Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-03-29
Reconstruction, and The Duty Of Congress.

heeohstfucu9n, and the Duty OF Congress.
Some weeks since We called attention 10 Wha
We regarded az, in many respects, the unwise, To-
JudIclous, and, We regret TO believe, Unauthorized
measures taken by the Government ID "recon
5lFueIing rebel States 1t is said that WINTEr
DAVE, N an able speech "a bridgeport Of which
We print in another pllce-said that Congress wa,
more to blame than the Executive for such &C.
ton, and this isno Enthusiastically true though
'hlS does not excuse the President for assuming
the power, and hr. DAVIS did not say it did,
There 10 need, however, Of immediate Con.
gre@lonal action, ana all the more need Of ii,
since those who have no ight to act in the
premises are still every day assuming 10 do SO
One result Of this way Of doing business l.,
that reconstruction in no two States is pro.
ceedIng upon the same principles. In Arkansas
The loya people, spontaneously, as they had q
right to do, and without asking permission Of the
PRESIDENT or any one else, held a convention, sub.
mltled an amended Constitution to the voters Of
the State, adopted that Constitution, elected a
governor,-n an original secessionst either but
man who has suffered for the faith which he
never gave up--and will, undoubtedly, soon
claim to be recognized as the State Of Arkansas
md, with their free Stato Constitution in their
hands, it will be hard to say that the loyal State
of Arkansas will not be entitled to recognition,
as State de faetO and de jure.
10 Louisiana, the military Commander Of the
Department assumes to direct the business Of re-
construction, fixes the time for holding the cleo.
ton, prescribes the qualification Of voters, orders
tue Government employees to vote, gives bis in
huence IN favor of one Of the candidates. not long
since secessionist, against a man who rever
gave up the Unloni and when the election for
state officers is determined, orders an election Of
members OF Constitutional convention, fixing
the number Of which the Convention shall be
composed, again declaring who shall vote, and
who 'lal not, and virtually acting as supreme
dictator not only Of military, but Of civil affairs,
in his little realm.
In tennessee, the process Of reconstruction
is also going on; there under provisional GOV.
ernor with military title to be sure, but clothed
0y the Federal Government only with civil
functions, something like thoss belonging to a
governor Of a territory.
Now these methods of recopstructionn a.
radically different, cannot all be right nor c.n
they all be necessary. And there Is no excuse for
that IN Tennessee or louisiana, except the non
action of Congress. Congress ought to act a,
oaee. 1t is The Legislature Of tbs Republic and
to it is confded the duty Of declaring the stafus
Of the lnsurgent districts and the methods through
which they may again tske their places in the
Onion' 1t Will not answer to let the question
Alone Executive authority and military authori.
lies have too great temptations to NEEDLE. unless
Congress shuts the door against it and Mr.. DA.
VS. bill, or something similar to it, canno. be
made law too soon.
We at first hoped that the business Of "recon-
ilruction,' except SO fat as might be necessary
% maintain order, and regulate the domestic af.
airs Of each portion Of the rebel States recovered
~ our arms, might be postponed until the rebel
ion was suppressed but the necessities of the
'omng presidential election, or the aspirations of
men for office at home, or to become Representa-.
ives aud Senators in Congress, have forced the
position pfematarey upon the nation And the
'sest way nov TO settle it, is with the least posi-.
'Io interference from the military powers. They
hould De loft 70 deal with traitors 10 arms.-and
here Is still, We regret TO say, considerable of that
BUSINESS before them-@bile Congress and the
wi power Of the Government should deal with
oval men, and see thai they are not unnecessary.
y deprived Of their privilege of holding elections.
nd being chosen to office. Weare aware thai
lew and grave questions have been brought upon
he country by the rebellion, and officials deserve
haritable Judgment if they fall into even grave
rroF' IN their novel and trying positions, but we
an hardly excise them when they forget or IT,
lore the propec relations between the military
nd civil power IN free government and, if we
must apologize Tor what they have hitherto done.
70 trust Congress- will very soon make it wholly
Unnecessary for them to repeat the mistake.