Smyrna times., 1866-06-13
Reconstruction RepOrt.

|
gate into the condition Of the Southern States
and report terms upon which they could be re-
stored to the Union, made their report on Fri
day. 1t is strongly opposed 10 the President $
plan. 1t may be regarded as the plan of the
! Republican party, and as setting forth their
principles in the main. The full report occu-
pies six or seven columns of the daily papers,
and We are therefore compelled to give only a
careful synopsis:
The report begins with advertising briefly
to the course the Committee found it neccssa-
ry to adopt. They had been directed by re-
solution OF Congress to inquire into the condi-
ton OF the Confederate States, and report
whether they are entitled to representation in
Congress. The former of these points admit
ted OF no dispute. The South was in a state
OF utter exhaustatiOn Congress having failed
to provide for the contingency, the duty Of the
President was obvious lie had no bower ex-
ccpt to execute the laws of the land and to e,-
tabllsh, as far as he could, system Of govern
mcnt All his acts were those of n military
commander, but no authority was given him Ly
the laws over the subject Of reconstruction
| On the meeting Of Congress in December
the President officially announced the oroaniy,.
noh Oh local Governments, and urged the read
mission Of the late Rebel States With ra,,.,rJ
to this recommendation. Congress- 1nu,t oitLnr
nave acted bLndly upon the opinion Of the
PRESIDENT, or proceed to collect for itself tL,
necessary Inflammation. The latter course was
GiloScI' It's llrat duty was to call upon thn
lltHiuGl'' IVl thc information in his possession
a1 70 what had been done. The information,
Wnlch was not communicated until six wpnks !
after the Committee had been in ,,.tn.i ,o.,C,
appeared to the Republican members of the
committee incomplete and unsatisfactory
hder These circumstances, it appeared that
DuC one course remained, viz To invrstiu,t.
thoroughly and carefully the state of feeling
among the people of the Southern States AMI
hcnce to infer whether it was safe to rradmit
them to Congress. 10 obtain this information
tle Committee had recourse to the eXamina-
lioh OF witnesses whose position had given them
inc pest means et forming an accurate iudr-
ment The results OF this examination bovn
been heretofore published.
The report Of the Committe next prococds
10 examine the claims of the South for read
mission to Congress. All discussion of tbe
question whether the recovered States are out
OF or within the Union is waived, and the re-
port assumes as beyond dispute that the peo-
pie OF the Rebel States hUd IN fitct uitLIrlurn
fF0h' He LHtoH and Dtdde Men,%eireS SnLicty of
unothcr gOrcr3tDtent. The Government Of tbD
nited States had undoubtedly right to exact
Indemnify Tor the Injuries done, and security
against their recurrence in the future: other !
wise the Government would be powerless for
It's own protection. The Government had
equally the duty to protect those in the South
VINO had remained true and loyal The Com
nlttee was unable to find in the information
obtained, any satisfactory proof that it was safe
% readmlt any of the seeded States 10 thpir
0rmer position i'll Congress, except, perhaps
The State of Tennessee {
" 18th the evidence before them, It is the
opinion OF the Committee that the Rebel States
we're, at the close OF the war, diSOrganized com
nunltleS; that Congress cannot be expectcd IN
'ccognlze as valid the election of men from
uch communities; and that before their adj
MISSION to participation in the Government
congress must provide such Constitutional or (
,ther guarantees as will tend to secure the civ
rights OF all citizens Of the Republic a inst :
quality OF representation, protection against
lalms founded in Rebellion and crime. and s
Il least temporary restriction of the right of |
outrage to men of undoubted loyalty.
l he Committee, therefore, reaches the con- :
luSlon that the so-called Confederate States s
re not at present, entitled to representation in t
ne Congress Of the United States that before e
flowing such representations, adeduate securi- n
J, Tor future peace and safety should be reauir n
a. that this can only be found in such changes
/ the organic law as shall determine the civil
lghtS and privileges of all citizens in all narts
the Republic, shall place representation on .
n equitable basis, shall fix stigma upon trea. a
On and protect the loyal people against future ia
almS Tor the expenses incurred in support of t.
,belllOn, and for manumitted slaves. together a
18th an express grant in Congress to enforce q
lese provisions. TO this end they offer
INT resolution for amending the Constitution. =
nd two several bills designed to carry the same -
ITO effect. The specific recommendations sub =,
llttcd to Congress were the result of mutual oh
,nccsslon, after long and careful comparison fe
conflicting opinions, and the final report has tn
celycd the signature of every Republican Ell
ember of the Committee except Messrs -
ashburne and Blow who were absent. G
The report is very able and will occupy E
nspicuous place in the history of the Renub I,
AN party. Whatever exceptions may be ia ~
m to one or another part the whole will com y
end itself to the friends of the Union as a n
inclusive and admirable summary of the mea- an an
res which the majority of the party regard Al
Indispensable for securing the lasting resto- ch
uon of the Union and the triumph of the arr
lnclples Of Justice and Freedom. c6 ce