Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-03-01

'N''H tho lest hiuutu luthlbub winch hfeauY
nave, and which will still more test the statesman
ship and honesty Of officials, Congressional aud
Executive, have presented themselves at Wash
lnglon. Among these none are Of more ultimate
Importance than those which relate to Eman-
cpatlon and the status Of he reyolted States
We notice that Winter DAVIS Of MARYLAND
chairman OF the committee On the condition OF
the lnsurgent districts, has already given some
Inumition Of his own views, on the question +
admitting representative for the State If Ar
kansas, and has expressed very decided dissent
from the policy Of admitting representatives from
these States, until the status OF the insurgent
districts has been determined by some legislative
ac,Ion OF Congress, With the approval Of the
Executive. And We do not See how The House
can avoid now passing upon this case, though
il their decision is to be drawn into a precedent
to control future action, it is certainly one Of the
gravest questions they have been called upon 10
determine.
Arkansas is one Of the seeded or insurg,nt
States She has no loyal State government row,
except one which has been appointed by the mill
tary power at Washington and relies for its sta.
biIiiy wholly upon Federal bayouets. The State
cannot with accuracy be called recovered from
rebellion, except SO far as lbs rebel army ha,
been expelled, and the territory has been occupied
by Union soldiers Under these circumstances.
and with the protection Of the military power Of
the Union, Stale Convention has been held, and
also an election of on member Of Congress, who
comes to Washington asking to be admitted to
seat as a re! ressntatiVe from the State Of Arksn-
sac Mr.. Davis protested against admitting
him and we confess that his position in this re.
'pect seems both sound and safs.
We have agreed Gil along, and now hold TO
the opinion, that dealing with the rebellion As "a
military power, is almost wholly the business OF
the military arm of the Federal Government.
The occupation of the insurgent States, and
maintaining the peace there, and all matters Of
local police in that territory, in the absence
Of the usual and proper local authorities, have
necessarily deyolyed upon the General in imme-
date command under the orders of his superiors
in the department or at Washington. At the
outset the military were only employed in aid of
the civil power, for the maintenance of the Union
and the enforcement of the laws and in theory
they occupy only that position now, and every
where should be kept subordinate to the civil
power in the Union. Their province as well sa
the province Of the Executive as C)mmanler.n.
Chief, is not to reconstruct or reorganizo the re.
beIIlous districts but simply to maintain the Fed.
eral power, resist and overthrow the armed forces
Of treason, and aid the civil power in maintaining
the supremacy Of the laws. The remaining bus
mess Of reconstruction, reorganization, restora.
ton, or whatever other term may most apty de.
isnste the necessary steps to bring back the So.
csded States to their proper relation to the Ma
Iional Government, belorgs to the. Legislative no,
to the military, to Congress and the Executive
AZ legislators, and no, to the Presiden, as Com.
mander-in.Chie[
And we think this position tensbe, rrespeo
i've OF the question whether the States have com.
mited political suicide" or not. II they have
lost their sovereignty and ale to be treated as con
quered provinces or territories, the military
power can rightfully do no mole than 10 occupy
and hold them until they can, in the usual way,
be organized into territories. ard then into States
and come back into the Union through the
concurrent action of both Houses OF Congress-.
approved by the President. IL they have no,
lost their sovereignty, then We cannot see how
the President has any right to modify change or
affect in any way their political action, except to
protect the loyal citizens in their renewal of the
organization of a civil Government. The State
constitution and State laws, unless 10 conflict
with the Constitution Of the United States are still
the supreme law within State limits, now as be.
fore the rebellion, and as much 80 in Arkansa. a,
in Vermont or else the State has lost ito soysr.
eighty There ISM middle ground.
For this reason It seems to us that the Amnes.
y Proclamation, SO lar as it contsmplates political
sc'ion IN the territory or States recovered from
rebellion, should not have been addressed to III.
States themselves, but should have simply taken
the form OF recommendation 10 Congress, 10
have no vitality until after legislative action up
on H. Indeed the President evidently anticipated
that, under his proclamation, members Of Con. |
grss' might be elected whom tho House might |
decline TO receive aud he could only anucp.