Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-09
Gen. Butler on Reconstruction.

tainly very forcby expressed and very satisfactory
10 those who desire a thorough reorganization Of
southern society and forms Of government
We may congratulate ourselves that amer four
years Of effort, toll expenditure well al treasure
az blood, all armed resistance 10 tho Government
has been bought to an end. Among the return
ing blessings which will flow from this consumms-
ton not the east Will be the arrival OF the period
when all abnormal Administration OF law or exer-
else OF authority and power can and will cease
the reason for, cause and object Of, extraordinary
uses of executive functions which we have oil up
held, because necessary war powers in the struggle
Tor the lie Of the Nation, ceasng, they also CEASE
and We Of the loyal states come back to that reg
clarity and safety OF exercise OF governmental
30 which our fathers with SO much care pro
yded as safeguards to the rights OF all. But
there is portion OF our country where all those
safeguards are broken down, where all law which
we can recognize has been disIegarded, aud where
the withdrawal Of our armed forces would leave
only anarchy aggravated by hostility to the Gov
ernmsnt. propose with your permission, IN
Conversational form, 70 evolve for consideration
few proposition, rslaiDg TO the question: which
may press home upon u, as to the manner IN
which we shall rtceys back the rebellous states,
or avoiding all cont!ov'rsy upon terms, merely as
TO whether thsy are 10 or out oil the Unlon TO
use the nngu.g- of OUT late Amented president,
How these states can be brought into their
practical relations with the Government need
not say that the thoughts which have been the
subjects Of my reflections upon this top;e are only
the speculations Of citizen, whose mind has oeen
turned for some time ia this direction, attracted
thereto and enlightened by the succs" Of the
bold original action Of PIesiient Johnson IN
bringing Tennes.ss as loyal state into the
Union, by tho votes Of those ony who had ever
remained loyal in heart and rejecting all those
Who had participated IN the rebellon. This, per-
baps, is the key TO the whole difficulty. 10 Apnl,
1853, had the honor to express TO the citizens
of New York, al the Academy OF Msslc, the
opinion that the people OF the rebeou' states
we're in the legal relation to The Government Of
alien snemits; this proposition has been since
confirmed BY the repeated solemn decisions OF
the Supreme Court. by what process, then, are
these public enemies Of the United States living
undetpotical organiz ,tions or state governments
hostile to the Union, their forces Just nov shat
tered and broken by our victories, TO DO brought
into political relations with us, and become en-
dowed as well with the privilege OF legslaung for
themselves as part Of the Government, Is also
to make laws for US who have Just subdued the
rebellion by the sword. 1t is quite clear that
until some means are devised 10 enabls the
southern people to govern themselves in the
Union, disorder must be repressed, peace pre-
served, crimes punished, and the industrious, and
we-dong protected by the military powers OF the
United States. 1t would seem to be the part o
the Government with the ideas, athnties, unity
Of thought with the loyal states which can alone
insure their usefulness and homogenliy as parts Of
the body polite. Would it not be well then that
Military Governors be appointed Tor each s's''
4, who il would seem should be selected as much ioI
their knowledge Of civil affairs as Of " army rega'
laions," il satisfied that any considerable number
of the inhabitants Of his district were truly loya
and deslrous Of bringing their State back lato th'
Union, should cal upon the loyal citizens OF tn
United States residing therein, who havs neve
held office during the rebellion, TO vote upoa th'
question, whether The people desired 10 s''un
tneif relations wi h the tinted States IS loya
state, and for that end would provide and dee!ar
in their state consti utoD, !. That hefe'ittr lor
ever there should BE- neither slavery or u vounur
seryitude except for crime ludielaliy declared
Q. That there cannot exist in the political Systet
Of the United States any tuch thing as right
secession by state. 3 That no person, corPo
alton. municipal or ot1er,or State, cJuil or misl
ever assume or pay any part Of the debt or claim
any person OF corporaton,State or confederation
states incurred or in any way arising from or
, Aid Of the late rebellion. I. That any person wh
T had held military, civil or diplomatic office undt
the 40 called confederate states. or either Of then
or been any agent thereTi during the rebellIo
should have no political rights IN the s'ale, 81
0 ,sould be and remain ALIEN fhersunio tortps
Il the people Of th' State should, BY good degr'
Of msgnaninty, vote to call convent to 'naF
hese or like propositions part oil thor consut
,ional law, then meeting for the elee ion Of de
h .qstes 10 constitutional convention could
q called. a constitution framed a-d submitted
the people for IA ifcalion. Such vote npon 81,
nronosilions would be conclusive evidence lhat Il
. people Of such state were truly loyal, and in eo
> eordspce with those ideas which control The 10y
h mind of the other states, and by which the iutu
of he country is to be governed. II no copside
=. able number voted upon these questions, W tn
failed to command tue assent OF larger port,
10 Of the people, this would also seem to he conc
T. siye evidence that within that military dis,r
, either the spiri' OF the rebellion bad not be-
subdued although the physical force might
broken that the community was not in condlll
& TO resume It's practical relations IS stats
e. the Union, and | would hold il under militia
;. rule as belgerant until the influx oil northern
terprise, capital and sen imenl brought in by o
% brave soldiers coming there TO settlr, and by O
D school teachers educuing the colored citizens
dtxal bod
changed the feelings Of majority os the peoI
of such state that il was in tit csndi ion 20 becoI
state Of this union, whether the time needed
r. this purpose was one year or CENTURY. II, no
a ever, constitution should be adopted contain
.. the provisions above suggested; then the St,
being organized, all military rule should be vi
n drawn as soon as the State Government shot
ly show il was able 10 preserve ths pc c. and pI
Of ,ect all citizens Of the United States in its hord
n. in life, liberty and pursuits OF happiness"
State could then ELECT It's members 10 either Hot
u of Congress, to be admitted tr r'Jsoed as eth
IL in its wisdom might determine. But no su
nd election OF Members Of Congre. ought to ia
No place until oil military rule had been Withdraw
because there can be no gre'tcr wrong 10 /
nc fundamental principles Of Government, than /
III e,toon Of members Of either house Of Congr
Oh under the overshAdowine power oil the presid,l
specially when sIersd in the militsry form Su
4. elections abolish all distinctions between and
~ dependence Of the Legislative and Executive
a. psftments Of the Government, aud tend to q
go s,lidaou Of power quite as much to be guart
cy as secession.
=. am one Of those old fashioned Democr
~ who do no, believe that the sueu i've has a
ed part or 10, in the fraternal relations Of the /"
raj states TO each other and to the Union, oil
than that which the president exercises as ?
ho Of the law-making power. The theory Of ST
/. rights has been 10 such bad company Of late,
ha, been 80 msngl,d ard uisrepr.stntsd a,
n analogy for secession that there il danger 1