Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-05-04

those States was employed in rebellion
against the National Authority. That is
the naked fact, and the solemn duty Of Con-
gress to see TO it that those rebel organiza-
tons are swept away. and new ones constitut-
cd under such conditions as shall secure, as
far as human precaution can, the future
peace and safety Of the Nation at large, is
beyond all doubt
Sand yet"-coutinues the Timss-''the amend
ment, on its face, declares the existence as
States Of all the States recently in rebellion and
rre-suproses the exercise by their several Leg
islstures of the highest constitutional attribute
Of State sovereignty"
OF course they are Staics-for the Nation
al government has not thought 1t the best
way to break then up as such, because of
their rebellion. IL believes that the essential
difficulties Of the case can be better over
come IN another way. The Tunes is con-
ceIned because the late rebels are not al
lowed to participate in the legislation of
Cougress-bave no right to say yea or nay
on the most trivial questions which come
before Congress-are not allowed to join in
legislation ON the trade. finances, or foreign
relations of the country. &c.
Well When did it ever happen in the
history Of the World, that when a large
part If a nation had gone into open and
prolonged rebellion, calling for the greatest
application Of the military forces of the
nation to oyerpower them, that they were
allowed, when beaten in the war, to choose
their own time end way OF regaining their
former privileges in full-or to have them
at all till the national authority had settled
the conditions?
4" Nevertheless" - continues the Times
''under the contemplated amendment, they are
treated as sovereign States, whose ratification Of
the amendment is essential to its constitutional
validity
This constantly applied appellatiOn of
l." sOUeragn States is in the regular John
c Calhoun VEN. The United States govern
ment is the only sovereign power in the ma
ton.
The State organizations are there, though
still in disturbed relations to the general
government, and SO far as the aspect of a
body representing the community is needed,
for bringing that community into a proper
relation to the rightful authority, the State
legislatures form the suitable medium
through which such assent of the popula-
ton may be signifed. That such q Measure
of restoration is permitted, is no argument
for the sovereignty of State, which has
just been beaten in an attempt to destroy
the proper sovereignty of the nation.
Finally, the Times takes the ground, al
most in so many words, that the rebel States
have right to demand an admission to Con-
gress of members cho,en by them in their
present condition, antecedent to the adoption
of any amendment of the United States con-
stitution and its argument carries with it
the doctrine that there can be no lawful
legislation of any sort by Congress, so long
as Representatives and Senators from these
States are not allowed to take their seats
there-prouided only, that individuals pre-
senting themselves for that purpose may be
shut out if shown to be disloyal now. As
to that We have only to say, that if only
that precaution can be taken, it is hardly
worth while to stand upon such triae. 1t
is only necessary on that ground for the
crafty rebels to send loyal men to Congress
Tor the remainder of the present Congress.
BY that means, their several States having
secured all their former power and influence,
viii be left free to fill the places for the
next and subsequent Congresses with such
men as JEFF. Davis. Toombs, Lee, Beaure-
gard, Wise, Mason, Slidell, Breckenridge,
&c, and they will have plain sailing fer the
future.
No clear-headed, heartily patriotic man,
unbiased by self-interest or strong preju-
dice, will admit that such conclusion to the
sacrifice of blood and treasure which has
been made to save the nation iiom
disruption and the perpetuatIon of an
oligarcby, is admissible. He will say,
| may not be able to point out the bad link
in the logic of those who argue for it, but
common sense tells me that there is one
somewhere.
The whole article we have noticed, seems
to US ursound-its spirit bad its logic faul-
ty, its conclusions wrong.
Our own estimate of the propositions of
the Committee of Fifteen, we must defei to
another day.