The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-04-04
The Central Directory,

Is there in all history. parallel to the
Reconstruction Committec?" Did the
craftsmanship of any age or country, ever
conceive an institution of analogous char
acter? 1t is an inquest on nation and
by its decision the liberties of great peo-
pie are to be determined for all tine.
The profoundest of political philosophers
avowed his inability to frame an Indictment
against whole community; but the con-
clave of which MIR. Thad. Stevens is the
presiding genius, assumes to convict sover-
eign States of crime, and to demand against
them the penalties of disfranchisement.
Are the men who control the counsels of
Government, so deficient in power of OBJ
servation, thit they cannot discern for
themselves the temper of the Southern
people? Are they so incapable Of general
izng obvious facts, that they must solicit
the assistance of any casual individual to
tell them the condition of the Southern
States? Whatever be the truth of the
matter, it is no. in the vanity Of Mr.. Sum-
ner to confess this inability He plumes
himself on his craftsmanship, and would be
prompt, of his own impulse, to pronounce
dogmatic judgment on the character and
circumstances of the Southern community.
No; the junto of fifteen is instituted for
another purpose than to declare the condi-
ton of the Confederate" States, and in
struct the intelligence of an ignorant Con-
gress.
1t originated in an impulse Of unappeas-
able animosity to the South and its de-
sign is to collect evidence that may justify
the disfranchisement of the Southern peo-
pie. This was the final cause of its crea-
ton; and nothing is more foreign to its
purpose than to shed ray of honest light
on the subject of its investigation. 1t is
plagiarism of Mr.. Stantons pet invention;
it is the Military Commission in civil
guise, and directed to the destruction of an
entire community.
The measure of justice melted to Mrs.
Surratt, is reserved for the South by this
committee of Reconstruction. Its pro-
ceedings are copy from the Record of it's
blood-stained prototype; only they are
exaggerated to an enormity of proportion
commensurate with the scope of its more
comprehensive purpose. Instead of q soil
tary Baker to work up" it's case, its de-
tective is the Freedman's Bureau, and in
every village of the South it subsidies an
informer. Its witnesses are collected with
painful Partially; nor do we doubt but its
foregone conclusion will be supported by
evidence quite as unimpeachable as that
which established the atrocities of Ander-
sonville among the indisputable facts of
history. Indeed, the thing is done already.
Has not an aged spinster, yclept Clara
Barton . been examined by "Mr. Howard y
and did not this philanthropic female, un-
der the skilltul manipulations of her inqus-
ltor, develop reign of deviltry in the
South that should shock the moral sense of
Christendom? He who doubts it, need
but betake himself to the supplement of
The Tribune, where, in copious complete
ness, he will find the testimony of Miss
Clara Barton.
But, despite its ludicrous aspect, this
Reconstruction Committee is a very bad
and shameful business. 1t is reproach to
the public intelligence it is an affront to
every sentiment Of truth, honor and justice;
it is the opprobrium of republican govern
ment--it accumulates within itself all the
fabulous horrors Of the Star-Chamber and
The lnquisition. God grant that its catas-
;rophe may exhibit as signal an instance of
,retributive chastisement.- New York
News.