Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-06-30

fN'fft hAh0hAte loI Nut TtOfkhuiNtliun VI
North Carolina, and the subsequent procla.
nation Of Gov. Holden. give us toerably full
information ss to the safeguards which have
been thrown around the work, to prevent its
peryersion for unjust or disloyal purposes
Doubtless there are other precautions. in the
form Of instructions, written or verbal, OF
which the public knows nothing as yet but
The two documents named give us the out
lines Of the scheme sufficiently to enable us
10 judge of it in this respect and as the
proclamations for the other states to be re-
organized are identical with tina, issued in
the case Of North Carolina, niutdtis mutdndis,
we no doubt have here sufficient indication
Of the reservations and checks which the
President has thought it necessary to adopt.
1t will be found, we think. that he has not
set in motion machinery which is speedily to
run beyond his control, but that he has taken
measures for its proper guidance.
The purpose which the President ann ouncts
as the motive and end of his action is stated
in his proclamation, for the benefit Of North
Carolina as well as for the information of the
world, in sufficiently explicit terms. 1t is to
enable the loyal people of said state to or
ganize state government, whereby justice
may be established. domestic tranquility in
sured and loyal citizens protected IN all their
rights of life, liberty and property" This
language, when critically ex mined, will be
found to comprehend all the object for which
any party in the loyal states now contends I;
aud its plain meaning Is defeated by any Of
those retrogsde measures which so many APP
pear to apprehend. The execution of this
purpose, the establishment OF jnstice and the
protection of the life, liberty and property u
all, Mr. johnson has felt himself compelled
by reasons OF state, to intrust TO voters quail
ned under the former state laws. Hq requires
these voters, however, TO take the amnesty
oath binding them to faithfully support the
Constitution aud the Union ct the United
States, and to abide by Ill the laws and pro-
CARNATIONS of the government Ielaung to the
emancipation OF slaves is'otiecttd, end
with too much reason, that this oath is taken
m bad faith, by men who will make a passive,
If not an active resistance, TO every loyal
movement. Gov. Holden, however, whose
own loyalty and zeal for the reestablishment
OF a hearty UniUn, are above al. reasonable
suspicion, - has taken precautions agains
TINS IN his proclamation to the people Of the
stale. lie does not propose that every man,
WHISTLER still rebelllous or not, shall take the
uatn and act In the reorganization of the
state. No person is to be candidate for the
convention or 10 vote for delegates who does
not Lake It but - no person not we'll effect
cd t9~afds The tedei al government. and not
loyal thereto, tcH be permitted to take said
o. 90, OF to vote IN said election" Measures
aye -u be .ak, u, he says, for administering a.
w. such persons az may be entitled to take
o.; and moreover It il eSafded as part
ut tle benefits of the amnesty prcclama-
uYu, and viii not be administered 70 any of
Co.'s classes excepted in that proclamation,
save on the exhibition Of full pardon from
ne President" Gov. Holden then pro-
puse to keep watch over the ballot-box in
his primary movement, and to apply other
and more searching tests than the amnesty
oath And If It Is asked by what authority
he does this, II can only be replied that be
does 1t under the military power, in obedience
10 the orders OF The cOmmander-n- CHIEF, "A
title specially reclted after the Presidents
name IN the President's proclamation and
this fact Is striking illustration of the COM
pleteness with which Mr. Johnson holds that
me military power now has legal occupation
OF the insurgent states.
suppose, however, that in spite Of all pre-
cautions the dangerous element controls the
work OF reorganization and perverts it for
purposes of injustice and disloyalty not
only has the military power in this case not
loosened It's grasp, but the President has
given warning that a revision OF the proceed
ings may DO had. The state convention
watch Is to be called is not vested with the
power OF ulumate decision, hut Is To exercise
the powers necessary 10 epaOie tue .oy al pro-
pie OF the state to rosro.e 80 to its eonatitu-
Ionsl relations, aud TO pte,ent such re-
publican form Of state government A. will en-
uue the state to the guaranty OF the United
States therefor, and It's people to protection
bY tue Un'ed States against invasion, insur-
Iecuon AID dunes ic violence" Who is to
decide wue he, the form of government pres
ented ~ tne convention is " such d repub-
llean fofm 40 to answer these purpOsesi Not
vlone Tue party presenting il, but the guar
anleeilng patty as we'll. he party which by re-
coghlz ns he new tormof government as sufii-
clent takes upon itself an obls aton towards
It,-tbat Is TO ray the United States, either
BY their executive or their legls ature, must
deicfminc IN the last resort whether the form
Of government is truly republican in form
and spirit, aud whether it answers the gener-
al puFpese laid down by the President at. the
outset, of establishing justice and protecting
- N'-'N~Ho ~ iAiS, iASSAt( anu ptvpCtl1s
But the still further supposltion may be
made, that alter all precautions the disloyal
element may struggle to the top and obtain
the control of the reorganized State. SO far
as the State government alone is concerned,
II this happens after fair use OF all pIecau-
lions and after the hold of the military power
has been loosed, we know of no cure for the
EVIL except time. emigration, aud the general
progress OF free institutions. which, with the
Incubus of slavery removed, will assuredly
90 On in the south rs we'll as elsewhere. But
g. far as the general government is concerned,
Congress has taken some security against the
possibility of the old set Of Southern polit- |
clans possessing themselves of the govern
ment. Each house is the judge Of the cleo |
uon OF Its own members,--a power Of such /
general and indefnabe quality as to be in I
many respects one OF the most important I'M
der our institutions. And Congress has pre-
scrihed an oath, to be taken by every person
elected or appointed to civil or military office |
under the government of the United States
( Act of July 2, 1922 by which the person
swears that he has never voluntarily borne
afms against the United States since he has