Year: 1866

SuOh Pfopositiou carFles itS own refu-
tation on its face.


While thus exposing fallacies, which,
as your committee believe are resorted
to for the purpose of misleading the peo-
pie, and distracting their attention from
the questions at issue, we freely admit
that such condition of things should be
brought, if possible, to speedy termiu-
alton. 1t is most desirable that the union
OF all the States should become perfect at
the earliest moment consistent with the
peace and welfare of the nation, that all
these States should become fully repre-
sented in the national councils, and take
their share in the legislation of the coun-
try. The possession and exercise of more
than its just share Of power by any sec
tion is injurious, as we'll to that section as
to all others. Its tendency is distract
ing and demoralizing, and such state of
affairs is only to be tolerated on the ground
Of a necessary regard to the public safe



ty. As soon as that safety is secured it
should terminate.


| Your committee came to the consider
alton of the subject referred to them with
the most anxious desire to ascertain what
was the condition of the people of the
States recently in insurrcction, and what,
if anything, was necessary to be done
before restoring them to the full enjoy.
ment of all their original privileges. 1t
was undeniable that the war into which
they had plunged the country had mate
rally changed their relations to the peo-
pie of the loyal States. Slavery has
been abolished by constitutional amend
ment. A large proportion of the popula-
ton has become, instead of mere chattels,
free men and citizens. Through all the
past struggle these had remained true
and loyal, and had in large numbers
fought on the side of the Union. 1t was
impossible to abandon these without Sc
curing them their rights as free men and
citizens. The whole civilized world have
cried out against such base ingratitude,
and the bare idea is offensive to all right
thinking men. Hence it becomes i'm
po,tant to inquire what could be done to
secure their rights, civil and political
It was evident to your committee that ad-
equate security would only be found in
appropriate constitutional provision. BY
an original provision of the Constitution,
representation is based on the whole
number of free persons in each State, and
three .fifths of all other persons. When
all became free, representation of all
necessarily follows. AS consequence
the inevitable effect of the rebellion would
be to increase the political power of the
insurrectionary States, whenever they
should be allowed to resume their posi-
ton as States Of the Union. AS repre-
sentation is, by the Constitution, based
upon population, your committee did not
think advisable to recommend change
of that basis. The exercise of represent
alton necessarily resulting from the abo-
lition of slavery was considered the most
important element in the questions aris-
ing out of the changed conditions of af-
fairs, aud the necessity for some funda-
mental action in this regard seemed i'm
perative. 1t appeared to your committee
that the rights of these persons, by whom
the basis of representation had been thus
increased, should be recognized by the
General Government. While slaves they
were not considered as having any rights,
civil or political. It did not seem just or
proper that all the political advantages
derived from their becoming free should
be confined to their former masters, who
had fought against the Union, and with,
held from themselves, who had always
been loyal. Slavery, by building up a
ruling and dominant class, had produced
spirit of oligarchy adverse to republi-
can institutions, which finally inaugura-
ted civil war. The tendency of contin-
uing the domination of such class by
leaving it in the exclusive possession of
political power would be to encourage the
same spirit and lead to similar result.
Doubts were entertained whether Con-
gress had power even under the amended
Constitution to prescribe the qualifca.
tions of voters in State, or could act
directly on the subject. 1t was doubtful
in the opinion of your committee wheth-
er the States would consent to surrender
power they had always exercised, and
to which they were attached. As the
best, not the only method Of surmounting
all difficulty, and as eminently just and
proper in itself, your committee comes to
the conclusion that political power should
be possessed in all the States exactly in
proportion as the right of suffrage should