The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-12-08

Of the Tinted states, the electors M each
state shall have the qualifications l.lulSle ioI
sat. Iagisature" After the formation of the
II remained as before, the UNI
form iisar p for each state Co enlarge thc pouY
of IT, electors according 70 is own Juusnnu',
and. undcr this -ystcm, one StHtn after another
has trorc.dod To- increase the number OF It's
electors until now. universal suffrage, OF
something very near II, II thc general .ui'i 20
fixed was this reservation ot power III Nh' hsp-
its Of the people; and SO unquostioncd mas
boou the intrrpretation Of the Constitution
that during the civil war the late lrcsilehi
never harh0red the purpose certainty never
avuwed the purpose" dsreBaluthH ~ nuu
in the act ~ Congress. during mat porou' !
nothing can be- found which. during the con I
tiuuauce of hlstilitics, much less altci thch /
close would have sanctioned any departure
by the Executive from @ pohcy Whlch mas SO
unifprnly obtained Moreover, a concession /
OF the elective franchise 60 the freedmen, by /
act of the President Of the United states, must
have been extended 90 all colored mem Where- /
ever found and so must have estaDlshe1
change Of suffrage in the northern, Mlaulc
and Western states not less than the southern
and S,uthwostorn. such an act would have
created new class of voters, and would have /
been an assumption of power by the iresi-
dent which nothing in the constitution or laws
of the United states would have warranted.
On the other hand, every danger ot conflict
* avoided when the settlement OF the question
is referred TO the several states lh'y can each
Ii.
it is to be adopted at once and absolutely or IN
trOduccd gradually and with conditions. ~
my Judgment, the freedmen, If thoN snow
patience and manly virtues, VIII sooner OBTAIN
PARTICIPATION in the elective franchise through
the States than through the General Govern
ment even if it had power 10 intervene. Nhen
the tumult Of emotions that have been raised
by the suddcnncss Of the social change shall
have subsidized, it may prove that they WI re-
ceiyo the kndicst usage from some OF those
on whom they have heretofore most c-..,sely
depended
But while | have no dcy.',f that now. after
the CLOSE % tho war. ,t l. not competent for
the General Government TO extend the elective
itahchlse IN the several Safes, it is equally clear
tAdt good faith requires the security Of the
freedmen in their liberty aud their property,
their right To labor, and their right to claim the
Just return Of their labor. | cannot too strong
~ urge dispassionate treatment Of this subject
which should be carefully kept a!oof from all
party strife We must equally avoid hasty as
symptoms OF any natural impos-ibility for tho
two races to live side by side in a state ot mn
tual benefit and good will. The experiment in
wolves u- in no Inconsistency; let W then, 20 on
aud make that experiment in good faith, and not
be too easily dishCartened. The country s in
Mood of labor, and the freedmen are in need of
employment, culture, and protection. While
then right Of voluntary migration and eXpatra-
ton is not to be questioned, | would not advise
their forced removal and colonization. Let us
rather encourage them to honorable and useful
] INDUSTRY where II may be beuefirNl 10 tntl-
selves and to the country; and, instead Of hasty
antcIpations Of the certainty of failure let there
Re nothing wanting to the fair trial of the cNper-
iment. The change in their condition is the sub
siitution Of labor lbs contract for the status of
slavery, The freedmen cannot fairly be accused
of unwillingncss 10 work 80 long a. % doubt re-
mains about his freedom Of choice ia ms pur-
suits, and the certainty of his recovering his
stipulated wages. In this the interests of the
employer and she employed coincide. The em-
ptuycf desires IN his workmcn spirit and alaerity.
and these can b permanently secured IN mo- 9TH
cr way. And ii tho one ought to hC ahlo 20 enc
force the contract so ought the other. The
puplc interest viii be- hCS promoted. II the scy-
Qfa states VIII provide adequate protection and
remedies for tho freedmen Until this is Ia SOME
way accomplished, there h. no chance for the adj
'antageon- use Of their labor. and the blame Of
I ilsuccess will not rest on them
know chat sincere philanthrophy If earnest
for the immediate realization Of it, rcmotcst
aims; but time is always an element la reform.
" is one OF tlie greatest acts on record "a have
+ brought -four millions OF people into freedom.
The career Of free industry must De fairly
opened TO thCm; and then their future prosperity
aud condition, must after all. rest mainly on
themselves II they fail, and perish away,
let MS be careful that the failure shall not be at
triontabe to any denial of Justice. IN all that
relates 70 the destiny at the freedmen We need
not bc too anxious 10 read the future; many in-
ciicnt- which, from q speculative point ~ view,
might raise alarm. viii quietly settle themselves.
the greatness of its evil, in thu pom, of view of
pubic economy becomes more and more appa~
lcnt. slavery wac essentially a monopoly Of la
bur, aEd al such locked tho state. where ii pre-
yalled against the incoming OF home industry
When labor was thu property of the capitalist.
the Milie man was excluded from employment.
. or had but the second best chance al obtaining
II "ud the foreign cnlgrant turned away from
thc region who're his condition would be SO pre-
ctriou7. With tine destruction Of the MONOPOLY
free labor Wlii hasten from an parts of the civ
liftd globe 90 a-Hlst in developing ysiinu- and
imlnea7uable resources which have hitherto
lam dormant. Tho eight al nine States nearest
the Cur of Mexico have soil ~ eghnberaut fer
tltN, climate friendly te long lllr and can su--
Nill dcnrer population than j. found as yet in
amy part of our country. And the future iuIluX
~ population to them viii be from the North or
from tul most cultivated nations of Europe.
FROM tie suiiorngs that have attended thcm
aNlng orr late struggle Jet us look away - the
Iulnie. which Is sure TO hc gdt3 for thorl Wi "a
Elest,' Prosperity than has ever before boon
KNOWN. The removal of the monopoly Of slave
labor Is a pledge That those regions viii be peo-
ped bY numerous and cnterprsiug population.
"hieh VIII Nle "ith any IN the Union ia compact
ness my eniWe genius wealth, and industry.
our Government springs from and was made
for the people not the people for the Govern
hent. 10 them It owes allegiance: from them
it mus, derive Its courage, strength, and wisdom.
bul' Willte the Government Is thus bound 10 de-
Ter 10 the people, from whom II derives its exist
cnce, 1t should, from the very consideration of
" origin he strong IN it, power Of resistance 10
lhe establishment Of inequalities. Monopolics.
peipttulues. and class legislation. are contrary
10 the Skihus OF nee government, and ought not
TO be allowed. Here, there is no room for favored
classes or monopoes: the principle Of our Gov
Sfnheht Is that OF equal laws and freedom of in
ues'iy' wherever monopoly attaius foothold.
II II sure 20 be source of danger, di-cord, and
uoup-t. We shall but fulfil our duties as legis-
@iois ny according equal and exact justice 10
ou men, special privileges 10 none. The Gov
eminent is subordinate to the people. but as
lhe agent ana representative of the peonlo il
must ne held superior to monOpolos which in
themselves ought never to be granted and
which, where they exist, must he subordinate
aiid yield TO the Government
ihe constitution contcrs on Congress the
right 10 regulate commerce among the several
States. 1t i Of the first necessity for the main
lenahce OF the Union that commerce should lac
irce and unobstructed. No State can be insti6ed
IN any device to tax the transit Of travel and
commerce between States. The position ~ ma
ny states Is such that, If they were allowed q
take advantage of II for purposes of local row.
nue., the commerce between States migbt be il,
Iurously burdened, on even virtually prohibited
IL - best While the country is still Young AMI
Mhue the tendency to dangerous inono,oiies "A
eis hlhu Is sun feeble, 10 the power of Con.
Siess 80 as To prevent any selfish impeachment Il
WV AeV circulation OF men and merchandise 4
TAX on travel and merchandise in their transit
constitutes one of the worst forms of mOnouoiy
ana the eHu Is increased if coupled with denim
VI we oholce OF route. When the vast extent nj
unr country II considered, it is plain that every
tpDo'lOle 10 the nee circulation of commerce be-
t"eeh INC States ought to be strongly guarded
a5a.hst py appropriate legislation, within the