The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-02-17
MAJORITY REPORT.
Mr.. president


Federal Constitution DC, &C. have directed me to MAKE
The Committee have given careful attention to the sub
ect which the short time they have had it before the VIII
allow.
Constitution to be suggested by the
Legislature Congress- by submitted to the States
There is anxious desire the part OF the people that
should be speedy restoration of constitutional benefits
They ready-as this Legsatureto give the most Sc
poses finally to settle the complication OF State ard tedel
relations The adoption of the paper by vote OF the two
4ash e ~ Is no 70 tho Sates resides The sew
Graz propositions in paper would be taken into
careful deberaton if they came before the Legislature
shape of final disposition of the subject and would
thereby bring stability and repose
The people Mississippi had supposed that what done
posed between them and the Federal Government.
The had destroyed the status of slavery The State
legality by constitutional amendment With
the like ormay they negaved and abandoned the claim OF
secession which had been asserted in 1861 and with equal
maty what then begun and subsequently
ported with arms as insurrectionary in character
In these things the State conceded in the fullest manner all
that claimed supposed to be claimed of her by the
National Government and required by the exigences
These important ansped during the of Con
g-ess people did doubt that when that body
yened Representatives would be promptly received in the
House and Senate
In these matters the State conormed her action to the
the Executive of the United States which the only de
narmen of the Government with which communication could
then be had 1t not supposed anticipated that there
would be conflict of opinion or policy between the Exec
President Lincoln in his Proclamation of Sth July
stating the why he withheld his from the Bill
m 9rane to certain States whose Governments have been
Overthrown Republican Government, among other things
says That while (as in December last when by
proclamation propounded plan for restoration unwilling
bv formal approval this Bill infer6y committed by
single plan of estorati De- DC, and while
ned to declare that the Free State Constitutions and govern
already adopted and installed in Arkansas and Lous
shall be set aside and held for naught declare
competency Congress abolish slavery but
the time hoping and expecting Constitutional
Amendment aboshng slavery throughout the nation may be
adopted" dc, &c.
The Proclamation of December Sth 1863 lays the
plan of the President as follows:
do further proclaim, declare, &c, that whenever any
of the States Arkansas Texas Louisiana Missispp Ten
nessee Alabama &C. &C. number of persons less than
onetenh in number, of the each State
Presidential election of the year of
ing taken tie oath aforesaid having since violated it.
and being qualified voter by the election
existing Immediately before the act of secession and
excluding all Others shall establish State Government which
shall be republican, and in wise conravenng
shall be recognized the government of the State
State shall receive there benefits of the con
stitGGon provision winch declares that the United
shall guarantee to State in republican,
of government, &C. &c And do further proclaim
KNOW" t any provision which be adopted by
such State in relation the freed people such
State which shall recognize and declare permanent
DOM provide for their eduaaton-and which yet be
ssten as temporary arrangement with their present cond
jected to 10y the Executive"
The form Of oath forth the preceding part of the
proclamation is as follows:
T., do solemnly swear, in the presence of Almighty
God that will henceforth faithfully support protect and de
end the Constitution of the United States and the union
the States Hereunder and that will in like abide by
and faithfully support all Congress during the
repealed modified held void by Congress,
cision of the Supreme Court and that will in manner
abide by and faithfully support all procamaon of the Pre-
sent made during the existing rebellion having
slaves, and long modified by
quoting, the President proclamation
intended present to the people of the
national authority has been suspended and loyal
ments have been subverted mode in and by which the
ona authority and loyal State governments may estab-
And while the mode presented the Executive
can suggest with his present Impressions be I'M
that OOOtlp
The essential features of President Lncolns plan may
be thus analysed and summed up:
The State governments must be inaugurated the
: of the absolute freedom of the colored
Those alone who electors by of the State
Immediately prior could
only of them had given evidence of loyalty to
the Government and the Constitution by taking
a oath indicated.
small number of the electors might initiate State
enments for the plain however that opportunity
t did not offer to all to participate.
The exclusion of certain classes of persons
from amnesty and of the oath.
AT the date of this proclamation
national authority had not been completely over the
entire territory of State Therefore was provided
that less number than majority voters might he en-
S abled to set up State governments
In May 1865, all opposition the Government had
been The State uHctionares removed and
there was no other Government than such
Y by military authority.
Up this Congress had not prescribed the conditions
f on which the States should be restored
In june 1862 President Johnson begun the work
construction on the plan, and agreement with
principles laid down by Mr. Lincoln appointed prov
onal Governor and instructed him Convention
be elected by the identical in
terms with the one contained in President Lncons procama
ton All might vote who would thus prepare themselves
the entire State subject to the National rule.
In these circumstances and thus constituted the Convention
J. assembled in August of that year
In the absence of the will of Congress- expressed
aon, of the fact that Congress had y any vote
dssented from the principles enunciated in Mr. pro
camaon of December 1863 the people and the Convention
might well suppose that they complied with what was re-
qured by the Executive Department they fully meeting
and conforming to the exgences of the situation The ac
cepance Of the oath, and voting the people to
recognition of the fact that slavery had been DESTROYED and
that the State Government must be of uni
veral freedom 1t further committed them in the mo5oo
most solemn among to the support Constitution
+ and the union of the States Hereunder
: All this has been done
The Convention placed the State sincerely believed
In accord and harmony with the United far a
Convention had knowledge information it did evervtin
that was claimed by the National Government s
The prompt action of the people shows ready they were
to accept and conform to the and how solcitos