Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-06-20


civil riS hts and privileges, with the right OF
voting Tor all officers, both state and national,
with the single restriction they shall not hold
office. The dIsproportIon between the cause
and the consequence is 30 great as to almost
make it ridiculous. 4 know il 10 said that
this is a measure 20 harsh and severe that It
VIII not ne accepted by she South. But do
believe So On the contrary believe is
wItl be acceptable to the masses, that they
Will consiuer 1t very eAsy atonement, and
that If there Is anything ike punishment IN
1t, it falls there 1t deserved. 1t there be
any included this class las 1t Is agreed
there may be) who were really forced into the
rete.lion against their will, 1t will be very
easy ID procure ab-oluuon by making the fact
appear To Congress.
rbe remaining propositions of amendment,
declaring the sacred and invlolal le character
OF our national obligations, and the illegshty
AMI Invalidity OF the rebel debt, and OF any
Compensation for the slaves who have been
ireed, admit OF no doubt sound PROPOSE
iu themselves. The only question rhat
can be made upon them is the pIoprIety OF
Necessity # incorporatlng them into the ioD-
damental law. For myself think that al
though these may IN a TAIN sense BE- said to
De matters OF = temporary character, still
they involve interests of such immense mag
nitude that 1t Is proper they should be settled
the mUst solemn and enduring mode, and
that t1eIr Incorporation into the Constitution
will save disputes and wrangilng hereatter.
MIR. Presidsnt, IL has been said that all
Tncs proposed amendments, as a whole, rs q
general plan for the restoratlan of these
states, will not be acceptable TO them. and
that they will not adopt them, or at least that
lhey VIII not Go 1t willingly: and if they
adopt them at ali 1t will only te under a kind
ot coercion and because they cannot otherwise
Obtain what they seek and that We have no
rI-ht IL secuIe even proper amendments In
hat way.
1t seems to me that this plan, a. a whole,
is characterized by 81 much moderation and
for bearanee that 1t cannot TAIL to commend
itseif the people of these states that
sney will readiiy and freely give 1t their sane
tIon. But, Sit, If 1t be tue that they are
not satisfied with IL, and will only adopt lt 70
secure their return 10 share ln the National
power, | sm we'll satisfied that this plan
contains nothing but hat we have the right
insist Oh, and which justice to the nanoo
GequIres, that L should feel no hesitation in
-ayIhg kindly, bus hrmly, A" fCu must acQul-
tsce In these amendments before We will per-
init you to take lart IN the administration Of
the general government. There is nothing
new In this either. Did these states aeceps
the amendment abOlishIDg slavery willingly
q much more important matter 70 them tnan
any hing contained In these propoetionsf Dad
Ghey declare their ordinances OF secession null
and voId CT dec are the rebel debt Invalid
Willingly? w Know they did not, but only
because the President required lt of them.
has any blamed the President Os
thous ht he was 10 Just 70 the South In these
requirements? 1t toe people of The nation,
through their representatives., believe that
something more saouid justly b, required,
they have the equal right and should exercise
The ght To demand It.
We should u exercise our power 10 make
any unjust demand, but what 10 just aud
righr 10 exact We should be wsnuGK in our
duty If we faIi to have uone.
Mr. President, It Ie q matter OF great sat-
stactIon to NE mat at last, after much and
50 anxious dellberauon, II appears SO probable
thai Congress Will be able ~ present plan
upon ~hIcn The requisite majoritles of DuIh
houses will be able 70 agree, and especially
when "a whole t1Is plan commends Ilself %
Well 10 my own Judgment OF what ID rig bs.
Is Is Known tnat some dlffe. ence OF opln-
'on have existed between Congress and she
Executive On this subject.
Great differences have existed among our
,ive, : many opirhons have had TO ylsid to
enable Us - az: ee upon plan. Ii We are
- fortunate, dc | trust We shall be, to pass
,hese PROPOSITIONS by the requisite majoritise,
though they may not In ala respects CORES
.onu with the views of the President, l be-
.eve IL 10 be his patriotic duty 10 scquiesce
q ihe plan proposed, and give hie powerful
nhuence anu support e. procure their adop-
-ion- We are aimIDg at the same grand re-
suit, the difference Is rather In the choice of
nodes aud means to attain iI. We are all,
trust, aeiuated by The same high motives
Il Patriotism, and desire to ali these
states again acilng harmon'ou>iy together.
N matter OF suon grave ImpOr ance, with
~ prece1ents Tor our action, with NO guide
II the COnsltuu1n but that furnished by its
general spirit and purpJ &c, It is not singular
hat great diversity oil ideas should exist.
n such case opinions must yield To some ex-
en-, or else nothlng could be agreed OF set
led, and ali would be anarchy. l will not
llow myself To believe that these measures
viii not, unuer the circumstances, receive
he sincere support Of the President, although
le may not believe them perfect.
Mr.. President, there are men who believe
We are now on the verge of ruin, and that
Sc shall never tecome a united and harmo-
iIous people. But, sir, L believe they are
ither cowIrds OF croakers, who always see
he dark side of the picture. For myself,
ee no such cause of alarm. To me every.
nlng looks hopeful tor the future. We
ave just gone through the greatest war the
evolution has taken pace IN the South
hree or four million people turned from
iayes into a free people
That In SO short q time after these great
vents 80 much OF order and quietness and
bedience to law should exist 10 astonishing
me world never witnessed Its parallel. We
I'D net expect 1t ourselves before the close
4 the war, but now We are impatient aud
rou Died because lt Is no better. Time alone
Till smooth and ailsy the stormy waves of
xcitement and passion caused by such mo-
lenIous events. 10 me, sir, . great and
iorious future is opening for our country.
lavery, the great blight and curse that has
ung upon US, Is ended forever. The South,
D long re arded by it, will be opened and
xpanoed by the influence of tree labor and
rec institutions. A new agriculture will en-
lch and beautlfy her fields. Commerce and
will build up busy towns and
AIRY THRIFT and wealth along her great rivers.
Ill causes of discord between North and
outh being over, We shall become . homoge-
eous nation of free men, dwelling together
peace and unity. United and wholly free,
ur power would awe the world. l hope to
We 10 see the day when all will agree that
lIs great War which has destroyed slavery,
we're and burdensome ~ it was 70 this gene
ltion. was yet one of those :. blessings in dis
uise > sent by the Great Ruler of all which
roved the very salvation of the nation.
COsT OF TRAvKLINs ABROAD.-A CORES