The Cecil Whig., 1866-06-23
Rcpert Of the Reconstruction
Com Inn ittee.

The following is the summing up of their
report by the Congressional Committee on
Reconstruction, which put to rout by its
clear reasoning and formidable array Of facts.
the tullacics of Secretary Seward aud the
President, MS put forth in my policy. -
The report is such clear yindication of the
wisdom and patriotism Of the Republican
maiorties in Congress- and SO entirely over
whclms and utterly reiutes the charges
against Congressional usurpation and delays
that whilom were repeated by exrebcls and
Johnson men, that we are sorry that want of
space preclndes the possibility of publishing
the report entire. The following summing
up will suffice to show the intelligent reader
how trumphanty the Committee vindicate
the Republican majoritics in and out of
Congress in their persistent efforts to re-
store the unity Of the government on II just.
permanent and enduring foundation, from
which the dangerous heresy Of secession
shall forever be excluded:
We now propose to rcstate, as briefly as
possible, the general facts and principles
applicable to all the States recently in re-
brIlion,
First The seats of Senators and Repre-
senativcs from the so.callcd Confederate
States became vacant in the year 1861, dur
ing the second session of the Thirty sixth
Congress, by the voluntary withdrawal of
their incumbents, with the sanction and by
the direction of their respective States. This
was done as a hostile act against the Consi,
tuition and Government Of the United States
with a declared intent to overthrow the
same hy forming Southern Confederation.
This act Of declared hostility was speedily
followed by an organization of the same
States with Conlcderary, which levied and
waged war, by sea and land, against the
'nited States. This war continued more
than our years, within which period the
Rebel armies besieged the Capital, invaded
the loya' States, burned their towns and cities.
robbed their citizens, destroyed more than
250,O0 loyal soldiers, and imposed an in
creased national burden of not less than
50 % 600 900, Of which seven or eight hun
dred millions have already been met and
paid. From the time these Confederate
States thus withdrew from their representa-
ton in Congress and levied war against the
United States, the great mass of their pco-
pie became and were insurgents, Rebels,
traitors, and all of them assumed and occu-
pied the political, legal and practical relation
of enemies of the United States. This 20
siton is established by acts of Congress and
.dicial decision and is recognized by the
President in public proclamatons, docu-
lnents and speeches.
Second-The States thus conedcrated
prosecuted their war against the United
States to final arbitramenl, 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 Con-
federate Government oblterated their ter
ritory overrun and occupied by Federal ar
mics, and their people reduced to the condi-
ton of enemies conquered in war; entitled
only by public law to such rights, privileges
aud conditions as might be vouchsafed by
the conquerer. This position is also estab.
lshed by judicial decision and is recognized
BY the President in public ptocamations,
documents 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 levying war to the condition of
publc enemies. they have no right to com
plain of temporary exclusion from Congress,
but on the contrary, having voluntarily re.
nounced their right to representation and
disqualified themselves by crime from par
ticipating in the Government, the burden
now rests upon them. before claiming 10 be
renstated in their former condition, to show
that they are qualified to resume Federal re-
lations. In order to do this, they must
prove that they have established, with the
c'nsent OF the people, republican forms Of
government in harmony with the Constitu
tion and laws of the United States; that all
hostile purposes have ceased, and should
give adequate guarantees against future trea.
son and rebellion which will prove satisfac
tory to the Government against which they
rebelled, and by whose arms they were sub
dued.
Fourth-Having by this reasonable with.
drawal from Congress and by Aagrant rebel
lion and war forfeited all civil and political
rights and privileges under the Federal Con.
sttution, they can only be restored thereto
by the permission and authority of that con.
stiutionaI power against which they rebelled
and by which they were subdned.
Fifth-These rebellious enemies were con
nnered by the people of the United States,
ac ing through all the coordinate branches