New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-06-09

VIOusIy COnICITCU. -
lows therefore, that the people Of state where the con-
sttution has thus been amended might feel themselves
justified in repudatng altogether such unautnOzeu 80
SYMPTOMS Of power and might be expected 20 10 80 a
pleasure.
STATE GOVERNMENTS IRRBGULARLY ORGANIZED.
So far as the disposition Of the people OF the insurree
tonary States and the probability Of adopting measures
conforming the changed condition of affairs can be m
fered from the papers submitted by the President a. the
basis of this action, the prospects are far from encou
ing II appear quite clear that the anti-Sla@ey amend
ments both TO the State and Federal Constitutions were
adopted with reluctance by the bodies which did adopt
them while in States they have either been passed
by in silence rejected The language OF all the Prov
sons or ordinances of those States amount to nothing
more than unwilling admission OF an unWecome truth
AS to the ordinance of secession It is IN some cases de-
clared null and void and in Others simply repealed
and in no instance refutaon of this deadly heresy
considered worthy place in the new Constitution.
H. az the President assumes, these insunectionary
States were al the close of the wholly without State
government il would seem that before being admitted IN
the direction of public affairs such governments shOu DC
regularly organized. Long usage has esaoisneu aIu h
merous statutes have pointed out the mo1e III Wnlcn s
should be done. convention 20 form form OF govern
ment should be assembled under competent authoIll
Ordinarily, this authority emanates rom congress pu
under peculiar circumstances your COMMITTEE ~ hot
sposed TO ertcse the Presidents action IN assuming inc
power exercised by him in this regard The convention
when assembled should frame constitution OF govern
ment which should be submitted 10 the people LOT adOp
ton II adopted, Legislature should be convened 10 pass
the laws necessary to carry 1t into effect When State
thus organized claims representation in Congress the
election Of representatives should be provided for by law
in accordance with the laws of Congress regulating repre-
senaon and the proof that the action taken has been in
conformity TO law should be submitted 10 Congress.
In no case have these essential premnares been taken
The conventions assembled TO have assumed that
the Constitution which had been repudiaed and over
thrown was still in existence and operative 10 constitute
the States members of the Union and % have cOntened
themselves with such amendments as they were informed
requisite in order to insure them an immediate re-
turn 10 participation in the Government OF the United
States Not waiting to ascertain whether the people thus
represented wosld adopt the proposed amendments
they ordered elections OF Representatives. 10 oh
eress in nearly all instances before Executive had been
chosen 10 issue wrt of election under the state laws and
such elections held were ordered by the conVeh-
tons In instance at least the wits Of election were
signed by the Provisional Governor Ganng lrregnar-
ties and unwaantabe assumptions Of power are manifest
in several cases particularly in South Carolina when the
convention although disbanded by the Provisional Gov
the ground that II was revolutionary Dody, as
sumed 10 rcdstTct the State.
Its quite evident from all these facts and indeed from
the whole mass of testimony submitted by the President
the Senate that in instance regard paid to any
other consideration than obtaining immediate admission
10 Congress under the barren form Of election IN which
no precautions taken 10 secure regularity Of proceed
ings, or the assent Of the people.
No Constitution has been legally adopted except, per
haps by the State of Tennessee and such elections as nave
been held were without authority Of law. Your ton-
mt,ee are accordingly forced TO the conclusion that the
States referred have not placed themselves IN condition
claim representation IN Congress- unless all the rules
which have since the foundation of the Government been
deemed essential in such cases should be dlsregarded
II would undoubtedly be competent for Congress to
waive all formaties and to admit the Confederate States
representation at once trusting that time ana expert
enee wol set all things right Whether II would be ad-
visabe to do So however must depend other consider
atoms, Of which it rema to treat But it may well be
the vefy h snA aracie not unreasonable
your Committee to require etoIy evidence thlt the
ordinances and constitutional vslons which the fres
dent deemed essential IN u first instance VIII De pera-
nentlv adhered To by the p OF the States seeking resto
ration, after being adm oiuli participation OF he 10Y,
ernmeut and will no, idiated when that object shall
have been accompli, here the burden OF proof
rests mon the late IL who are seeking restoration
10 the rights and 'rN which they willingly aDah-
doned and not Up the people of the United States who
have never undertaken directly indirectly to deprive
them tsereos Nshc me, ypear afrmatively that they
are prepared and disposed In good faith TO accept
the results OF the war 10 abandon 'ner b ny
people of the loyal States, extending to all classes equal
rights and privileges and conforming TO the republican
idea of liberty and equality. They should exhibit IN their
something more than en- unwilling submlssion-a
feeling if not cheerful certainly not offensive and dehant
and they should evnce utter reputation OF all hostility
the General Government by an acceptance OF such Just
and reasonable conditions that government should think
the public safety demands. Has this been done Let US
look the facts shown by the evidence taken by the ON
miec
Hardly has the war closed before the people of these
insunectionay States forward and haughty CLAIM
right the privilege of participating at once in that
Government which they had for four years been nghtng 10
DESTROY Allowed aud encouraged by the Executive to
organize State governments they at once place ID power
leading Rebels unrepentant and unpardoned excluding
contempt those VINO Lad UanlieSteu an
to the Union, and preferne, in manv instances, those
who had rendered themselves most obnoxious In the
face of the law requiring an oath OF ONCE which would
necessarily exclude oil such from Federal Offices, they
elect with very few exceptions Senators and Repre-
sentatyes to Congress- who had actively participated
in the Rebellion, nsultingy denouneing the laws as un'
constitutional 1t is only necessary TO instance the cleo
ton the Senate Of the late VicePredent OF the Con-
fcderacy, who lent his own declared great ability
the cause Of the Rebellion, ard who, unpadOned Rebel
that no u.s. with that oath staring him In the face had the
lay his credentials on the table Of the Senate
Other Rebels of scarcely less note or notorety were
selected from other quartersproessng no repentance
goryng apparently in the crime they had committed,
ayowing still, the uncontradcted testimony OF Mr..
Stephens and Others prove adherence to the perncous
doctrine of Secession and declaring that they only yielded
10 necessity. They insist, with unanimous voice, upon
their rights States and proclaim that they will submit
conditions whatever as preliminary TO their resumP,
ton of power under that Constitution which they still
claim the right 10 repudiate.
Examining the evidence taken by your Committee, still
further connection with facts too notorious to disputed
il appears that the southern press with few exceptions
and those mainly of newspapers recently established BY
Northern men, abounds with weekly and daily abuse of
the institutions of the people of the loyal States defends
the who led and the principles which melted the re.
beon denounces aud revles Southern men who adhered
To the Union, and strives, constantly and unscrnpulousy
by any in its power to keep alive the hrc oil nate
and dscord between the two sections calling upon the
President to violate his oath OF office aud oyerturn the
Government by force Of arms and drive the Representa-
tves Of the people from thor seats IN Congress The ma
tonal banner is openly nsuted not only By ignorant
population but at public meetings. and once, among other
notable instances dinner given in honor Of notorious
Rebel who had violated his oath and abandoned his place
The individual is elected to an important office in the
leading city of his State although an unpardoned Rebel
and so offensive that the Press silently allows him TO enter
upon his official duties. In another State the leading Gen.
ea of the Rebel armies openly nominated for Governor
by the Speaker of the House Of Delegates and the nom
nation hailed by the people with shouts of satisfaction
and openly Endorsed by the press.
Looking still further at the evidence taken by your
Committee it is found to be clearly shown by witnesses
of the highest character aud having the best Of