Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-01-12

q thf msss 4 mea sgairsi tie isecgtans q -
CT demaF sue. sud against thor 0Sn prsja
dt.s hrrea.fcr-as veii a. tie cannon ssftiy-
calls fr the requirement q TIE capacity 70
read the mother tongue. a. . condition % con-
log ior the first time 10 the hsio,-bo1. Let this
be required AZ the south. ami immediaiely the
whole southern community Will be aroused 10
the absolute Necessity Of demanding free schools
and popular eiueatl0n-
II the measures have attempted 10 dslineate
are found to be impracticable. then Congress
has stu the right TO refuse the rebel states re-
admission 10 the enjoy ment Of their rspresents-
tive power, untii amendments TO the federal
constitution shall have been obtained adequate
10 the exgency. Nor can the people Of the
rebel states object to the delay. They vOlunta-
Tily withdrew from Congress they themselves
elected the attitude Of disunion. They broke
the agreements Of the constitution {; not We.
They chose their own time, opportunity and
occasion 10 make war on the nation, and TO re-
pudate the Union They certainly cannot now
dictate TO us the time nor the terms.
The scheme to substitute legal voters. instead
Of population, as the basis Of representation in
CoIgress, will prove delusion aud snare.
By diminishing the representative power Of the
southern states, in favor Of other states, you
will not increase southern love for the uAion.
WI "AAAS NOAAtNAiIub HuA NisCyus4u
the suffrage to men of color, will you be able to
convince the South that your amendment was
dictated by political principle, and not by poll
teal cupidity. You will not diminish any hon
est apprehension at extending the suffrage, but
you will inAame every prejudice, and aggravate
discomfort.
Congress msy, and ought to, initiate an
amendment granting the right to vote for pre-
sidont, vice president and representatives, in
Congress. to colored men, in all the states, being
citizens and able to read, who would, by the
laws of the states where they reside, be compe-
tent TO vote if they were white. Without dis
franehisiDg existing voters, il should apply the
qualification TO white men also. And, the
amendment ought TO leave the election Of presi-
dent and vice president directly in the hands Of
the people. without the intervention Of electoral
colleges. This amendment would give efflcien-
cy TO the one already adopted, sbolishing
slavery throughout the Union. The two amend
ments, taken together. would practically accom-
plish, or enable Congress to fulfill, the whole
duty Of the nation 10 those who are now its
dependent wards.
am satisfied that the mass of thinking men
al the South accept the present condition OF
things in good faith and | am also SATISFIED
that, with the support OF a arm policy from the
president and Congress, in aid Of the efforts Of
their good faith, and with the help OF concili-
atory and generous disposition on the part Of
the NOrth-especially on the part Of those
states most identified with the plan Of enamel
pation-the measures needed for permanent and
universal welfare can surely be obtained
There ought now to be vigorous prosecution Of
the peace,-just vigorous recent pre-
secution OF the war We ought to extend our
hands with cordial goodwill to meet the pro-
ferred hands Of the South demanding no attl-
tude Of humiliation from any INJECTING no
acts Of humiliation upon any p; respecting the
feelings Of the Observation-Disclosures the
question Of right and wrong, between the par
ties bellgerent. By all the means and insiru-
menialIties Of peace, and by all the thrifty
metho Is Of industry; by all the recreatiye
agencies Of education and religion, TO help re-
build the waste places, and restore order, socie
ty, prosperity.
The ofense Of war has met its appropriate
punishment by the hand Of war. In this hour OF
triumph, honor and religion alike forbid one
act, oue word of vengeance or resentment.
Patriotism and Christianity unite the arguments
Of earthly welfare. and the motives OF heavenly
inspiration, to persuade Us to put of all jealousy
and all fear. and TO move forward as citizens
and as men, in the work Of social and economic
reorganization-each one dung with his might
Whatever his hand 6ndeih to do