Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-10-10


has assumed the lawfullness of imposing terms
and conditions of some sort. Now it remains
for the people to say what justice, right good
faith, and the future security Of the country re-
quire these terms and conditions to be. 1t is a
question respecting what the government ought
to do, and not what it can do. What it has pow
er to DO has been settled already, and is example
fed every day in the denial of complete sover-
eighty to a single rebel etate. We may there
fore, dismiss from our discussions all arguments
either for or against the theories Of those who
hold that the rebels may be treated as conquered
communities, as territories, or as states, and adj
dress ourselves in earnest and canddly to the sin
gle inquiry, when and upon what terms the fed
eral government shall release It's control of the
insurgent states: understanding that, in the fu-
ture as in the past four years, everything that
stands in the way Of complete overthrow Of
treason, and an entire vindlcation of the author-
ty Of the federal government and u5t and hon-
est and full redemption of the faith which the
government has pledged to all the inhabitants Of
tht republic, will be repudiated by the people.
The OATH REQUIRED or MEMBERS OF Coz
GREss.-lt is said that some Of the Citi.
zons OF Charlottesville, Va, have appeal
ed to President Johnson for information upon
this point, and the Attorney General of the
United States, to whom the matter was referred
replies that he is instructed by the President
to say that "he has no more means Of know
ing what Congress may do in regard to tho oatt
about which they inquire than any other citi
zen but it is bis earnest wish that loyal ant
true men, to whom no objections can be made
should be elected to Congress"
In view Of the difficulty which these Southern
members may meet in getting into Congress b.
not being able to take the oath, the New Yorl
Herald, in the spirit of mischief for which i
is notorious, suggests that Mr.. Mcpherson, tn
clerk, enroll these southerners, and allow then
to participate in the organization. 1t doesn'
pretend that he has any right to such an act
but says
lie may have golden opportunity for
brilliant coup d'etat in support of Presiden
johnson in the elscti0n of the speaker bu
much will depend upon the number OF mem
bers elect present in the Capitol on the frs
Monday in December from the Southern States
Let those States push forward with Congree
slonal elections 90 as to be able on the first Mon
dap in December to present their full strength
at Washington, and they may perhaps be ad
mtted to the roll OF the clerk, and WELD tn
balance Of the power in the election OF speak
er"
And the Heraid true to its revolutionary in
stincts adds
In ihis view we assume that there will be a
considerable number OF conservative republican
members who will be prepared to support the
abolition radicals. Thus conservative Speak
or Of the House may be secured, and then any
Wls difficulty Of SWEARING IN The Southern mem
berS upon The neW oath of Office, igiH be easily
surmOinted upon the dissolution of President
JOhnSonS pardons and amnesiiss. That such q
course will be agreeable to the President we can
not doubt and We think it very likely tina, at
the threshold Of the new Congress this test will
draw the line between the supporters and the
opponents of his Southern reconstruction policy.
In this connection Mr.. Edward MCPHERSON the
present Clerk OF the House, may play lead
ing part in one of the most important political
revolutions Of the nineteenth century, by re-
cognizing, in his roll Of the House, the pro-
gramme Of Andy johnson.
The Herald having thus led the way iD the
advocacy Of this lawless effort to allow the
Southern members to take part in the question
OF deciding their admission to seats, VS. shall
find the entire Democratic papers of the ooun-
try soon adopting and recommending the same
course.