Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-12-15
Ghs &ree press.
President Johnson,s First Message.
BURLINGTON
FRIDAY MORNING DEC. Is. 1865.

FRIDAY MORNING DEC. Is. 1865.
President Johnson's First Message.
Few messages have ever been looked for
with more interest than was this Of Presi-
dent johnson. What will he say about
reconstruction? VIII he own that his plan
was an experiment, and is failure? Are We
to see a collision between Congress and the
President over the admission OF the rebel
States? What stand will the Government
take in reference to the controversy with
Great Britain and our relations with Mexico?
VIII Mr.. johnson tell US what he is going
to do with jeff Davis? What about negro
suffrage? How much protection may the
freedmen expect from the powers that be
in Washington? What is the prospect for
the future seen from the high stand point
and central position Of the executive head Of
the Nation? Such were the questions the
people were asking and for light on which
they looked to the message. What answers
does it return?
The President does not own that his plan
! of reconstruction has failed. On the con-
tray he yindIcates it, as far as it las gone.
He owns it was risky but he AYERS that he
took the smallest rick, and he does not own
that he has been disappointed thus far in
] -, L. ba % U
the anti-slayery amendment to the constitn-
top, as a necessary requisite to union and
harmony.
lie will have no controversy with
Congress over the admission or rejec-
tion Of the rebel representatives, for
he comedies fully to Congress the night to
determine what must be the qualifications Of
its members.
In regard to the freedmen, the President
believes he had no right TO confer suffrage
on them, and sustains his position by the
avermcnt that if the Executive should confer
peculiar rights upon colored men in the
South and Southwest, he must do hkcwisc
in the states Of the North and Northwest
2 PROPOSITION winch will not find UNIVERSAL
nt. Mr.. johnson has not felt obliged TO
appoint provisional governor FOR Vermont
or told New Hampshire she must adopt the
Constitutional amendment as a requisite to
q recognition at Washington, because lie Las
made such appointments and requirements
for South Carolina But the people have
not exrectcd or demanded that the President
should proclaim the right Of suffrage to the
freedmen, anu will pass by his argument On
that point to dwell with pleasure on Lis
pledge that the freedmen shall be protected
and secured in their rights.
JEFF Davis. 1t is a fair inference. viii he
tried for treason, a. soon as court can bc
found. or fixed, to try him IL.
Toward England, tie President carries q
stiff upper lip, and his clear statement o..
the wrong done to US by her conduct during
the war. and refusal to submit TO arbitration
our claims for damages done by her piratcs,
will create a stir abroad. l. is plain that
our Government will relax none Of those
claims. but there is no threat Of war, or
urgiugof present attempt at redress: only ioE
the future the friendship Of the two coun-
tries must rest on mutual justice.
In reference to Mexico, the Message deals
in ceneraliues, which mean evidently that
the President does not like a Mexican en-
rirc any better than the rest OF Us. and Is
willing Mazimilian should understand it
but what he is to DO about It he does not s.
clearly see.
The future of our country looks hopeiu
and iull of promise to the President, and he
5 clotcs with prayer for divine guidance an'
blessing. in which al deyout and patrio'i
> hearts viii join.
3 The Message, on the whole is fair, candid
considerate, dignifed and well written
1t is calculated to raise Mr.. johnson, W
: think, in the good opinion Of a majority q
the people, and to satisfy item that tn
reius of power are in the hands of no rasi
s hcadstrong, or narrow minded man. 1t
received, too, with wide satisfaction Th
Republican press generally accord 1t ing
praise. The y. Y. World, alone, of our c2
' changes, declares that it is not quite tre
from Inconsistency and leaves something
be desidcrated in vigor Of tone