Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-06-20
The Passage OF the Constitutional
Amend melat.

! The Constitutional Amendment, as amended
! by the Senate, passed the House June 18th,
I by vote Of 1870 10 81. There was very li,tls
speaking. Thad. Stevens, whose health il.
very feeble, was in his place and made a brief
ard garment speech in favor of the measure,
thu, disappointing the Democrats who had
hoped he would oppose it. Every member
present, elected Republican, voted for the
proposition, not excepting Greer Cl,y Smith,
of Kentucky, who like Raymond has been
more inclined to follow the President than
Congress.
This is Mr.. Stevens speech il fall (:
Mr.. Speaker, may, perhaps, congratulate
the House aud the country on the near approach
20 completion OF a proposition TO be submitted
10 the people for The admission Of an outlswed
community INTO the privileges and advantages
Of civilized and free Government. When |
s4y that We should rejoice At such completion,
do not thereby intend 30 much 10 express 10y
al the superior excellence of the scheme, a.
that there is 10 Be a scheme-a .cheme contain
ing much positive good, as we'll, / am bound to
admit, IS the omission Of many better things.
In my youth. III my manhood, in M old age, |
had proudly dreamed that, when any fortunate
foundation of our institutions, and released us
from obligations the most tyrannical that ever
man imposed in the name of freedom, that the
intelligent, pure and just men of this Repub-
nc, true 10 their professions and their con-
sciences, would have SO remodeled all our In
stltutlOns as to have freed them from every
Vestlge OF human oppression, OF inequality OF
rights, of the recognized degradation Of the
poor and superior caste OF the rich-in short,
that no distinction would be tolerated in this
purified Republic but what arose from merit
and conduct. This bright dream ha. vanished
" ike the baseless fabric of q vision" find
that We shall be obliged to be content with
patching up the worst portions of the ancient
edihce and leaving 1t, IN many OF its parts, to
De sweP: through by the tempests, the frosts
and me sorns Of despotism. DO you inquire
shy, holding these views and possessing some
VIII OF my own, accept SO imperfect a propo-
sitIon l answer, because live among men,
and lot among engeis-amoug men as inielli
gent, as determined and as independent as nv
self, who, not agreeing with me, do not CHI pose
70 } eId their opinions to mine. Mutual con-
cesson is therefore our only resort, or mutual
nostilitles. We might we'll have been justified
IN making renewed and more strenuous efforts
for better plan could we have had the COOP
GRAFTON OF the Executive. With his cordial as
sistance, the rebel States might have been made
model Republics, and this Nation an empire of
universal freedom But he preferred restora-
ton to reconstruction. He chose that the slave
States should remain as neatly as possible in
theft ancient condition, with such small mod,f-
Cations 80 he and Lis nine ministers should sug-
gest, without any impertin ent interference from
Congress. he anticipated the Legitimate action
Of the national Legislature, and by rank usurp-
alton erected governments in the conquered
I'm, III
the most arbitrary and unconstitutional manner
and now nsIntains them as legitimate govern
ments, AMI insoenty demands that they shall
De represented in Congress on equal terms
WITH loyal and regular States. To repress this
tyranny and at the same time do justice to con-
quered rebels requires caution. The great
Danger is mat the seceders may soon overw helm
the loyal men in Congress. The haste urged
upon US by some loyal but impetuous men
their anxiety TO embrace the Representatives of
rebels their ambition 10 display their dexter
ity In the use of the broad mantle of charity,
and especially the danger arising from the I'M
scrupuious use of patronage and from the oily
Grafton of false prophets, famous for 60 day OBJ
legations and for protested political promises,
admonsh US to make no further delay. A few
words will sutice to explain the changes made
oy the Senate 10 the proposition which sent
them.
The FIRST section i, altered by defining who
are citizens Of the United States and of the
States. Tnis is an excellent amendment, long
needed TO settle conflicting decisions between
the several States and the United States. 1t
declares this great privilege TO belong to every
person born or n4turalzed in the United States
The second section contains but slight atera-
tons. l wish it had received more. 1t con-
tans much less power than | could wish ii
nas not half Ire vigor Of the amendment which
IVES lost In the Senate. 1t or the proposition
offered by Senator Wade would have worked
the Acknowledgement of the colored man in half
the time. Inc third section has been wholly
changed by substituting the ineiigibiity Of Ger
tain nigh offenders for the disfranchisement of
all rebeIs until 1870. This cannot look up
on IS an improvement. 1t opens the elective |
franchise to such Is the States choose to admit. |
In my judgment, it endangers the Government |
of the country, both State and National, and |
may give the next Congre s and President to
the reconstructed rebels. With their enlarged |
representation, and exclusion of the loyal men
of color from the ballot-box see no hope of
safety unles in the prescription of proper en-
aoliOs acts, which shall do Justice to the freed-
men and enjoin Acknowledgement az a condition.
precedent The fourth section, which renders |
tn public deot and regulates the |
rebel debt, will secure the appreciation Of all |
but traitors. The fifth section is unaitered.
You perceive that, while see much good in |