Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-03-14
THE PRESIDENT ON ABOLITION

I
unanimous in its favor, and in this it but
echoes the sentiment of the people. The
President has strucS popular vein, and done
it at the right time and in the right way
The border States, which we take IL for grant
cd we're more Immediately in the mind Of the
President when writing his message, have
been almost completely redeemed from the
grasp Of the rebellion, and all that is wanting
to restore them to their former status in the
Union is the establishment of loyal State
governments. Measures to this end have
been inaugurated in Tennessee, by the appoint
ment Of the brave and gallant Senator John
son as military Governor Of the State, who
has already started on his mission, and before
many days will have assumed the duties Of
his office in Nashville, when his first labors
will be to rally the loyal men Of the State to
depose the traitorous Governor Harris and his
rebellious legislature, and substitute in their
places men who will uphold the dignity Of
the State and the supremacy Of the Constitu-
ton. Kentucky is already in the hands Of
loyal legislature and whether under loyal
or disloyal Governor, he is powerless for evil
against the Government so long as the legis-
lature holds him in check. The rebel Govern
or and legislature Of Missouri have long since
been driven from the State Maryland, also
is virtually redeemed. In all these States no
fear is entertained for the cause Of the Union
il so be the schemes of those who make the
present an occasion to force upon particular
States their favorite notions can be thwarted.
Senator Summers plan Of reducing the States
to territorial dependencies is but another dis
guise Of the emancipationists to overthrow the
institution Of Slavery where it now exists by
local law, and is as much subversive Of the
Constitution as would be the secession OF any
one Of those States which be seeks to blot out.
The doctrine Of the administration, from the
commencement Of the rebellion, has been that
there was no such thing as a State seceeding
from the Union, and that the rebellous States
were just as much part Of the Union
though traitors had never attempted to drag
them out, and all that was necessary for them
to resume their former positions was to put
down their rebellious leaders and reestabish
loyal state governments and acknowledge their
allegiance to the Federal Government. Any
other position than this is an acknowledgment
# the right Of secession for with Just as
much proprioty may a State claim the right to
secede from the Union as for the General Gov
eminent to set up its right to annul the loyal
State Governments II a State rebels against
the General Government, all that the Govern
msnt can DO is to put down the rebellion and
restore the State to the possession Of loyal
men; but no where is the power given to blot
out the State or deprive it Of its right to rep
resenta,ion in the halls of Congress. And
were it not for the supposed certainty Of the
admission Of no more Slave States into the
Union, we should hear nothing Of the scheme
of reducing the rebellious States to the con
diton OF territories that they might again be
put in tutelage preparatory to readmis sion in
TO the Union utv,.v.s, sI--ary
The message Of the President has nipped
in the bud sch an unconstitutional PROPOSE
ton, by declaring that "the General Govern
"ment sets up no claim Of right by Federal
authority to interfere with Slavery within
state limits but refers ''the absolute con-
"trol OF the subject in each case to the State
"and its peoPleimmediately interested, " where
the Constitution has placed it. Any other
position is subvorsive Of the rights Of the
States under the Constitution, and virtual
acknowledgment Of the right Of the several
States to seccde from the Federal compact
But certain papers are praising the mes
sage for what is not to be found in it, The
New York Tribune and some of the lesser
lights Of emancipation profess to find threat
that il the slave States do not accept the pro-
posed help Of the government in freeing them
selves from the institution of slavery, then
forcible measures "Ditst and tcH come. that
Government will proceed to abolish slavery
without their corporation and consent. We
find no such threat or any thing that can be
construed as SUCH when we consider the
message as whole. Those who read it as
many men read their Bible, for the sake Of
finding something favorable their own pre-
conceived notions, may perhaps imagine that
the President intends to say to the Shareholders
that the General Government will help them
bear the burden Of emancipation if they wish,
but il they DO not desire to emancipate their
slaves with such aid then it must be done at
all hazards. The President makes no such
proposition; he does not propose to initiate
emancipation anywhere but merely says to
the slave States that the General Government
stands ready to cooperate with them in re-
moving the evil, whenever any State shall
desire such cooperation. He expressly re-
cognizes slavery as State institution over
which the General Government has 10 con-
troll and the idea that because the South is
in rebellion against the Constitution, the local
control Of the domestic institutions of the
States must be taken from them, finds no
favor with him. The President repeats the
assertion Of his message in December last
that " the Union must be preserved" and
that to this end 'all indispensable means
l.. IL.