New-York tribune., 1867-02-26
TIE s0rTH clEoLiSI MURDERS.


MINOEITY REPORT oT IIiE Hp". FpWAHp C'piEE.
rHLEgNArH THE TEinJNs
WA,HNG1oN Feb. 2j.-Ihc Hon. Edward Cooper
Of the select Committee Inquire into the Murder OF
Union soldiers IN south Cnolua, submits a m.no1ty
report, IN which hc Say:
Herce / cannot agree with tle Committee
That because OF these few and i-OIltcd case
of individual wrong and ou'.P, 3crlinn
at long ntetya' IN iir Gi..,llh Gi,llh, ", ,h. ,'r,t
states Is justified in ennctik laws n Ylhch t'r Sta
Government aye sci asd'' 'lu lHua.h i ,,r
established ~ their dcad In my "pI'n t'o Mni ~ ~
ceased; the Rebellion h1, been Tupplr7'rI pea.s ~ ~
Of the United states 6o'ci"m'ht - 'uoa' io''sl1u
and ACKNOWLEDGED; and hence ! gee no ntt'
sity for the enactment OF laws OF ., su,h oo',' ~,
ful eypcdcncy' ana dangerous lcnN'Hy eve en- IuI '
limited period suggested by the committee. IhN 80
jrct over one third ~ mo Gizc7 ~ ne country 10 ~
tia law; they substitute NE WI Oh ~ @ @"!ll ~ ~ ~ ,
u the Courts they furnish FOR the tribunals 81 lho wv
and the ,iOl- of the iny the findings oi drln-d
court martial or maI! C; ,mSo o,,,,,i,
instead Of the process or q court cNecutelY
fhc legal officers, the order al military sat'p.
enfl breed by armed soldiers with the pmni 0i
tho bayonct. such legislation, ~ my 9pI2n.
destroys AL the safeguards 81 personal lnrI ana "te
residing in the States 0f all existing peaceful ANA Sm
modes of redress for admitted wrOGy and cosi, nrh
tamely 10 submit To thc injuries ihiHceu' Vl WiS VIE
suffered, 10 seek Illegal and foicnic Nilh'
Of the peaceful remedies OF the Courts military autbrty.
which J. inviOlaon OF the planr,i principles OF y''I,
and the most familiar picccpis oi CONSTITUTIONS 10. II
clothes such military authority tine, oi prolo"praec
with unlimited power over ne IEhia ' 80 ~ i
states and winch are in palpahlC YlolatlOnW ~.
eyurcss prohibitions 70 my mind the 'Onstt'hoh OF
mo ucd States guards with sacred care thc rhs Ci
,,ouic adopted 20 establish luSlcl insure
domestic tranquility and ccnrc the hesane, ofipriy.
These great objects steadily kept In view 10 ms
end there are prov lled special pf'hutohH' 'i1 - 'r
zurc. without warrant, detention, without picNtinth
or Indictment, imprisonment without a Spcuy ana
pubic trial. or deprivation Of ne, hprrty'
81 nropcriy without the Intervention of COurtnd the
fur prncc-s 81 law n has been tho boast gi OF S-
mon that CougfSs ht, Hitherto maintamcd th0t rlu-
nal principles. and by -snry legislation Iilrctch
these guarantees Oi pcrauiu Hl"lIy di' llrHl'
| al proprrtV ana that the Courts hive en-
forced them by Judgment and execution The legislation
proposed and advocated 10y the Committee dcUNcs thc
Courts Of the power 10 afford such protection releases
the citizen from appealing for redress 10 suchpcccIul
and legal tribunals 10 Will provoke more tlnmiry
neaars. n DESTROYS all confidence the written Con
gtitution and law. II makes the WI OF nir nhNultlc
AN autocrat. Omppotent and nlpuwcrul. lthCe 90
| NOT believe with the Committee TINT In Courts
/ cannot De relied on for The puilsIihrht " cIlHhc
when the Union man, fDIduf OF Iltnllhh, ~
concerned and that justice j. practically dcnld them,
or that UP this time. since the close or e var tlcIc
has been no change FOR the better ana Una tlt best
nateal interests OF the country, as wen a5 lc highest
| considerations ~ humanity crave Tor tho lhhDihnls
of military governments over the States Oi Virginia
/ North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgm floflua
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkhnsh', ald lcNhs
ON the contrary my OpriOn general ileed0i ~ lpe
icd by such el 4atOn and that IL cauhO' loS survive
the coiripting Influence Of brSng bay0ne' ana te
true remedy is not to be found in the enactment ny Con
gress OF Oppressive laws discriminating eainSt tle
personal liberty aud pccuuay interests or ~ people OF
that section, but In such legislation IOlhdc0upOh mE
uluce them believe that they fnd 1ul ample, nu
complete protection for thcr1ycs. their hcry, ana thci
prDrrty I'm the brncfCcut wisdom AID patrptm oi Tue
| d,nuf,re;g OF the United states EDwAIO COOPER