Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-03-29
Winter Davis on Reconstruction.

Wegiye below the Associated ress report; OF
speech made in Congress B, WINTER DAVIS Of
Maryland, last Tuesday, on Reconstruction.
The speech was evidently an abe one, aud is
said to have commanded the tarlest attention
Of both sides OF the House, and many Senators
who were present The a5stEac. is TOO meagre
to give any good idea Of tie force Oh his argu
ments, bot 1t indicates their direction and scope.
The report Is as follows
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Maryland (UuJnJ called IN
the bill, heretofore reported by him from the
select committee on the rebellion. h proyi e
repubi an government IN States oyeftgrosu
or usurped by rebellion
In bis argument, MIR. DAVIS SAID, the constttu-
ents oi gentlemen would judge by their votes
on this bill whether they b.heve the cause of
the rebelhOn-nhmeIy. slayefy-shal be rooted
out, and whether they think thu pending mras-
ure ls Que adequate au4 plop 70 accomplish
that purpose l. prop ses ~, tie exercise Of
an arblt' airy power, but pJwcr within flir
construction Ot thai part ID t4e Constitution
which IMPOSES the duty ii securing republican
governments TO The sAt.. Sece ioa was mot
domestic violence, within ths meaning of the
Constitution, nor vas it INVASION fagre could
be no government within tho United states
which repudilts The authority and the Consii.
tuition Of the country Wheu a military GOV.
eminent Is suppressed, it Is time to think of
another therefore the Constitution declares
that the right Of republican government shall
exist aud what Is opposed 70 republican gov.
eminent shall be put down What is the con.
ditlon OF the rebelious States Not one II
them has been brought under the undsputed
supremacy Of the United States There Il NOT
State 10 rebellion whose soil is not pressed by
rebels 10 arms. There is no portion OF the rebel
States where peace Is So far restored thai our
military power can be withdrawn lor a moment
without instant Instruction There il no rebel
State from which our troops can DO withdrawn.
ana the people therein trusted, One-.enth can
not control hye'tenihs. No where exists viii
llngness 10 control those who are opposed to a
republican government. West Virginia is tho
only State permanently free from the rebellion.
You nave nowhere IN the robeh0us States a free.
independent and loyal population, willing 10
eohlr NJ the rebels IN arms and 10 tight in main
tenance oi The Constitution, We have heard
much about the loyal masses OF the South.
" hae was lhelr temper formerly and now
Although they voted against secession, they ac.
4uiesced IN Tue decision OF t doubtful majority.
lucy wantcl union with peace, bat when war
ehsned they preferred dlsun0n. Ii was an
extra ralhafy iaei that IN the Southern States,
"heie great revolution was inauguratei
against lhelf WISHES ana votes, not a sword was
uis"h ~ taem IL was revolution without
n"tyF au1 without e0nlessur, excepting the
immortal fkrTlGREw OF South Carolina. We
hear oil the people beins exhausted and anxions
or peace True, they were anxious for peace;
Jul 'hey want peace with independence-the
are not Tor peace aud union. There was no
Iesponsioie authority for saying that any por-
.ion Q, 'he reoeihous States are willing to nc.
'ept The terms OF peace which our political on
ponents offer them. Gov. SkyMorR had saia
that peace could be procured ON reasonable
erms. 1t was only with that gentleman a wish
good naturtd hope. What, then. are wa To
10 We must NOT erect Government on sbi6.
ng sands, to DO supported by our arms. and "a,
he people 10 turn against Us when we are dr.
zen away or withdraw. 1t was 10 erect the
hrone OF Chaos, and t. lee him 81. there and
eIgn supreme Three modes had peen proposed
Q settle the Slavery question one to prohibit
'Iatory everywhere This was right aGd went
0 tie root Of the evil. But ii was doubtml
whether three.iourths oi tho States could mo
ecurod to pass such an amendment 10 the Cnn.
Tuition. The next WINS the AmutsIy procla.
nation Congress is not pledged TO lis support,
1t ouly the Executive. The Government nro.
osed by It Is something as unknown 10 the
constitution as the rebel Government it,elE
inch refuses to rooognlze It. II the nicola.
laton IS not valid, the oath is uot OF legal
ineiloa. The oath adds nothing 10 dc yalai.
ana loTcc OF that proclamation. 1t provides
nat the Government shall hot eontr.y'ne tho
reclamation OF Emancipation, which means
nat freedmen shall not be re.ensayed. wh,le
a'es shail so remain II does what the ON.
itulion' OF the OLD States do, and recognizes
70 existence OF Slavery. Therefore the Copsti.
ltlons ct the old States do not contrayeno tho
reclamation of freedom. II was merely a ia.
cal question. The time had come wh,n we
lonld not only disarm rebels, but strike the
tiers from the slaves, and thus remove ,he
use ol the rebellion. This the hi under
proposed TO do, and to give repub.
an government to States which have been
erthrowa or asarped by rebellion.