Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1865-04-28

Now that the sword has about eomnleted ;,s
work in the social and political transform alton
of southern society, the work Of reconstruction
will hereafter occupy largely the attention Of
leading statesmen. Already the "status of the
South" is question Of absorbing interest. BY
a decision Of Chief Justice Chase in the case Of
the United States Us Elizabeth Alexander, the
subject assumes shape not altogether pleas
ing to those who are striving to secure the
earliest return Of the reeusant States without
security for he future.
The case is an interesting one: Mrs. Alex
ander claimed a quantity of cotton that had
been taken by Union forces on the ground
that Gen. Banks had occupied the parish of
Avoyelles, Louisiana, in which she resided and
mat, while the Union troops were there, she
had taken the oath of amnesty required by the
Presidents proclamation. But this plea avail
ca ca her nothing. In deciding the case, Judge
Chase took this high ground |; we quote from
his decision:
1t is said that though remaining in rebel Territory
Mrs. Alexander has personal sympathy with the
rebel cause and that her property cannot be recorded
as enemy property but this court cannot nauire in
to the personal character and dispositions of ndvid-
ual inhabita' Is OF enemy territory We must be
governed by the principle Of public law, so efen an
nounced from this bench applicable alike to civil
and international wars, that all tho people Of each
State or district in nsuTecton against the United
States must be regarded enemies until by the ac
tion of the Legislature and the Executive, or other
wise, that relation is thoroughly and permanently
changed.
We attach no Importance, under the circumstances,
to the elections said TO have been held for delegates
to the Constitutional Convention.
This decides the present status Of every
State which rebelled against the authority Of
the general government it is enemy territory.
In a subsequent part of his decision, the
Chief Justice said "NIrs. Alexander, being now
a resident in enemy territory, and in law an
enemy, can have no standing in any Court of
the United States so long as that relation ex-
lists" Thus, the very evil of "no rights, &c."
which under the Dred Scott decision bore
down so grievously upon the black race, by the
course of justice has been transferred to the
oppressor. Formerly, the negroes had "no
rights which white men were bound to re-
spect." Now, the white men ofthe rebellous.
States have no rights which negroes are bound
TO respect. This is one of the freaks, of Neme-
sis, doubtless, but it teaches most important
lesson.
This decision assures the country that the
rebels who have been defeated in the field, can
not by coup de mditre triumph in the Capi.
tol. 1t would, doubtless, crafty the political
ambition Of Gen. Banks and his followers to
carry out their scheme, but against this too
easy method with the insurrectionary States
there is arrayed the popular sentiment of the
country and the full, ample power Of the Su-
preme Court. We must have some security
against future rebelions, and by making thor
ough work now we shall avoid trouble for our
descendants. The slaves must be elevated to a
political eqnaldy ,ohh their masters before there
can be any thorough political reconstruction.
This is alike the spirit of the age, the doctrine
of the people and the decree OF fate.-Spring-
field Union.