Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-28
Reconstruction.


tute for that, and which provided that Louisiana,
Tennessee and Arkansas should be regarded as
reconstructed, has been defeated in the House
by Democratic votes. The following abstract Of
the bill was printed in the Congressional proceed
ings;
The bill, which was laid upon the table, pro.
yded TOR the appointment Of provisional Govern
ors in the States declared in rebellion, to see that
the laws Of the United States were faithfully exc
cuted Az soon as military resistance TO the
United States shall have been suppressed, and the
people Of such States sufficiently returned to
their obedience to the Constitution and the laws
Of the United Statss, the provisional Governors
we're TO take the necessary measures for conven-
log The loyal citizsns in convention, to declare the
viii OF the people relative to the establishment
Of State Government. The oath of allegiance
Is to be taken by every voter, but every person
known by or proved to The commissioners to
have held or exercised any Office, civil or military
state or Confederate, under The rebel usurpatiOn
or to have voluntarily borne arms against the
United States, shall BE- excluded, though he offer
to take the oath, etc, The Constitutions con.
yentlons were required 10 adopt the following
provisions
Frst-No person who has held or exercised
any Office, civil OF military, except civil offices
Ministerial and military offices below the grade oil
colonel, State or Confederate, under the usurpng
power, shall vote for member of the Legislature
or Governor.
&cOnd-lnyoluntary serytude is forever pro.
hibited, and freedom and equality of civil right,
before the law are guaranteed to s persons in the
State.
Ihud-No debt State or Con federate, shall
! be recognized by said STATE, etc.
The bill further recognizes the State Govern.
ment Of Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee, and
provides that il the Governor and Legislature oil
any OF the States now in rebellion shall, before
resistance 10 the National Government is sup
pressed, tate the oath 10 support the Constitution
OF the United States, and ADOPT the provision tc
ratily the proposed Ant-Slavery Amendment tc
| the Constitution, the President may recognize
such Government, and submit he same to Con.
gress for recognition.
The bill was laid upon the table by vote OIL
ninety-one to siIty-!bree, the Democrats all voting
in favor Of thus killing the bill. Winter Dsvi,
favored this BILL and ia The .ist Of yeas and nays
we ind the names Of the representatives from thil
State recorded as voting against laying the bill on
the table, IN fact, majority Of the republicans
supported the measure.
The New York Tribune and some other re-
publican papers praiso this action OF the House
aud the J'rikuns in justification of the action
SAYS;
1t seems to uS that here is indicated the besl
practicable solution OF the rOblsm that perpleYes
Congress. LIE! the two Houses agree that The
power to accept or reject terms Of peace is az
incident OF the power TO make war, aud clothe
the President, by formal act or resolve, with
whateveT authority may be deemed requisite to
render valid any adjustment Of our great conlro-
versy that may receive his sanction. Thus armed
We may confidently expect him to achieve an early
and enduring peace.
II we are not misiniormed, the Hampton Roads
conference repeatedly witnessed the need Of some
such action as we suggest On more than one
important point, the President is understood to
have net grave inquiries With the statement
That is outside Of the sphere Of the Executive;
| cannot cay deciSivsly what Congress would do
but should be wiling as a citizen, TO 90 thus OF
so, OF to have this OF that done" 10 this, he Was
doubtless right but there should he no such lin.
itations. Whoever represents the National an.
thority in such conference should be able to say
promptly and decIsively--" DO you do thus OF
SO, and guarantee that such and such shall he
the response Ca our side and there should De
no question Of bis ability to made his words good
The president is not quite an absolute mohalch
according to the theory Of our government and
we trust he will not soon be made so in fac
indeed, there is no paper in the county thai
would sooner or more earnestly ccmblt the doc
trne set forth in the above paragraph than The
Tribune, if Mcclellan and not Lincoln was to be
president after the fourth Of March next. Con
gress is not elected ard does not assemble fol
the purpose Of merely Registering the tdicls o
the president. II has functions OF its own, which
it cannot and ought not to delegate 10 the bes
man on the continent The president has The
power and the right TO give the rebels what as
surances he pleoses respecting his own acts,-hov
far hs will exercise tie pardoning power, how
soon he will order the armies Withdrawn from re-
beous districts, what legislation Of Congress he
will hinder by an executive veto. But he hs,
no power or right, aud ough, not to be clothed
with any, 20 60 one step beyond this. He cannot
prescribe the qualification, for member of Con.
gress, or Judge of them, aud Congress will not b.
likely just at present to give him that power. Hi
duties and privileges, under the constitution, arr
well defined, aud ought to be strictly adhered 10
and it is of dangerous example for him to attempt
to invade the province OF Congress, or for Con
greu 10 srtogate TO itself executive functions
The perfection Of our form Of government 10
war as well as in peace, can only be preserved BY
each department Keeping strictly within its zen
situlional limits.
But the Tribune "a getting quits eager in ia
pursuit OF peace, 30 much SO that the peace Dem
oosts Of the Mcclellan variety are becoming
warm 10 ,hsir admiration OF Mr.. Greeley, and
il is net therefore strange that the paper should
30 pleased with the resul, Of a vote carried only
by the union Of the entire Democratic strength o
the Hsu'e with less than half the republicans
We trust, however, the T'rib,sR, will soon aban
don the position |, assumes above, tina, Congress
ought to abdcats in favor Of Mr. Lincoln. L
probably regards It's own influence over MIR, Lin
oea much greater than ti influence over Con
gress, and prefers 10 have the power reposs il
hands which Mr.. Greeley thinks e will he easier
for him to manage.
We think it unfortunate that the r.con,,ruc
ton bill was defeated, although we are BY nc