Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-09-01
Restoring the Union

The Republican press Of this State stand com
mitted to this doctrine, that dtSunion is preiera-
BILE to the old Union left us by Washington.
We do not propose to discuss this particular
cEarge-although, VI course, We utterly deny its
Justice or fairness, but employ il as the occasion
for expressing our views upon the general SUBJECT
Of a restoration of the Union views which in the
conflict Of parties, il not yet In the strife OF arms,
may be timely. The sham Democrats are forcing
these questions upon the public attention, and
discussions, which otherwise should be postponed
until the traitors themselves offer them for solu-
ton, may not be inopportunely spoken OF at the
present moment.
l. The administration Of the Government Of
the United States, charged with the solemn duty,
"a duty which it cannot, short Of criminal unalth-
fitness to its trust ewde-of maintaining the
Constitution and enforcing the laws Of the land
over every foot of territory in the national domain
cannot make any terms with traitors in arms. I'm
conditional submission to the authority OF the
Federal Government must be required Of every
traitor. The dignity and majesty Of the Govern
ment can be maintained only by this yindcation
OF it's supremacy; the stability and peace Of the
Union hereafter can be ensured by nothing short
OF this complete overthrow Of the rebellion. As
one who has never abandoned Republican princ-
pies, we declare that we ask nothing more than
this, and shall be content with nothing less. And
this, il our judgment, is going for the sod Union
left US by Washington" Union in which uncon.
dfional obedience 10 The Constitution aud The laVS
.oas eracied of eu9y citizen, South as tOeA as
North.
2. But we are told that the confscation meas
ures OF the last Congress, and the Emancipation
measures OF the Administration, are in the way of
a restoration Of the Union as it was aud the Re-
publicans are charged, therefore, with not only
not desiring, but with having rendered impossible,
b restoration Of the old Union. This to our mind
is grouudlsss assumption, without foundation in
reason or fact.
What is the "Unon as it wasp Is it any
Constitution, whose citizens compose the Federal
nationality and are under equal obligation to obey
fall the laws Of Congress and all lawful require.
mems OF the executive authority This is cer
tainly the " Union left us by Washington !"
Union in which the Federal Congress has the
right to enact laws concerning treason, and all
other subjects within the limit prescribed by the
Constitution; and Congress does not lose this
right during rebellion. A restoration Of the
Union as il was,' then cannot have any fair, or
honest, or possible Specification, except that it is
to be Union under The Constitution and in ODE
dience to all its requirements, including the obi
cation to obey the laws Of Congress, and such
proclamations of the President as are Of binding
force under the Constitution. The legality of such
laws and proclamatons is to be alone tested, as
all questions Of Constitutional law are to be test
ed under our form of Government, when the
proper case shall arise, by decision Of the Su-
preme Court Of the United States. That tribunal
is the ultimate resort Of minorites, in this free
government, against unconstitutional laws or pro.
CARNATIONS, the majority resort to such
measures and its doors are open as well to trait
ors as loyal men.-Let us give an example. Sup
pose North Carolina should repeal its ordinance
Of secession, establish loyal State Government
in authority at Raleigh, elect two loyal men Sena
tors to the Federal Congress, and send loyal Rep
resentatlves from each Congressional district in
the State to the House at Washington. SO far
as the State organization OF North Carolina is
concerned she would then occupy her place in
the "Union as il wasi" and her Senators and Rep.
reseutatives would gladly, andwithout other sues-
ton than as TO their loyalty and the regularity
Of their election, be received at Washington. OF
course her citizens would be under the same obi
CATION to obey all Federal laws as before the re-
MISUNDERSTANDING all laws passed while the State
was unrepresented, through the criminal and vol.
un,ary conduct Of its own citizens in the Federal
Congress-and any one Of her citizens who is guilty
Of treason, or who has committed any offence
against any Federal law, would be liable to be
tried, condemned, and punished for his crimes as
be was before treason had attempted to withdraw
that State from the old Union.
But the captious objector who can see: no viz
tue in the " Union as it was" unless every indi-
vidual STAKEHOLDER has the continued right to hold
his slaves in perpetual bondage, ailirms here,
that the Emancipation Proclamation renders a
restoration Of the Union as it was impossible.
We answer that this does not follow by any
means and for two reasons, viz:
First, The Proclamation only affect. the reA.
tons Of the slave TO his master The relations OF
tie master or the slave TO the State are in no
sense affected by it
Second, The Proclamation does not in any
way interfere with the right of any State to pass
any laws il chooses in regard to slavery. In that
respect, each State stands precisely as it did be
fore the Proclamation was issued.
IL perfectly plain from this, that State sover-
eighty s not in the least assailed by this proca.
nation. It is only the ndipidual right Of the
Shareholder 10 his slave that a taken away, the
indipiduai right Of the slave to his freedom, thai
is bestowed. State sovereignty is no more at
tackled by it than ii would be by stakeholder
who BY deed Of manumissOn should libera,e hi
own slaves.
To rscur to the supposed case Of North Carroll.
ma. After her repentance and restoration TO the