, its navy, its forts and ar
senals, its whole civil administration, its cred
IL, its pensioners, the widows and orphans @
those who persisted in the wsr-the publ
honor. peace and safety shall be all turne
over to the keeping CT its recent enemies
without delay and without imposing sue
conditions as, in the opinion OF Congress, tn
security of the country's institutions de
mands.
: Seventh-The history of mankind exhibit
{ no example Of such madness and folly. TIL
8 instinct of self-presevation protests against il
1 The surrender by Gen. Grant to Lee, and b
= Sherman TO Johnston, would have been dis
ssters of less magnitude, for new armies cou
have been raised, battles fought, and the gov
. eminent saved. The anti-coercive policy
which, under pretext OF avoiding bloodshed
: allowed the rebellion to take form and gathe
. force, would be surpassed in infamy by tn
matchless wickedness that would surrende
the halls Of Congress to those so recently il
rebellion, until proper precautions shall hav,
been taken to secure the national faith anC
the national safety.
Eighth-As has been shown in this repor
: and in the evidence submitted, no proof hal
L been afforded to Congress of a constituenc,
: in any Of the so called confederate states
J unless we except the state OF Tennessee, quail
' lied to elect senators and representatives il
9 Congress. No state constitution or amend
8 ment to a state constitution has had the sane
ton Of the people. All the 80 called legisla
A ton OF state conventions and legislatures ha,
haen nndar military dictatinn II the praai