Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-08-15
The Debt of the Rebel States,

Ihe States which have been IN revolt again 81
the Federal government %have-tbough to what
extent we have at present no means of accur-
ately asoertlining-incurrtd debts in aid Of the
rebellion. The evidences Of these debts are now,
doubtless, held mainly by persons who were
active in support Of treason. %Inasmuch, how
ever. as the State authority, which followed the
ordinances Of secession in each Of the lnsurgent
States, has been already declared invalid, its
acts cannot be legally binding upon the people
Of the reconstructed State. There is no doubt,
however, that as soon rs the civil power is fully
restored to these States, an agitation will at
once commence for the recognition OF these debts
by the new State and it cannot be denied that
there will be q grea, probability, IN such an
event, that a majority of the people OF these
reconstructed States would be- found f%aVoring
such recognition.
respecting the honest union sentiment at the
South, that practically VT don't believe 1t is
strong enough to protect itself. We act upon
this belief in every southern State. In Tennes-
see and Louisiana, states which have been nom
inally reconstructed many months, we dare not
leave the governments to take care Of them
selves. Gov. BrowDlow yet shelters himself
under the guardianship Of Gen. Thomas mill
tary array, and Gen. Candy keeps Z" watch and
ward" over the infant civil rule of Gov. Wells.
The president, in all his proclainations respecting
reconstruction, studlously excludes from fran
chise rebels Of the most dangerous influence
and The persons to whom reorganization is com
mItled, in forming their constitutions, carefully
exclude from any part in the work a numerous
portion of these who have been but recently
TRAITORS. Even in Missouri, the new c%Onstitu-
ton just adopted shuts out from participation
in the government OF that State a large number
OF white inhabitants Tennessee has done the
same Louisiana the same and this il avowed-
y because il IS deemed dangerous to the future
peace, good order, and practical and honest
uniOnism Of these States to permit these die
lranchised citizens to take part IN future cleo
tons. These official acts OF the authorities al
Washington, and this refusal, by the loyal peo-
pie Of the State, Of the franchise to a large
class of rebels, is the very highest evidence that
without such restrictions, those who have been
maliciously making war upon the United States
would at once take the control Of the affairs o.
every State recently in rebellion.
1t will be the greatest folly, however, Tor the
people Of any part Of the country to act upon
the supposition that any portion of the whites
of the South can be permanently, or for any
great length Of time, disfranohised. Laws and
constitutions cannot be made strong enough TO
do it.. Virginia has already furnished an in
stance Of the utter futilily Of any such at
tempt. When confronted by the fact that the
large majority OF the people of that State were
rebels, the legislature of the State at once swept
away enough Of the restrictions, to put the
political power into the hands of those who will
make short work OF the remaining barriers.
Agitation in Tennessee and Missouri is violent
az inst the restrictions in the constitutions Of
these States, and will, beyond question, in The
end, result IN the enlargement Of the suffrage.
And the same result will be reached everywhere,
either at the outset, or ut no distant day.
We may, therefore, prudently assume, that
the political power in every rebel state, will
very soon be in the hands OF those who have
shared the hopes, tho disappOintments and the
losses OF the rebellion. And when that moment
arrives there can be no reasonable doubt that
attempts will be made-and we cannot zee any
reason to suppose that such attempts will not
be successful cast upon the state the bur
dens Of the rebellion. OF course this will be
fraud upon the few really Union men of thos,
states, but what remedy will they haye2 They
will be- beaten at the ballot box, and It they Ut
tempt resistance 1t will be the duty Of thu
Federal government to suppress such insurrecIiou
If the state authorities are unequal to it.
10 view Of this probable future, how crlmIna
seems the FOLLY OF the u%nionlsts ut the South t
refuse to secure thslr own political power b.
giving ballots to the blacks, II is possible 70
chem it was possible for Brownlow in Tonne.
ee-to take secure possession OF the state gov
ernments, Il possession which all the white reb'
votets should be too lew and too week to resist
If they would only reinforce their own rank
by men whose votes would always count OF
their side, and would DO just US potent in decId
t ny elections as those cast by citizens OF lightt
complexion. 1t is more than probable tina
when it is too late to remedy the mistake, the'
! Uuion men OF the South will find that the
have missed their only opportunity to seour
I themselves against the political ascendanoy
the most bitter and relentless of the late traitor
2 I'll. Duunnou n.A TT . C.a,.,N,na