Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-03-25
The Restoration of the Union.

in their aspect, or in the consequences that will
follow their solution, than those which tosked
the powers and the wisdom Of the trainers Of our
form OF Government A state Of instruction
OF such gigantic proportions as the one W. hope
is now receiving Is death blow, is an anomaly
IN our history and The past furnishes little help
to assist in our eXtricatlon The Government
has already decided upon temporary military
State Government rs fast as the rebel States are
occupied by Federal troops, and held to their al
lcglance by the power Of bayonets, aud, in the
the Military Governor, 70 guide that State back
to Its obedience This act the Federal Govern
ment does not seek to justify under any evil
power contided to it, but regards it as a military
necessity, and whatever power, or authority, Or
right, GOV. johnson hds under his commission,
rests in the military arm Of the Republic He
is not State iunctionary, any more than Brig
ham Young is State officer, and if in his sd
mlnistration OF his Office, he regards himself as
bound by any OF the laHs, usages, or even the
Constitution Of Tennessee, it is because the Gov
eminent chooses to make Inn the executor Of
such laws, usages and Constitution and he acts
as its agent, and in its place and name, and not
as the agent Of the people Of Tennessee In
short, for the time being, however much we may
please ourselves with the idea that us fast as the
Union army advances, the old Union is restored,
we are met with the uncompromlsing fact that
Tennessee, is, IN reality held as subjugated
province, and Is ruled by the absolute will and
pleasure Of the administration at Washington.
1t has no State legislature which the Govern
ment recognizes. Its Constitution, which pro-
yldes for its election Of Governor, is disregatded
and over-ridden. Its State laws are enforced
and obeyed no further than Is considered com
patble with the maintenance Of the Federal au
thority. Its State Capitol is occupied, without
leave asked, by the United States authority -
And all the operations OF the Provisional Gov
ernment are carried ON without the consent Of
the people Of that State
But this is only the beginning Of The difficult
ties. PHO. to the secession Of Tennessee. il had
a State organization as perfect, and as free from
the control or intormeddling Of the Federal Gov
eminent as Vermont But the persons who arc
exercising the functions of Office. under the au-
lhority Of the State of Tennessee, are rebels, and
the army has driven them from Nashville. Gov.
Johnsons Office is said to be only temporary
one, and that through this Provisional Govern
ment, the State organization is to be again re-
yiyed by the vote OF the people. An election IS
to be ordered, and the officers are to be indicted
into office, and commissioned in some way 10y
Federal authority When shall this election be
held? Who shall be allowed to vote? Who
shall be allowed to hold Office under it? viii
not the Federal power be compelled 10 decide
these questions? And does not such decision
virtually take from the State its boosted soyer-
eighty? And these difficulties will meet the
Government on the threshold of every rebel
State not yet reclaimed. For the time being
the State organization will be compelled to give
way The State laws and Constitutions will
yield to the military necessities of the situation,
In North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida
the military and civil power of the General Gov
eminent gives no heed whatever 80 the States or
their laws Itacts upon Instructions from head.
quarters, and ignores entirely all the rights OF
State sovereignty. Now, wherein is this condl-
ton Of the reoellious States Tor the present any
better, either really or in legal point of view
than would be a territorial condition? They en-
JOY less Of popular sovereignty than any [ nj
ted States territory. They are held and occu-
pied by the power of the army. The time, place
and manner of holding their elections, to start
again as State, will be not of their own choice
but at the pleasure Of the Federal power. Is
not all State sovereignty, for the time being
thus as eiiectually taken from them, as it would
be by the passage of Senator Summers bill ?
And how is one way Of reaching this result any
more constitutional than the other?
The only real Objection to Senator Sumner
bill, that does not equally apply to the provis.
ional system adopted by the Government, is, thai
Congress has no right to interfere IN the matter
AT all, and that whatever is done must be don,
under the war power It's this same objection
we suppose, which led the Judiciary Commute,
of the House to report back all the confScatior
bills, with an expression of opinion that the,
were unconstitutional, but at the same time re
commencing the adoption of resolution as ing
the President TO do just what Congress had ut
power to do. The result reached, however, /
the action is taken would be the same, as far ~
! the rebels are concerned. 1t is not question
of ends but of means best adapted TO secur,
tho.e ends.
However we may look at it there yet seems tt