Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-06-23

slaves enhncipated by the war, TO-
gcther with an express grant OF
power in Congress 10 enforce these
provisions,
The committee says that tho
Governors appointed by the Presi.
dent could not exercise any but
military power or authority. They
had no power to organize civil GOT.
ernmcnt, neither had the President
any other than military power. He
might perhaps permit the people to
initiate local governments, and OK.
ecutc such local laws rs they might
choose to enact, and as soon as they
could be left safely to themselves,
he might withdraw military forcc
altogether, and leave the people to
govern themselves without his in.
reference. The gigantic civil war
was necessarily subject to all tho
rules which by law control in n con.
test Of that character, and to all the
legitimate consequences following,
One of these was, namely, by tho
limits prescribed by humanity, the
consequered rebels were at the mer-
cy of their conqucrors. The com.
mittee continues to say that from
the whole mass of testimony sub
riittod by the President, IL appears
that in no instance in the Southern
States, was any regnrd pnid to any
other consideration than chat. OF OBJ
tanning immediate admission 70
Congress under the barren form Of
an election, in which no precautions
were taken to secure regularity Of
the proceedings or the assent OF the
people. No constitution has been
legally adopted, excepting perhaps.
that ofTennessce, and such elections
as were held without tho authority
Of the law.
The committee aro accordingly
forced to conclude that the Southern
States have not placed themselves
in u condition to claim representa-
tion in Congress, unless all the rules
which have since the foundation Of
the Government been deemed essen
tial in snoh cases shall be Disregard
cd.
The committee reviewed at lenSti,
the condition of the SOUTHERN peo-
pie, saying that the latter claim ,as
a right the privilege ofparticipating
at once in the Government thty
sought to overthrow, while tho press
abounds in abuse of the loyal States
and loyal men, and efforts are made
to perpetuate deadly hate and die.
cord between the two sections, ard
to excite hostility against the CIV,
srnment; indeed, all feeling OF con
ciiation on the part of the North
has been treated with indifference.
The bitterness and defiance against
us has been unparalleled in the his
tory ofthe world. Considering their
duty in return for our leniency, we
receive only insulting denial of cur
authority. In return for our kind
desire for the resumption Of frater-
nal relations, we receive only i.!so-
lent assumption of rights and priyi-
leges long since forfeited. The
crime we have punished is paraded
as u virtue, and the principles Of the
American Government, which NO
have vindicated at q cost so terri
bic, are denounced as unjust and
oppressive. ...
The committee then rccapi4u|ates
the events before and during the
war, including the withdrawal 'ot
Senators, Representatives, etc, and
declares that the great mass cfthe
people became insurgents and ,ttai.
tors, and all of them assumed and
occupied the political relation oftcn-
cmics of the United States. This
state of affairs did not cease when
their armies fell and their cause was
lost. The people were then reduced
to the condition OF enemies corr
qucrcd and entitled only to rec2ite
such rights, privileges and coHGi-
tions as might be vouchsafed by
their conqucrors. Having thus
acted they have no right 10 com
plain of their temporary exclusion
from Congress, but on the contr:tty,
having renowned voluntarily, their
right to representation, and having
disqualified themselves by crime
from participating in the. Govern
mcnt, the burden now restS Upon
them, before claiming to be reinsta-
ted in their former position, To
show their right to resume federal
relations, they must prove that
they have established, with the con-
sent of the people, republican forms
Of government, in harmony with
the constitutional laws of the United
States; that all hostile purposes
have ceased and they must give
adequate guarantees against future
treason and rebellion which VIII hs
satisfactory to the Government s.
gainst which they rebcllcd, and by
whose arms they were subdued I;
and they can only be restored TO
civil and political rightB hy the per-
mission and authority of that cou-
stitutional power against which they
rebelled.
The committee say further-it has
been shown by evidence that no
proof has been given to Congress Of
a constituency in any Of the social
ed Confederate States, excepting in
Tennessee. qualified TO elect repre-
sentatiyes for Congress. No State
constitution has the sanction of the
people. All so-called legislatures,
conventions or otherwise, have bccn
under military dictation.