The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-03-30

then fends from the pit might claim to be
''hig gh-toned gentlemen" without chal-
Eenge from any quarter But the people
nre satisfied on this point And but for
the widespread conviction that the desc
latlon OF war had cut off large portion
of this class. and that its contiscatiOns and
losses would render the remainder incapa-
bic of mischiet-in a word, that it had
been practically EXTERMINATED. there
would have been no sense of security any
where. All the disposition which has APP
pcared to remit extreme punishment, and
to deal kindly and generously with the
South, has been predicated upon the idea
that this formerly dominant caste was de-
stroyed. 1t is not necessary to show how
this vile, dangerous class of men are creep
lng back into power. The shameful fact
Is before the world, and we must shape
our course accordingly
The freedmen are not protected in any one
OF their rights, nor are they permitted to
protect Themselves The history of the
Freedmans Bureau bill has demonstrated
the imposSibility of securing for them any
thing more than Il mere nominal protec-
ton, with the consent of the present Pres
ident. We are to stand before hieh heav-
en- guilty of inviting the negroes to our
banner, OF using them to win Il triumph
which we could have gained without them
only after lon" years of dcsolating war,
and then abandoning them to their mcrci-
less foes. l. there i God of Justice! and
will he not visit lis in vengeance for such
trcachcry rs this Is the history OF! op-
preston and cruelty written in vain upon
the worlds annals! Is this the lesson of
this war 80 soon forgotten Must the
North be ,le>olated a. the South has been.
before we can understand that there * Il
God aboyr Us who will not see the weak
tramplcd down by the strong, nor the
trusting, generous. and noble betrayed bv
the selfish, calculating nation they have
defended aud saved,
The Congregational ministers of this
country need no one to advise them how
to meet such a state of facts a> this. A.
soon rs they are convinced that such l.
really the position into which the Prc>i-
dent and the un>crupu!ou> politicians about
him have brought Us. they will know well
how to set in operation influences which.
IN union with the efforts which other good
and true men will he ready TO exert, will
soon weave these traitors in Il smart
Meanwhile. We have II ght to call up
on the malorily OF Congress to announce
some cIreu m"' dtGnde policy, The Pre~i-
dent ha> given Us his. 1t Is to restore 10
power any rebel who will take the oath oI
allegiance. and. ii necessary to meet their
conscientious >cruplc>. 10 mdoity the outl.
That i irartuily simple E,>cryboIy can
understand it. Now. gentlemen in Con-
%rr>>. can You not give the nation Il plan
OF reconstruction equally intrlIigibc, and
a> ctlcaciou> for good a> that for evil
/ Lave out ali doubtful expcdlcnt- But
put into it all which Is necessary to aboi-
I>D slavery to put down the >i;Nen''dIn=
"r'''''r'''' "r'''''r'''' 'ioro"2h'' ana forever, ana Il
protect ''le ifeen'neh III all tl'''r rI"l'S o.
person '"i property amt tue Pf"p(e "10
sustain It. Ii unqualified negro suffrage l.
necessary tor that 'nd' then he sure 'b-
.J'cl'on''le '~ S"ch Il measure Is III many
aspects ol H. lie people Will sustain '';'
II a universal suffrage 4ual''en "nlv by
'he ;'blli'v TO Ieai ana Wrll'' Will 90 ti'
""rh, 'heh '''e people VIII come more
Readily 10 sustain tii;u.
II the 'olai ana PerPe'".' "nl'all'l''
'ioh OF ail lil' o'llcer> in ''e r'o'i army