Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-09-29
GGa:ctman & STATE Journal.
BY E.P. WALTON
MONTPELIER, SEPT. %, 1865.
For the Journal.
VOTES ON wATCHMAN'S ANSV Err
TO T. s. H.

NOTES ON WATCHMAN'S ANSN Err
TO T. S. H.
This was 1.-THE white folks who de-
frauded the black man Of the ballot, Of cit
izenship, Of everything. are to restore it to
him" All, sir, those white folks are dead.
Their statute laws by which they did those
dark deeds, are all abolished, and all the civ
il disabilities Of the SLAVE ceased, when he
became FRER CITIZEN. You speak as II
they continued. Why should your The
President, speaking for the whole people,
bids his own provisional governors recon-
struct on the basis Of the loyal white popu-
lation But this involves two absurdlties
lst. There is no such population of any
amount, although those may be called loyal
who take the oath, aud, 2nd., The generally
loyal, who, by act Of the nation, have become
| cttIzENs, and are entitled to all the rights of
citizens. are, by the act of The President, ex-
cluded from the polls. There was no power
but his wanted to give the right of recogni-
ton. Why recognize the right In the loyal
white, and not in the loyal black Why ex-
/ clude one on account OF the color Of his skin!
/ The nation recognizes the black as the citi-
zen most deserving Of honor, by his mefito-
rious deeds. Let then this simple question
be pushed Why should not the President
! order his provisional governors to organize
on he basis Of the whole 10y al population 7
But if the people who enslsved the blacks
are in any sense alive and responsible, they
are and have been traitors, and by TREASON
have forfeited their right to the elective fran
| chise, and it would be idle to refer the ques-
/ ton to them. The President, also, speaking
/ for the nation, stands in the place of direc-
torship occupied by the old owners, and has
only to speak the word and the nation and
the world will crown him with unfading lau-
| rels, and will most cordially sustain the ac'
ton. We want just that word and nothing
/ else.
But if the people you refer to were enjoy
ing the right to vote on that question, they
would vote to enslave the black, not TO en-
franchise him They would sooner fulfill
their malignant prophecy THAT If the black
was emancipated, he never would be any
thing, but would be annihilated in the con-
CT about him." and that prophecy they
are endeavorng to fulfil. II that race is to
be preserved, then it must be eniranchised
and to some extent. armed. If the nation
is to stand it is by doing justice, and all
men see what justice requires and the Pres
ident in the name of the nation must do that
act, or it cannot be done, and, in Heavens
name, let him speak one word for ag)nized
and bleeding humanity, before his long con-
tinued silence shall be accounted injustice
and cruelty to the black, and bring down up
on us another judgment of God, as fearful
as our late war. Yours, L. S. II.
That the slaves became CIT gems of the
United State the moment they were emanci-
pated. and are fully entitled to all the privi-
leges of citizenship, we do not doubt. The
right of suffage is not among those priv
ileges, but is conferred primarily by the
United States when it provides for the organ.
cation of State by an enabling act, and
finally by the people of the State, in the
adoption of constitution That Congress
may Say who shall vote in territory in the
election Of a convention, we admit, and we
would have it give the largest liberty as the
general rule but that the State shall fix
the right of suffrage for itself is equally
true, according to the Constitution of the
United States, with one condition. to wit ::
il it comes short of the Republican standard
Congress is bound TO interfere. Now the
only complaint /. $. H. can make is that, in
the peculiar circums tances Of the case and
in the absence Of action by Congress, the
President has not assumed to act alone. He
certsinly had no direct authority to assume
that power, and could not be justified in it ex-
cept upon the ground of absolute necessity
in the discharge of some duty that is clearly
constitutional. We think the President did
not recognize any such necessity; that he
thought the loyal whites would do their du-
ty, or at least deemed it best to let them try.
We say again; if they do it we'll, all will be
we'll il they do it not, let Congress do its
duty. by rejecting their work. We think
the President is fairly excussble for leaving
the matter in that way.