Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-11-30
RUTLAND HERALD.
rsSsp eur special Washington Cor
respondent.

Schuyler Coltax, delivered III THIS SAVJ
on the occasion OF being serenaded az
the National Hotel. He is known to
your readers as being the able and pop !
nlar Sneaker OF the last House OF Rep |
resentatives, and as gentleman Of the |
ourest character and OF large acQuaint-
ance with public affairs, He had re-
Gently returned from an extensive tour
OF observation to the Pacific coast, hav-
Ing crossed the plains in the early part
Of the summer, and visited California,
Oregon and Washington Territory, and
returned home by way OF the lsthmus.
After briefly abiding to his journey,
and promising to address the citizens at
another time in relation to 1t, and ex-
pressing his great satisfaction in view
Of the suppression Of the rebellion, he
proceeded to speak Of the policy which
should govern our legislation concern
ing the rebel states.
Preliminary to his remarks on this
point, and showing the "animus' OF the
Southern leaders, he saiG, 50 hopeless
was their condition in February last,
tha4 Gen. Lee declared officially that
their cause was ruined, yet the rebel
Cablne. and Congress determined to
continue the contest, and $4,000 men fell
in battle. on both sides, after that time.
Not single rebel State voluntarily sur
rendered; not an army,--not even q
regiment voluntarily laid down its col
ors, and the Union success was achieved
by force OF arms.
he then said that men mad been lately
elected in the restored " states as Mem
bers o. Congress, who say they cannot,
and some of them say they '0@ not, teSe
the oath which Congress has Prescribed,
vet they intend to claiD their seats and
" resume their former business OF gov
erninp Ehe country which they strug-
gled g. earnestly to ruin iney say
they have lost no rights by reason OF the
rebellion. As Congress had taken no
actlor concerning the re-admission OF
the reoel States, the President prescribed
certain things which he deemed .h4is.
penssDla to their restoration,
!. That their conventions should de-
clare the ordinance Of secession nnN and
vssd, and not merely rapsaI IL, as some
have done.
3 That their Legislatures should
gatify the constitutions, amendment
Ebollshing slavery, and
9. That they should repudiate the
rebel debt.
Bu5, said Mr.. Coliax, Gnere are other
terms, on which there is no division
among loyal men.
!. The fundamental principles oil the
Declaration Of Independence must be
recognized as the law OF the land, and
every man, of whatever nation or color
be protected in his right to liberty and
the pursuit OF happiness. Mr.. Lincoln
not only gave freedom to the slaves by
his emancipation proclamation, but sol
emnly declared that the Government
would maintain that freedom. We can
not abandon them and leave them a
the mercy Of their former owners.
2. The amendments to their Stat
constitutions should be ratified by ms
3ority Of their people. Otherwise, the
may say that though the constitute
has q yega, effect, it has no @'o'o' ehee
whatever
3, AS condition to the newly elec
cd Members of Congress taking The
seats in that body, they should be i
CURED to take the oath which Congre'
prescribed by the act Of 1862. The oat
declares have not voluntarily take
part in the rebellion" Although the
are Union men in every part OF tt
South who could take this oath, it
notorious that they were not electe
but men who boosted, in a large majo
ity o. instances, that they could NJ
and would not take the oath,
d. While it must be expected thu
some men in those States will for yea
cherish feeling Of disloyslty, we had
right to expect that before their men
osrs are admitted to share in the go
eminent Of the country, clear majori
Of 3hs people of each % those Statt
should give evidence OF their earne
and cheerful loyalty,
Mr.. Colfax then paid handsome tri
ute TO the President. He said he cou
never forget that at the opening Of t
rebellion, MIR. johnson was the on
Sov.hsrn Senator who denounced
easslor. When on his way to his hon
Inscltsd though he was, st many ia
way stations, he never faltered IN
devotion to the Union. When Militia
Governor Of Tennessee, he said in an
dress 70 his fellow.c citizens that "he
sired all men to have fair start a
equal chance in the race Of life, and
Aim succeed who has most merit"
set aside the Richmond elections wi
a disloyal Mayor and Common Coun
were chosen, and he has sigued