Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-10-10

atract one, and there are many very strong rea-
sons which can be urged on both sides, But
great deal that is said and written upon il has no
tendency whatever to clear the subject Of doubts
or to lead to a satisfactory solution OF it. Presl-
dent Lincoln was very nearly right when be said
that, whether technically out Of or in the Union,
the rebellious communities were out Of their true
rslAtionIto the Union. This position cannot be
successfully assaied Nor can it be, with any
reason, claimed that, being out Of their true rela'
ton to the Union, they are entitled to the same
privileges as before the rebellion. AL persons
except the Valandgham school OF democratic |
politicians admit that the Federal Government
has something to do and say about the method Of
restoring these communities to their true place in |
the Union. But We are not unanimous in respect |
to what that something is. Some persons hold
that we have right to impose certain terms and
conditions, such as the declaration that the or
dinances OF secession we're null and void and a
recognition that slavery is abolished and the ex-
hibition Of disposition to act in good faith to-
ward the Union in future. This is supposed TO
be President Johnsons plsn, the Democrats
pretend to endorse it, as well as the Republicans,
although the Democrats evidently distrust it, as
a'king too much Of these rebels and the Repub
leans distrust it, as asking too little. But there
ia no respectsble.bod Of politicians or people in
the country, which does not agree that the Presi-
dent and the people Of the North are justified in
demanding as much as President Johnsons plan
requires Of the South, as pledge Of their repen-
lance Of their treason and Of their disposition TO
abide faithfully by the Union hereafter, before
civil rights are to be fully restored to these south
ern communities.
If it is the general understanding Of the status
Of the rebsllious states, that the Federal Govern
ment is to retain control Of them until they com.
ply with certain requirements which the people
are agreed should be insisted upon, how can any
body seriously argue that the southern states have
lost none Of their rights by treason? Yet we
find Republican United States Senator making
the following argument:
A state never dies. Though it changes its
form Of government, though it be one year civil
and the next military, and changes as man
changes his garments, the state never dies
Though England had enlarged her domain, and
she had been in anarchy and in peace at various
Periods whether under the Williams or the Tu-
doris, the state was changed. The people of
monarchy say King is the state, and hence the
state never dies. Here we say the people are
The people constitute the state, and
the states never die. If, at the assassination Of
the President, all the officials had been murdered,
would the Republic have died ? The speaker
drew several like similss, to prove the theory to
hold good in case Of states and even countries,
and declared that all ordinances OF secession tbs
could be passed did not destroy the identity Of
he state. Though martial law might be declar-
ed, yet when the rebellion ceased, civil law re-
NAMED in force, and the states were entitled to
representation, and the exercise of civil law az
,efors.
Let ui vsntate this argument little Admit
or moment that state is indeslructble and
hat whatever forms it may take ii is yet the same
tate. South Carolina, as state, has then bsen
n existence since November 1861 the same as
efore. Her form Of government has not been
hanged She has had her legislature, and passed
avs as before, Her sovereignty has been COM
,lete all the time. BY what right, then, does
resident johnson order new constitution to be
ormed in that state Her old constitution is still
a force. Her reserved rights, her sovereignty,
he has not lost. Why does the federal govern.
nent impose any conditions upon her, or take any
ontrol Of her domestic affairs II the argument
# ndsstructibility is good for anything it proves
90 much, and is ust as fatal an objection to the
curse President Johnson is taking as to the
course Senator Sumner desires should be pur
sued.
But, in truth, this argument that state never
dies, amounts to nothing. 1t may be very
pretty theory to assert that, whatever forms a
state may assume, it is still state; that whether
or Napoleon, or Queen Victoria, or
General Butler, or jeff Davis, may for the time
rule South Carolina, and to whatever power the
people Of that state may acknowledge allegiance,
still the state is indestructible, being composed
OF some subtle and immortal essence that lives
on Just the same through whatever changes Of OIL.
legianee Its people may assume and we don't
suppose the Senator would even admit that, il
the state Of South Carolina should sink into the
ocean, and waste Of water should only mark the
,po, where its sovereignty resided, that it would
not then be the same old state Of South Carolina
which could not even by humiliation die"
Even il thi, be so it still proves nothing II a
,Ate cannot die, it can neverhele. get out OF its
true relations to the Union. II South Carolina
can never cease to become a state, il may cease
to become state in the Federal Union. II Jeff.
DAVIS rebellion had succeeded, South Carolina
would have yet remained state according to the
Senator'S definition, but it would have been a
state out Of the Union, as much as Mexico is out
of the Union. And while it was ia treason i,
was out Of it, practical relations to the Union,
aud in that respect just as much foreign state
a. Brazil. But the Federal government insisted
on restoring it to its true relations to the govern
ment, aud hope, to be able to do it yet.
A state is not territory alone, nor people
alone but it IS people occupying different limits
Whatever sovereignty or rights the state may
have, rest with the inhabt ants, the people, with
in the territorial limits Of the state. A state can
have no existence seperate from the people. II
South Carolina has had any exi,tance for the past
Eve years as state, it must be because the PEG.