Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-06-21

souri, anu other states nave settled III Tor
themselves.
But We leave the great mass utterly
untouched, and the leaders with their
lives, their property, the full enjoyment
OF all their civil rights aud privileges,
with the right OF voting for all officers,
both safe aud national, with the single
restriction they shall not hold office
The dlsproportlon between the cause
and the consequence is so great as to
almost make IL ridiculous. know it
| Is said that this is measure so harsh
and severe that IL will not be accepted
by the South. But do not believe so
on the contrary / believe IL will be &C
ceptabe To the'masses, that they will
consider IL very easy atonemeut, and
that If there is anything like punishment
in II, IL falls where it is deserved. II
there be any included in this class Gas il
isagreed there may bel who were really
forced into the rebellion against their
will, 1t will be very easy to procure ab-
solution by making the fact appear to
Congress.
The remaining proposition OF amend
ment, declaring the sacred and in
lO4AbAN Nudl dNlIl vi our udllOudl OU-
legations, and the illegality and in
validity OF the rebel debt, and Of any
compensation for the slaves who have
been freed, admit of no doubt as sound
propositions in themselves. The only
question that can be made upon them
Is the propriety or necessity of incOrpo-
rating them into the fundamental law.
For myself | think that although these
may in certain sense be said TO be
matters OF temporary character, still
they involve interests of such immense
magnitude that it is proper they should
be settled in the most solemn and en-
during mode, and that their incorpora-
ton into the Constitution will save dis,
putes and wrangling hereafter.
Mr., President, it has been said that
all these proposed amendments, as a
whole, as u general plan for the resto-
ration Of these States, will not be ac-
ceptable to them, and that they will not
adopt them, or at least that they will
not do 1t willingly and if they adopt
them at all it Will only be under a kind
OF coercion and because they cannot
otherwise obtain what they seek and
that we have no right to secure even
proper amendments in that way.
1t seems to me that this plan, as
whole, is characterized by so much mod
Grafton and forbearance that it cannot
fail to commend itself to the people of
these States so that they will readily
and freely give it their sanction. But,
sir, if IL be true that they are not salts
fed with it, and will only adopt it to Sc
cure their return to share in the nation
al power, | ain so well satisfied that this
plan contains nothing but what we have
the right to insist on, and which justice
to the nation requires, that | should feel
no hesitation in saying kindly, but firm
ly "YOu must aCquiesce in these amend
mentS before we will permit you to take
part IN the administration of the Gene
raj government" There is nothing new
in this, either Did these States accept
the amendment abolishing slavery will
ingly-a much more important matter
to them than anything contained in
these propositions Did they declare
their ordinances OF secession null aud
void or declare the rebel debt invalid
willingly} We know they did not, but
only because the President required it
Of them. Has any one ever blamed the
President or thought ha was unjust to
the South in those requirements If
the people o: the nation. through their
representatives, believe that something
more should Justly be REQUIRED thew
have the equal right and SHOULD cxcr-
else the right to demand H.
We should not exercise our powcr TO
make any unjust demand. 3pt what is
lust aud r;gnt to exact W. should be
wanting in our dvty If we EIjl 10 have
done
Mr. President IT, is q matter os ,rest
satisfaction 10 me- ,bat NJ Inst af,rr so
much and 90 anxious drIinrr.iion i, an
pears So probable that ConorpS, win be-
able 10 present a ulan uno7 which the
requisite naforittrs OF both HoD.r~ will
b, abln ~ aTrrp ~ e-n.c'alIv yyhen. a
Who'll, this Dian c,mmrpds itsa1r 81
well Ia NV own Judgment q. what +.
right
II j. known that -,1.e difference, of
onjutan hty. existed t.twr,,n c,,.ut.ss
and the Eyccnfiy4 ON mi, ,nhir,t
Grrat djt,-rrnca. l,,y,. ,.xista1 .n.nng
ourselves ,,,.n,, ,,,,,,f.,,.. ba,,a tal -