National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1866-11-30
THE REPORT OF TIL -sOENT
co y5NIETCE ON RECON.
STREiCTHON.

During the last sessionsof con
gress there was much complaint be
cause of the supposed Slowness OF
that botiy in coming to some unity
of agreement Will regard to the
course to pe pursued toward the
late rebelllous states. There was
so much cutlery made by the cop.
pcrheads, and by the president,
against the committee Of fifteen on
reconstruction, that many good re-
publicans began TO fear that the ap-
1 pointment Of this committee was
mistake. and that the committee
was doing nothing but to delay any
decision. and much needed action.
a triumphant anS,7,r to all these
fears and complaints is found in the
large volume of seven hundred and
ninety one closely printed pages of
this committees report. The gov.
eminent printer has been unusually
prompt in bringing it ont. and We
wish that every voter in the coun-
try could read it. Its reading
would do more to vindicate the com
mittee and the action of congress.
and to convince the lnval people
that they must act with great caa.
ton, AMI perhaps with much DIX ~,
in admitting back he rebel states to
their seats of influence and power
on the floor of congress, than any.
thing elseswe can think Of.
The value of the report lies not in
the argument of the committee.
They hardly attempt to make an ar
gument. Their report proper occu-
pies only p Of the 500 pages and is
little more than a brief statement
of their method OF procedure and
the results to which they came,
which is the necessity of the consti-
tutional amendment now pending
the ratification of the states. The
great body of the book is the ep0ri
of testimony, taken from a large
number Of witnesses on their oath
as to the condition, feelings and sen.
timentS towards the government,
the wishes, expectations and pur-
poses Of the people of the southern
states. These witnesses represent
almost every class of both northern
and southern men. and some women
from major generals to private sol
diers, both OF the union aud th'
confederate armies, vice presiden
Stephens, ministers, teachers. news
paper correspondents and business
agents. The amount OF matter i
enormous and shows that the com
mittee must have been one OF ti
most laborious that ever die. dut'
for the country. No truly loya
man can read it without feeling ha
it contains just what congress need
cd to know i'll order to prepare th,
way for receiving the southern state.
back to their practical and organi,
relation with the government. Thi
report reminds us of the rcpor
made to con gross by Hon. VIM. \
Howard and Hon. John Sherma
on the LecOmpton Constitution, i
the time of Kansas troubles.
was so full and made such a Clea
exposure of the case that it concI,
sively settled the matter. s
1t seems to Us this rcpOl
of the committee Of fifteen will SET
tie the matter of reconstruction. h
showing that it is not safe TO restor
the southerners to a full partcip;
ton i'll the general government wit
out conditions, and without prob:
ton. If we do not mistake. if
just these facts. authentical!y show
IN this report that has so frml
composed and fixed the sentiment
OF the country since congress n,
Journcd, and has given such cmpha
&c approval and support to congress
as against the policy of the pres.
dent. Again we say. LET e,orv o;t
zen VINO can get hold of IT, sind
'he report Let us circulate tbe .,
PIES our congressman have sen, ne
ASK our democratic ncichbors i,
read IT, and we may bc sure tbero
integrity enough and patriotic firm
ness enough in the hearts Of -,
people, to insist on a purer andmo
healthy loyalty in the late rche
before they are restored to oll II
rights of citizens and states.
AS q spccimen1of the evidep,
given in this report, and as som
thing. that WILDE read with peculi.
and painful interest by somc Of or
~" s r".