Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-07-14


Composition of Parties.
Parties are rapidly forming themselves on
the colOred suffrage question, and the pro-
! cess enables every man TO sec and understand
what is the composition oil the party which
opposes the elevation OF the cOlOrcd popula-
ton Of the South 10 the rank Of citizens.
First in that party are all the rebels who
were lately in arms against the United States,
and who with the utmost bravery and often
with brilliant success in the field, fought 10
effect the destruction of the Union. From
Gen. Lee down to the humblest soldier of the
extinct Ccntederacy, every man who sought
TO put an end to the American Republic is
opposed to the project of converting freedmen
into irecmen. exactly as he WIS opposed TO
the conversion of slaves into freedmen. Next
come the great mass of southrons who were
attached to the rebel cause, but who ind not
act as soldiers, though in various ways they
supported the rebellion. These men and wO-
men are all averse to the elevation Of their
late slaves to the position Of men, and are
Mortified at the mere thought OF q cllored !
man bein~ allowed to vote. These southrOns |
are nominally submissive, but they hate Us
now a. bitterly as they hated u Two wears |
ago, in the days of Gettysburg and Vicks-
burg. Then VIC have the more moderate
portion of the southern people, who profess
10 be original Unionists-and very original
Unionists most of them are. They are not
full Of dislike to the North, but they are
hardly less hostile TO negro suffrage than are
the rankest rebels in South Carolina. Hav-
ing long helped to Cypress the cOlOred race,
they cannot think it safe to entrust the bal
lot to black hands and even If they thought
it safe, their pbejudIces are so strong on the
subject OF color and race that they are as
averse to the elevation of those who lately
were slaves TO manhood, as are the deepest
dyed secessiOnists. Coming to the North, we
find that all those who long have been noted
for their subscryiency 10 the slave-hOlding
oligarchy are in the first rank of the OppOsi-
ton to an act which the country is bound to
perform by every consideration that should
move people who value their honor, and
who have an intelligent regard for their in
terest. At The head of the opposition stand
all those savage and bigoted democrats who
have been prompt to admit that their sympa- .
thies were with the South during the war ,
Next t" them stand the greater portion of
the democrats, who have not wished to see
the Union overthown. but who have all along a
cherished the hope and entertained the ex- E
pectation that some peace might be patched u
up which should restore the old state of },
things with slavery as strong as 1t was be- =
ore the war; and who did not cease thus .
% hope and expect until General Grant was
master of Richmond and General Lee had =,
surrendered. Behind them stand all those \
,owardly creatures who hate every advance ;,
# liberal principle and who scent political :,
destruction in every liberal measure and,
inally. all those who are averse to change of -,
nv kind, and who are prciudiced against =,
hat race whom they and men like them have
o long wronged, max uD the host that seeks h,
0 bar the way to human progress. When al
uch are the men who stand in array in sup N
ort of the position that colored people q;
hould be kept as degraded as possible, is it a.
OF absurd TO tell us that the freedmen. if -
thoroughly freed, would become the mere ',
erfs of their old owners, would swell the p
Irces of their ancient opprsssOrs, and would ,r
ote according to the dictation OF those op- -,
ressors Were there any four dation for y.
lis strange assertion, should we not see the - -
hole South. and the entire democracy of the ~,
orth. united IN support of that just and s;s
nperatively demanded project which now ~
ley unite to oppose 1t is because the dis -
ossessed oligarchy and their white slaves of n,
&c North are firmly convinced that the col
ed people would be the most loyal of Union m,
is, that they combine TO oppose their ad- a :
ission to the rights of citizenship, and ~;
ould have them live race of degraded =.
ariahs in the midst of civilization, and ~ ~
us living, become our worst enemies, who ~,
light be tempted to rise in instruction, 49,
ben, by way oil Furnishing them, and max ,bS
z their government easy, it would be pro- 4,
sed to convert them once more into slaves
e are entirely convinced that such is the !
rpose of the vanquished party and they me,
Ii be able to effect their purpose Just 81 10 !
On as the democratic party shall succeed 10 OF.
gaming possession of the federal govern exc
mt and nothing could be better calculat- hea
to promote democratic restoration than mer
prescription of the colored population of foll'
South, and the restoration Of the rebels sire
supreme power in those States which they Cr'l
G out of the Union. And whom are W. com
uir,d to prescribe The only true men sor
the Southern country, who furnished ms On
b far more than an hundred th,usand sol. - =;
RS and sailors, and who aided our cIuss r.s
very way that they could aid it. And
ON are We required to restore? The on p,
men who have deliberately sought the ma bum
Is destruction, who have caused half a Gall
lion persons to die 10 the flower of their fine
e, and who have placed such burdens up ture
the country that it must 90 on ''from age hold
age in everlasting debt" We are re- lars
ed not only to love our enemies. but to
; our friende and to injure them in every II
!. We know not what lie to be the end burg
III this, but it must be ruin if we arr to occu
,e of the future BY the past We owe will
,ur misfortunes, ali our su6erings, toths disct
on of the elaveocraey snd the democracy Z d
If No shall listen to their counssls again, II
misfJrtnnes and our suferings. it il but who
unable to infer, will be doubled in extent front
intensity, and tho inaietion will be well have
rvsd. md |