Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-02-15
western Correspondence,

cerllng inc CllmhlSi ENvtNN go" ~
meets of Northern Missouri.
Missouri was among the first OF the
states to ratlfy the amendment to the
national constitution prohibiting slav-
ery. and on the eighth day OF April
1855, in convention called by the Pco-
pie Of the state, u new constitution was
drafted. which was voted upon and
adopted by the people Of the state, June
9th, and which took effect aud became
the constitution Of the state on tho atm |
day OF July last.
Said constitution declares That there |
cannot be In this state either slavery or |
involuntary servitude, except in punish
nept Of crime, whereof the party shall
have been duly convicted; that no per
son can on account OF color be disquali-
fed as a witness; or be disabled to con-
tract otherwise than as others are disa-
bled; or be prevented from acquiring,
holding or transmitting property; or be
restricted in the exercise OF religious
worshir; or be hindered in acquiring
education; OF be subjected IN law to
any other restraints or disquallhcatons
in regard to any personal rights than
such as are laid upon others under like
circumstances" Thereby making man
OF q negro in every respect but suffrage,
in every spot but at the ballot box. Nor
is the law dead letter; it is fully and
thoroughly executed ana it Will con-
tinuc to be, for sec what follows; "At
any election held by the people under
this constitution o. in pursuance Of
apv law OF this state, or under any OF
dinance or by law OF any municipal cor
poration, no person snail b. deemed
| qualified voter vino has ever been in
armed hostility to the United States, or
TO the lawful authorities thereof, or to
the government OF this state; or has
ever given aid, comfort, Couutcuancc or
! surnort TO persons engaged in any such
/ hostility; or has ever IN any manner
adhered to the enemies, foreign or DO
mestiC, OF the United States, either by
contributing to them or by Unlawfully
sending within their lines Ls.GsY, goods,
letters or in formation. 81 1'hut the
beginning OF the items tbs. d''qEslify
man from voting, tntu plSaching,
from teaching or from pas Using law.
In all there are eighty, FIVE acts or words
or thoughts man may have done or
said or thought that disentranChise him
and to-day, and forever hcnceforth, a
man must make solemn oath that he Is
Tree from all these before he can be q
man here. The consequence Is, that
that class OF people. who In any way
aided or abetted the rebels, are taking
themselves out Of the state, and theil
places are being filled with good mel
and true. Further, the constitution de
clares that latter the LIST day Of Janua
airy, 1876, every person who was not {
qualified voter at that time, shall, in ad
dition to the Other qualifications re
CURED be ablo to read and write in or
der to become a qualified voter, Thi
is another step In the right way ant
some older states than Missouri nigh
, | learn lesson thefefrom. The common
! schools are looking up too. The stat
, has made most munifiCeut bequest c
= lands for them; and law, not excelle
by any school law in the United State
q under which these laws have been q
q ready started, many graded schools o
+ New England principles. In this plac
. we have this summer built two fin
school buildings, and fitted up two oil
a ers, ono for negro school, all Of whic
are furnished with patent school furn
= turo brought from New York. On
q teachers ten In number are all from th
, East. They are young ladies who hav
/ made teaching science. Our superb
q tendent is Mr.. George 3. Beard, froI
Vermont, graduate Of the Universal
OF Vermont. His heart is In the WORK
and consequently the result is good.
= think our schools here are perhap
=, little ahead of those Of any other tow
in the state except st. Louis, but anotE
or year this system will be put In opera
ton all over the state; so that in eros
sing the Mississippi one goes not out {
=, civilization.
In my next l will write Of the pro'
= poets o. the state price OF lands, &c.
: While writing the above, have hear
q Of an incident which occurred in
D county adjoining this, last SIMMER.
r Methodist preacher who had been holC
:. ing services in Union church for fe
weeks past, weat as usual last Sunda
+. morning, and found his church nearl
:. oiled with copperheads aud secesh syn
pathizers; he said nothing, bat wei
l. into the pulpit and was about TO con
I mence his sermon, when the preached
the Meth dis church Soss1, whose co.
gregatiou was tsere gathered, In ace,r,
ance with 3 secret appo,utulent given h
q him To them como In and sise Aeeende