Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-07-14
The only question can be ss to the mode of
obtaining this result


We trust all loyal people of the land will have
no hesitation in standing br the President on
this issue. By necessity, the Republic must hold
and exercise seeae euntrJ, over these regions and
people ueth the StAtss are restored to their fun
fanctscns ~ States. in national as W. as in
State enairs. This authority Is - 5e exercised
by the President or by Ccag ress. or both, &C
cording to The nst--e of each case Though re-
sufting, necessarily, from the fact Of the war,
thee powers ale not necessarily TO be exercised
by military perscns or in military forrrs. -his
temporary, provisional authority. although su-
preme 70 the time. may 5s exercised, much of
II, by civil ofscer-, using he methods Of civil
power, ard admitting the employment Of judi
cisl and executive functions, with the arts and
business and social intercourse of life. This, we
understind 10 be in substance. the position
which the government now occupies, aud we be-
lieve the people recognize it TO be of necessity
and of right
Let us now, fellow citizens, turn our atrentfon
10 our rights and duties. Having succeeded in
this war, and holding the rebel States ID our
military occupation, It is our right and duty 10
secure irio eTer AE public sdftfy and the pub
itc fam require.
First. The principle must be put beyond ell
question that tie Republic has direct claim
upon the allegiance of every citizen, from which
no State can absolye hr-n, and TO his obedience
to the laws Of the 3epubtc, anything in the
constitution or laws Of any Stste TO the contra
ry notwithstanding.
Second. The public faith is pledged to every
person Of color IN the rebel States, TO secure to
them and 10 their posierity forever complete
and yeritabe freedom. Hayinp promised them
this freedom, received their aid on the faith Of
this promise, and, by successful war and MIL
itary occupation Of the country, having obtained
the power 10 secure the result, We are dshOnor-
ed il We fail to make it good to HIM.
Third. The system Of slavery must he abol-
ished end prohibited by paramount and irreyer-
sible law. Throughout the rebel States there
must be. in the words Of Webster, Impressed
upon the soil itself, an inability to bear up any
but free men"
Fourth. The systems Of the States must be
truly republican"
Unless thee points are occurred. the public
filth will be broken, and there will be no safety
fir the public peace OF the Preservation of our
Institutions.
IL must be remembered that. under the Con-
stiiuion, most Of these subjects are entirely mat
tiers Of State jurisdiction once withdraw the
powers If war and admit u State 10 it, full func-
tons and the authority Of the nation over these
su jectS Is gone. II is State function 10 deter
mine who shah hold land. who shall testify in
State Courts. who shall he educated and how,
who shall labor and how, and under what
contracts or obligations and how enforced, and
who shall vote in National as well as in State
elections We have already said that all these
points now stand m the constitutions and laws Of
the rebel States decided against the freedmen.
Action is Necessary TO nut them right So great
a change Il no doubt. fundamental, and goes to
the bottom Of their social and political system.
Il 0; i not made uoN before civil society becomes
settled, before the States are restored 10 the eI-
ercise Of all their powers, 1t will never be made,
in all human probability, by peaceful means.
The question now occur, how are these results TO
be secured before these States are permitted to re-
sumo their functions, We agree that these results
ought 20 hesecurel in conformity with what may
be called the American system-thst upon which
sni for which cur Constitution was male. This
Is - system of separate Sta'Cs each with separate
functions constituted by the people q each, and
self government within its sphere. with centrs Q
State constituted by the people OF all. supreme
within H. sphere snd the final Judge Of its sphere
sud functions. The President recognizes the
importance Of preceding in accordance with
this system. lie aims NJ = restoration Of the
States by the people Of the States. without resort
10 the exercise Of sovereign legislative jurisdiction
over them by the general government. Ia this
We offer him our sympathy rs We ask for HIM an
intelligent support. But, inasmuch as once re-
stored the State vii be heyoud our reach, the
ntmost care must he taken 70 avoid a nasty and
unsatisfactory restoration. We acknowledge
that there may be- dangers in proiractei aud e1-
teu-iye military occupation But. We believe
that the people are wiling 10 incur their share
OF these Ver.ls We bel eve the people feel that
the creates, hazard is IN premature restoration
frausht with future danger. Any restoration
would be- dangerous which DID not secure. beyond
all reasonable peril, the abolition Of slavery, &C
tuil freedom. Just rights 10 the free. and within
esch State, - republican form Of government"
The PpsdAlt and his Cabinet, we have every
reason 10 believe, have these results IN view.
We cannot doubt that Congress will refuse 10
receive any State upon any other terms. II
there are any members Of Congress whose fieli-
t. on these points Is doubtful. We implore you
10 exercise over them all the Just authority and
influence q constituents.
We advance 20 extreme or refined theory as
10 what may be included within the term "a re-
publican form Of government In the exercise
Of the extraordinary prerogatiye Of the general
government 10 determine whether a State con-
siitution S republican,, there must be praci-
cal wisdom and no refined iheoriss II the con-
s'iiutious with which the rebel States now come
are not republican" N such a reasonable and
practical sense ~ nations act upon-if they are
- far uurepuhlican As 10 endtngcr public peace
q 81 stabil ~ Of our il sti ut ms. then We may
treat them AZ not republican IN the American
sense OF the term.
What, then, i the character Of their present
constitutions, assuming that slavery is prohibit
Ell; Here presents itself no question Of mere |
principle or theory, but facts OF an overrulling
and dec siye character. From one-third to one ]
half Of their free population are absolutely aud I
forever not only dis rauchi,ed, but deprived Of 1
all the usual rights # citizens in a republic.
Not only 50. but this Acknowledgement is per-
Detual, hereditary, and Insurmountable. 1t is
more deeply seated than the Oriental caste. 1t
,iiugs 10 each man AMI his posterity forever. If
here be a traceable thr, al Of African descent
No achievements in war or peace, no acquisitions
u property, no education. no mental power or
culture, no merits can overcome II. To make
be case worse, these people sre not only dis
ranchised but the temper, spirit, and the habits
I the ruling class, the only class psrtaking Of
iyil authority, will keep them not only disfrau-
ulStu, uuL uutuuchttl. without tiul, without
he right to testify, and without the means Of
Protecting their formal freedom. The result
IS been, and must ever be, that the system is
,sentally and practically oligarchIal. in such
suse as actually and seriously TO endanger the
uhlic peace aud the success Of our republican
istitutions
Attempts are made 10 embarrass the subject
y referring TO several Of the free States, whose
institutions restrict free blacks in the exercise
some of not usual rights of citizens But ,
ese are not practical questions before the coun-
y. The general government has no present
enhance of those questions in those States. .
esidcs, as We have said, the exercise OF this
trao ,dinary authority must be upon practical
ID reasonable grounds, and not on mere tbeo-
The partial disfranchisement of people Of color !
those States We regard as one Of the subtle
lets Of the slave power in our politics, which
g hDTe to see pass away with its cause. The }
inter Of persons whom it bears upon isso small, {
Z feet upon them 20 slight, and such the :
tie Of society, and the habits and feelings of n
P people, that the substantial character of e