Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-08-22

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trusted with power in that Onlon "| ,o oysr-
south has for years been '0'''''' It
INV IL = n,., u. 3so,,n Of Congress on the
admission of the Soua into the Union uePoaH' A
upon the character OF be men 'Hi' VIZ a. .ea,s
mex. december 10 afI!' ~ ~ oear mat we arr
.nrr,i.ssd =, eod oor.al,s.s 70 carefully and ear
nestly setting il forth 70: the South to eooose {
any other than unimpeacla9s op'yn ri, .rd
oons'ess "1u'u " ~" ~. rsy,Ialed all the
uI.a' Gnu'' - "s' ~ no1ulur error and in
atpstion
The reasons given for taxing the course which
The R,DubEc soypesls are possibly the most for
chile which oopId be- addressed 10 those lately in
rebellion II ia r,ticsl5ls. however, that they are
wholly polito and prssrnt the case as one Of pure
,sl6,bpe... CONGRESS-, tbs Republic assumes,
will receive no men nom the South, whose ante
cedpnts sra mt fro from suspicion, and there
fare the South sboul cleo, none but such men.
This !, the argument Of compulsou. Yet the
fact that name, which i, evidently heartily 10
favor Of the old government, contenting itself
with this low order Of argument, is evidence that
no appeal to tie uni1nsm of the late rsbsls is
reck oned ofapy avail
We have noticed ia several Democratic papers
Of the North. this same style Of address to south.
ern voters, beseechig them to elect unobjection-
able men, as Congress would have no excuse for
refusing admission to such n ainbers Of Congress !;
and there il muoE eoasa end great deal Of cum
Ding in this kind Of discoui.s, 1t 10 sonsrally
supposed the President vii. feel himself so far
committed to hu scheme for reconstruction, as TO
urgs the admission OF members of Congress from
a the southern states as soon as they apply. II
the first set Of members should be men whose
previous political history 10 toerably good, II
could be very forciAy urged that the recon'truc'
ton which produced sucl fruits must be measure
ably safe and once these members we're admit
ted, there would be an end Of all further question
respecting whether these states had the right tt
resume and exercise all their sovereignty. 1t il
therefore manfealy the true policy Of the South
to at least exhibit show Of honest unionism
until Congress is called upon to act upon recon
struction.
While this is The policy Of the South ,-ant
the annulling the Richmond election will make i
clearer 10 the msnsgsrs Of polite, there--it
more than ever the duty Of the people Of th
whole country to carefully watch every phase 0
the opinions and conduct Of the men who we're s.
recently traitors. Congress can not be too watch
FOL, snd guard the couatry too carefully again,
all imposition and it must bear IN mind that
is not one set Of Congressman that it is admitting
but their successors in oil subsequent election.
It must also bear in mind that whatever is recog
nzed in one state must be Recognised in all.
will not answer to reject one member because b
autecedents are not quite loyal enough, and adm
another Of more pronounced patriotism. III
validity Of elections cannot be tested by the ante
cedens Of the csndidate7, bat i. must be ascel
tanned by the regularity and lswtnne's Of PFC
ceedings at the blllot-box. Congress cannot d
what has been done by the military in the case
the Richmond officials, and annul an election b
cause it Is dissatisfied with .' result but it mu
act udeioutly and according to the rules an
practices which prevail among delbsratiye bOdie
In respec. to the members just elected from Ter
nessee, for example, Congros, will have no rigt
to admit the Unionis.5 and reject the opposition
but it must admit or reject the whole delegation