The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-06-12
CHI a r L e S T O n
TUESDAY MORNING, JUNE 70, 1866.
REPORT OF TIE ECONSTR UC7ICN COM,
MITTIEE.

mitted to the Senate on Friday last by Mr.. FEs-
sEYDEH. 1t was signed by all tho Republ lean
members of the committee except WAsuBuRN
and Blow, who were absent. This joint commit
teo of tho two Houses Of Congress was appointed
December 13, 1865, and has, therefore, been in
session nearly six months. From the mass OF
taken and the very voluminous report
here published, it would appear that the labors
Of the committee have been arduous in the ex-
treme. Tho committee deserve much credit for
their perseverance in continuing so long, and
bringing to a successful (and to them and their
party doubtless satisfactory conclusion this very
tedious and lengthy examination. Their public
virtue mcrits the greater admiration, as they
could have made this report just as well at the
beginning as at the close of their labors.
Wo do not deem it necessary to reproduce the
report in ertenso, readers are already quito
familiar with all it's leading features. From the
manner in which the committee WAS formed;
from the known political opinions and prejudices
of its several constituent mombers; from the
character Of the witnesses summoned to testify
against the people OF tho South; from the nature
OF the questions propounded of the few leading
men Of tho South who were summoned to give
evidence before the committee; from the prevail
ing tone Of the r ,dical press and the persistent
struction policy-it was all along apparent what
would DO the conclusion arrived at By this COM
mce.
We are not, therefore, disappointed, however it
may be humiliating for the people of eleven
States to bo the subject of six months solemn
legislative farce. The report first &c It's forth the
circumstances under which the committee was
appointed. In q bare statement of facts, as this
ahO ha Eor o,,;l
or objection. Yet are all these facts stated in
precisely the same accurate and reliable form i'm
piled in the lions objection to the delineation of
the combat between himself and his antagonist,
who was of the samo species with the painter
The great pons asinorun, of the reconstruction
question,-(whether State can 90 out of the
Union, whether the seeded Statee did leave the
Union,-whether the United States can coerco a
State, and so FORTH -is beautifully cleared in the
following subtle and har-splittng casuistry: ''The
Constitution does not act upon States, as SUCH
but upon the people. While, therefore, the CO.
ple cease to exist in organized form, they thus
dissolve their political relations with tho United
States."
Next comes the difficulty Of taxing the SO unre-
constructed, unrepresented states an extremely
knotty point, inasmuch as no question in Amer-
can history has been more fully and clearly set
forth or more universally accepted than this.
This principle has always been considered the
Keystone OF tho American Revolution, and is now
called into question for the first time The arcu
ment on this point is long and labored, but NAV
people vi cuu Iusurrecrlonary States might aban-
don their privileges, but could not escape their
obligations"
What could be done to secure the rights. c;v;,
and POLITICAL of the freedmen" is the next tonic
that commands the attention of the committee
10 meet this case they proposed an amendment
to the Constitution, "that political power sbonld
be possessed in all the States exactly in nronor
tlon as the right Of suffrage should be pranted
"itnout distinction Of color or race" "Unfortu.
natey," says the report, sit did not receive tho
necessary constitutional support in the senato
and therefore could not be proposed for adont;on
by the States" p'''n
Next We have another piece Of casuistrv in tho
view the committee takes of the Provisional st.to
Governments organized by the President after
peace had been declared.
1t contends that these were military md M.
civil governments; that the President eould on,v
exercise control in the affairs of States and Ter
ritorles by virtue Of his office as Commander
ohlef OF The armies and nayies of the JJnited
states. All officers, therefore, deriving their mn
thofty rom him must be viewed as attaches of
the war Department.. The civil policy of g. State
ls alone under the direction OF the law.mat;no
Diahcn OF the Government, i. e. Congress. It is
OBJECTED also that the several Conventions hold IL;
the states lately in rebellion acted under the 90.
sumption that the former Constitutions of the
state were still in force, only requiring certain
amendments; that these Constitutions. thua
have not in a single instance been s,b.
United to the people for ratification: that tho
only aim and purpose Of these Conventions bad
been to elect members of Congress in time 70
have their States represented at the OPENING of
inc sess1an. This the Committee knows was done
1t tho dictation of the President of the I1nitoa
States. ''0o
The Committee contends, that this entire &C. |
aon was irregular and unauth orized-these con-
'ttutions not Republican in form, and not adopted
'y the people, After all this has been set forth |
great detail, they proceed to say:
,ros. IL would undoubtedly, be competent for Con-
ess 20 waive all formaities, and to admit the
.onieaefate s..ate States to representation at once
4 ,iiu9stng that time and experience would set ali
a. lungs right. Whether it would be advisable TO
~ ~ 30, however, must depend on other cona;dero
m omS VI Whlch 1t remains to treat Bnt n nav
.e aen 10 observed that the Inducements To such =
'tep should be OF the very highest charactsr r.
,o9ins not unreasonable to your Oommittee tn ra
iut,o y satisfactory evidence that the ordinancos |
,oo lstutlona provisions which the Presidont
essential III the first instance will be nor
eeking Sdneaea TO by the people Of the States