Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-11-16

constitution says that each State shall reg
ulate the right Of sulragc within Its own
borders. But, gentlemen, the government
OF State which has taken up arms against
the general government and has thereby be-
come disorganized in all its civil functions
and has to be lifted yut Of the slough Of des-
pond into life. | take it, is subjec; 70 the
reformation Of Cu1gIess, and | think that
body when il assemblies or the fourth OF
December next vii be perfectly competent
- take the exercise Of this faculty % gov
ernmont out Of the hands Of the Executive.
The governments which have been organized
in the southern States, therefore. having
been organized by the Executive and net tie
laT-making power Of the government, are
in the civil sense unconstitutional, and are
merely military OF provisional, and the rc-
representatives. Of the people have perfect
right in my opinion, to make law which
shall Teorganizc every southern State, ana
as necessary precedent thereto 90 declare
who shall lie entitled t. vote and under what
circumstances. And then VIC shall, hope.
rs the President himself has declared, give
the Offices and lucrative positions everywhere
and more especially under the general gov
ernment. to the loyal men who have
0AafA " u uAillE NAAA uAA n @A G-f ftta't --'H
who have been true to the country and che
flag shall exercise the high political powers
which belong 10 iroCmen | believe that
our Constitution will be amended in such
way that these jus: ends shall be secured
The government placed in the hands of
Union men will lie administered without
cruelty and with Justice. The result then
will be, that the Union men OF the south,
500 .0G0 OF them or more, who stood By tie
flag through fire. tTcachory, murder, a-sas-
sinatl0n and every evil chat can be con-
cciyed, will hold Office ard viii guarantee
protection in all personal rights, ai the
s0uth-which j. protect 90 the lctcls as
Union men.
There is therefore, gentlemen, 900 practical
difficulty whatever 10 the way Of rendering
a solution of this question ty Congress IN
manner that will settle forever the matter as
~ who have lost their right u exercise VlN-
cT by treason and rebellion. But alas thlt
tie accident OF the death Of dat lsmerl,d
man Mr. Lincoln should have brought u- o.
the present unsettled condition Of things
When Congress shall have declared the
peoples will % thcs' lislr.ir .zei comma
mites, il i, tile duty % the Prtsidgr. % -ee
that the law Is executed and ail people pro-
tccted under 1t. lis power does not extend
20 the sword. 1t does not extend % tIc ,f-
erufl0u Of che law it makes lrs functions
are directly considered at an end when the
law is passed. Then !, 3, tae duty Of rhc
Executive % PIT into execution the viii %
the people embodied 10 the laws The
Constitution roT ses this power 10 tLc Pre-
sIicnt. II We have any difficulty, which
hope W. -iaii not have, 10 VIII b. from tlc
neglcc, q tho Chief Executive 1. tll llti9n
@ carry out the viii Of Coa.r,-s llls de-
eiued. We may al least be assured 1f one
thing. II We s;,ad.a--ly alh,r WIKI true
lIurge and trac Irr-i----cy, .uel .- tlc
north BIAS shown illus .lr. Ue l..y I. tOs.-
lu-oly certain that ig ttc ot Wo shall
achieve tbs result GIClt fundamental re
forms are not the work % o moment, tteV
d. not spring ~ hka ttc flowers il ,te
morning sunshine. Trey are .m.tl9-- the
w0-k of years 0r oi c-utuu,s. y T..
true 10 the instincts u. republican form .i
government, though they may He l..- ty
many obstacle in ,.c way, --o sac.
struggles sure. in ,lc cll. @, -lu 3D. -.I
and "a lasting progress ami peace. ! .-yt
already occupied n We % your time CHAN ]
intended. Iae-o -Ie mauy o-ayr -.l-- -I
which / SHOULD have llea l.-. @. sf..s. h.r
thc j. tinggi.ltt E,l-..u v-. .-a 81. i..-
low Lee viii lly tctr. you ...-a -rea- u.t-
tiers .n q manner which ann >Ir. W... Pc
much ml4, acceptable yal t..u .ug thing
] could ID.