Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-12-21
Barton, Friday, December 81, 1866.
Reconstruction.

In MS message VIZ. Johnson uOe' | ,
not admit that the recent elections
have decided anything, but argues for
the immediate admission of represen
tatives from the South as a constitu-
tional right Much has been already
said on this question, but it is posi-
bic that one thing more may be said
In reality, the communities, for which
Mr.. Johnson has once more plead
are not States at all. This he entire
w overlooks or ignores. How die
Louisiana, for example, become a
State in the Union? In the first plac,
the territory was purchased from
France, and belonged tn the Union
Then the people, acting under al
enabling act of Congress, came to
gether, organized a government, and
formed constitution. Then they
elected Senators, and a member OF
Congress, and sent them to Washing |
ton, asking admission to the Union
for themselves as a State, and their
representatives as members of Con-
grcss. The proceedings and consti-
tuition having been approved, Con
gress admitted the State of Louisiana
to the Union with all the privileges OF
a State under the United States con
stitution. In 1861 the Legislature of
Louisiana voted to secede from the
Union, and directed her Senators and
representatives to leave Congress and
return home. Thus, as State, they
voluntarily withdrew from Congress,
and, 50 far as they could, from the
Union. They then rushed into war
against the general government, and
seized its territory, defying its au
thority. Thus, in two ways, it lost
its chartered rights as a State: first
by surrender, and second, by Treason
and rebellion. We took up arms
not to restore the chartered rights o
any Of these seeded communities
but to retake the forts and the terri
torn. We were successful, and at the
close Of the war the whole South was
in a state of chaos. They had no lie
gislature, no government, no laws
They were not even entitled to boun
daries; had no rights under the con
stitution; were not so much as or
ganized territories. This was the
view taken by the government whcI
West Virginia became a State. Now
what has been done to organize then
into territories or States since tn
war? Congress, given by the const
tuition exclusive control over terrific
nv, has done nothing. The Presiden
toithom shado,o Of duthority appoin
ed territorial governors, under tn
title of provisional governors" an
then proclaimed an enabling &C
promising a recognition Of their o
carnations as States on certain CO.
ditions. This was simply rank usu
patton. Congress as yet has dol
nothing towards organization; cons
quently, with the old charters FORTE
ed and surrendered, these commul
ties are actually in the same couC
ton to-day that they were at t
close of the war, so far as State c
ganization is concerned, or rights u
der the constitution.
The President should have he
military control of the country un
the meeting of Congress, and tn
called upon them to pass an enabli
act, or take such steps in the premis
as their wisdom should dictate. A
although the President embarrass
Congress by his laundering, or d.
potic action; yet, when they came
gether they should have proceed
to enact some law providing for t,
ritorial government, looking to Sta
organization in the future, with t
old limits and names of the Stat,
or otherwise if it pleased them; a.
this is the duty that devolves up
them now. The loyal people, t
States that composed the Union
time of the rebellion, and which a
all the States in the Union, have il
voted by 100000 majority that t
Presidents action is null and vo
and called upon Congress to ia
control of the whole matter. And
is to be hoped that they will not 10
delay. Let them now set about
construction in earnest, or rather CT
struction, for the whole work is to
done anew. We think these a.
must commend themselves to the c.
dial judgment of every loyal N;
and therefore all talk about the rigl
of the Southern States, under the CT
s;itution, is the mere gable of igl
rance, or the arrogant claim of
loyalty.
A Clergyman writing to a frie
says, any voyage to Europe is ind
niIely postpoI ed. l have discover
the fountain of health on this side
the Atlantic Three hotties of