The Portland daily press., 1865-07-06

Government of the United States has the
power, and it is its duty, to provide for them
provisional governments, military or other, as
circumstances may require.
And these governments must be continued
Until the people living under them, shall come
forward and show that they are prepared TO
take upon themselves the functions and privi-
lege OF government under republican constitu-
tions. So long as a majority Of the people re-
main disloyal In fact, they are not entitled to
come INTO power, nor should the States in
which they live be restored to their former re-
lat1ons to the federal government and to each
other. Indeed the government has no proper
authority to admit them to these relations be-
fore they have adopted republican constitu-
tons for themselves. They can claim to be
fehabilitated only when their loyalty is demons
strated and their organic law is such as the
Constitution of the United States requires.
Now, whether it would be fair to hold that
the loyalty of no people was sufficiently
avOuched who persist in the purpose to form
their institutions upon the aristocfatic foHnda-
ton OF caste or race, and not upon the popu-
lar will, it can hardly be denied that the gov
eminent would violate its own fundamental
law, If it should by an affirmative and yolun-
tary act, enable State, thus grounded, to be
restored to its former condition and relations
And now that these States are by their own
act, legally under the authority of the United
States, they should be kept there until then
provide themselves aoiH Republican coestitu-
tons, and until the federal gorernnaent has
constitutional authority to accept their return
to then former places IN our SYSTEM And
there is no injustice or hardship in this. There
would be both, as well as illegality, in any 9TH
er course. There is nothing oppressive in ask
ing State to acknowledge the Constitution
of the United States and be republican ;-if
there is, the whole government is in fault and
the rebellion was justifable. If rebel will
not take the oath of allegiance and agree to
support the Constitution, he cannot complain
If he receives no amnesty-and if State will
withhold its assent to the requirements of the
Constitution it cannot object if the disabilities
it has brought upon itself are not removed
Ii the Southern people will not consent to
live under such a Constitution as the highest
law of the nation exacts and as the people Of
Maine have been content with from the be-
ginning, let them remain as they are. The de-
cision is with them
So far from the fact that some of the LOYAL
States do not admit the black man to the bal
lot box being an argument against his adnlis-
sion in the disloyal, it furnishes a cogent rea-
son in favor of it. Because the constitutions
Of these State are in SO far, anti-republican
and indefensible, we find no authority or JUS
tifcation for the formation of similar ones in
other States. And to insist upon the adoption
of republican constitutions in those States,
where, in consequence of the acts of the trail
torous inhabitants thereof this condition
may be fairly and easily imposed, is not only
to secure rightful and just constitutions for
the States that were in rebellion, but is also to
aid in amending those Of the loyal States
which are at fault. If members of Congress,
or men in administration, would in their own
States vote for free suffrage, they must; to be
consistent, labor, by all legal methods to effect
it in the rebel States. The objection, that the
government urges this reform in the latter
while it does not enforce it in the loyal States,
BELTS a pettifogger rather than becomes
statesman. A statesman seeing what is right
and needful adapts means to ends-consults
times and seasons-does not atteInpt t1.'s as,t-
possible at the moment. tls<s'ssf' 'tne possible
- yvafied edIHne-nor break down the relations OF
What it will cost, and what it is worth -
Perhaps there is no State Constitution in the
Union which has not some anti-republican
feature in it, and though the United States
may have the strict power to compel the erad
ication Of every such feature, the departure
from the right line may be SO small, and the
cost of compelling return, extending, it may
be, to civil war, might be so great and the
consequences so alarming, if urged without
reference to time and circumstance, as to JUS
tify a postponement of the question to more
nt9ons OF ioval tafes WbIch eSclnds.
citizens from the balIot-box, are in conflict
with the Constitution of the United States
and -anglat to be amended, is it necessary and
expedient to enter upon the work Of enforcing
such amendment before the proper Constitu-
tions may be required of the States which
took part In the rebellion |? 1852 y
go Wilfnot time, and the prevailing influences
all around, adjust matters and set them right
sooner than could be anticipated from direct,
and perhaps, forcible Intervention of the gov
ernment9 9eaa A -,A- s.aahs n s
- Ii however, a State should persist IN main
tanning constitution which in vital respect
was anti-republican, that excluded loyal and
good citizens from the exercise of the right of
suffrage upon grounds OF caste or color, merely,
snouid transfer poiitlcat power fIom the maJori-
y W lng minorilys 70 q leW iainlnes, 70 Dlrec-
w ~ ~ Iic W9ule aTlse ID
aS oecoe tile
ave TI.u Iuty ~ y. ene y iuseu y ~ States at
. tne yes. worA ol elie peopie9 ana tne gov
III as sne plcscI eii, ls noe 80 1nucn
LII =, e ..e placS on ts
u Justice anu
nul'isn.S as WI niaAe tlenl sIrohg, prosper
ou9, n"ppy, iuesii1plc "iiu iluispensipie parts
Ia oA = o@O na'io hia
The Government, / am sure, will do moth
ing N respect to punishment Of traitors and
rebels that is unworthy Of the most powerful,
the most dignitied and the most Christian ma
ton ON the globe. Such punishments as the
safety OF the State, as a wholesome example,
and as Justice, tempered with mercy, shall de-
mand, will be infiicted-and no other. But, if
wise, 1t will take care that there shall be no.
more treasons and rebellions in this country
no more slavery and injustice to bring down
upon the people another punishment like that
they have SO recently received. Its vengeance
VIII consist IN giving the South free States in
lieu of Slave States--its severity, in making
that sunny land a thousand times brighter
and pleasanter than before = in sending
fish for serpents and bread for stones. Such
is the punishment which the loyal country
would visit upon the disloyal South. Let us
hope that it is not greater than she can bear =,
2. Another result Of this American conflict.
is, think. the demonstration r. has made az
the strength and stability OF, free institutions.