Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-07-18

10 Withhold their ollgarchal system, built upon
debased colored population, and inIrenched behind
State institutions, over which the nation cannot
pass in peace Their personal relation with the
c0ored people as masters over slaves being
changed IN law, they will look upon them in new
light as class to be feared, and as the cause Of
their defeat ard humiliation. They will not tax
themselves to give to the freedmen an education.
They will not permit the continuance within Their
States Of phllanthropc agencies for colored peo
pie, from the free States. They will not enc1ur-
age Northern immigration, with systems Of small
freeholds and free abort nor vi capital and free
labor 20 there from the free States under present
auspices. Returning to their old arts Of politics.
which they are fond Of and in which long practice
has made them expert, they will seek to repudiate
debt incurred for the suppression Of their revolt !
nor c N We shut our eyes to the danger Of politi
cal combinations, to be ruled by this oligarchy
and to do its work 1t is useless to suggest or
conjecture methods and means the spirit and
motive will take such forms as occasions may re-
quire.
We trust it cannot be necessary TO pause here
and reiute political hlIacy which the logic Of
events has already exposed. It has been oontended
that forcible assistance having ceased, the rebel
States are, by that fact again in their orbits, and
IN the ighful possession and exercise Of all their
functions as States, in local nd national affairs
Just as il no war had taken place-that the nation
whether by Congress or the Executive, has no
option to exercise, no powers or rights to enforce
10 conditions that il can make We trust that
the mere statement Of this proposition, in the
light Of the circumstances 10 which we stand, is
sufficient relutation. We are holding the rebel
country in military occupation, and the nation is
asserting right, before it ield, that occupation,
10 see the public safety secured, and the public
faith preserved. The only question can be as to
the mode Of obtaining this result. We trust all
the loyal people Of the land will have no hesita-
ton in standing by the President, with clear con
Yctlons, as well as strong purposes, on this issue.
By necessity the Republic must hold and exercise
some control over these regions aud people until
the States are restored to their full functions as
States, in national as well as in State affairs. This
authority is to be exercised by the President or
by Congress, or both, according TO the nature Of
each case. Though resulting, necessarily, from
the fac. of the war, these powers are not neeessa-
fly TO be exercised by military persons or 10
military forms. This temporary, provisional au-
thorty although supreme for the time, may be
exercised, much Of It, by civil officers using the
methods OF civil power, and admitting the employ
ment Of judicial and executive functions, with the
arts ana business an social intercourse Of life.
This we understand TO be- in substance, the position
ahch the government now occupies, aud we
believe the people recognize it TO be OF ecessity
and Of right.
Let us now, fellow citizens, turn our attention
n iuhf and A.v A.J =
this war, and holding the rebel States in our mill
iary occupation, II is Ou right and duty 10 secure
WhaieUT he public safety and The public faith re-
qiiire
First The principle must te put beyond oil
question, that the Republic has direct clim upon
the allegiance Of every citizen, from which no
State en- absolye him, and TO his obedience to the
laws Of the Republic, anything in the const,u
ton OF laws OF any State to the contrary noiwth-
standing"
ssooHd The public Aairh is pledged to every
person Of color in the rebel States, to secure to
them and their posterty forever complete and
vertabe freedom. Having promised them this
freedom, received their aid on the faith Of this
promise, and, by successful war and actual mill
iary occupation OF the county, having obtained
the power to secure the result, we are dishonorsd
Il we fail to make il good to them.
Third The system Of slavery must be abol.
ished aud prohibited by paramount and irreversi-
bic law. Throughout the rebel States there must
be in the words Of Webster, Impressed upon the
soil Itself and inability to bear up any but freed
men,
Fourth. The system Of the States must be
truly Republican"
Unless these points are secured the public faith
will be broken, and there will be no safety for the
public peace or the preservation Of our instIu-
tons.
1t must be remembered that. under the Consti-
tuition, most OF these subjects are entirely matters
Of State jurisdiction. Once withdraw the power.
OF war and admit State TO its full functions, and
the authority tf the nation over these subjects i.
gone. Il is a State function to determine who
shall hold land, who shall testify in State courts,
who shall be educated and how, who shall labor
and how, and under what contracts and obligations
and how enforced, and who shall vote in national
as well as in State elections. We have already
said that oil these points now stand in the consti-
tutons and laws Of the rebel States decided |
against the freedmen. Action is necessary 10 put
them right. So great change is, no doubt, fun |
damenla, and goes to the bottom Of their social
and political system. If ii is not made now,
before civil society becomes settled, before the
States are restored to the exercise Of all their
powers, it will never be made, in all human prob
ability by peaceful means
The question now occurs, how are these result,
TO be secured before these States are permitted to
resume their fuuctions' We agree that these
results ought TO be secured in conformity with |
what may be called the American. System-that |
upon which and for which our Constitution was
made. This is system a separate States, each
with separate functions, constituted by the people
Of each, and selfgoyernng within its sphere, with
a central State constituted by the people Of all, |
within its sphere, and he final Judge OF
It's sphere and functions. The President recog. |
nlz,s the Importance Of proceeding 10 aecordano.
with this system. lie aims at restoration Of
the States, without resort to the exercise OF soy.
ereigl legislative Jurisdiction over them by the
general government. 10 this we Offer to him our
as we ask for him an intelligent support.
But, iuasmuch as once restored the State will be
beyond our reach, the utmost care must be taken |
to avoid hasty and unsatisfactory restoration. |
We acknowledge that there may be danger in
proncted and extensive military occupation.
but VT oeHtNf tuaN tue peopie are Wiling 10 incur
their share Of these perils We believe the people
fee that the greatest haz,rd is 10 premature res,
toration faught with future danger. Any resto.
ration would be dangerous which did not secure
beyond all reasonable peril, the abolition Of .a.
very, actual freedom, just rights to the free ard,
within each State, "a republican form Of govern
ment'
The President and bis Cabinet, we have every
reason to believe, have these results in view. Wa
cannot doubt that Congress will refuse to receive
any State upon any other terms. II there ar,
any members ef Congress whose fidelity on these
points is doubtful, We implore you to exercise
over them oil the jus, authority and influence Of
constituents.
We hdt nnna no nxtrnnnn or rnhnnh thnnrr a. IN