Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-11-21

, 1t will be for the dignity and security of the
whole country-not the north alone but the
south also. that the law making power should
do it. They-Congress- the ratifca-
ton of the Constitutional amendments, and
think they have the right to claim that this de-
m and is not unreasonable, that it can scarcely
be disputed by any person but that it is Just
and right. The convention of rebels. demo-
Gratis and the friends of Tire President whch
met at Philadelphia for the express and avow-
ed purpose of opposing the policy of Congress,
dared not put upon paper one word of con-
demnstion, one word of criticism, one word
about these constitutional amendments, with
this one vague exception-the most momen-
tous question of the day is dismissed, by that
body of men, who claim to represent both the
north ant the south-when Massachusetts
and South Carolina came, in brotherly love,
arm in arm, into the convention, with these
words: We revere the Constitution a. it was
handed down to US by our fathers" That SEN
tence dsmisses the Constitutional anne ndment
from their notice. They do not appeal to the
north or the south to assent to it or reject it.
They" pass il by on the other side,' as did the
Levite.
Now, then, gentlemen, what do these amend
ments require They declare, first that all
persons born in the United States shall be
deemed to be citizens thereof. Some provision
of this kind has been rendered necessary by
the infamous Dred Scott decision, which was
that men of color were not citizens and had no
rights or privileges that white men we're bound
to respect. 1t is therefore necessary that the
supreme law of the land should declare who
and who are not citizens of the United
States. Then it declares, in the second place
that whenever the right of franchise
and suffrage is denied any portion of the
male population of voting age of any State,
the representation of that STATE shall be pro-
portionately reduced. By the Constitution, as
it now stands, two-hftns of the slave popul4-
ton were excluded, while three -hfths were ad-
mitted to representation. Under the Constl-
tuition the law now regulates it, the whole
number cf representatives in the u 5 Con-
gress is 252, of which there came from the
free States l57 and So from the sla.e States.
Slavery, however, has become abolished and
lille gal, those who were slaves are now citizens,
and the Southern States, under the Constitu-
ton as it now stands, are entitled TO represe ut
alton for he whole number The law of the
Southern States preclude the right of slaves
and also Of free colored people. to vote. AL
though, therefore, these color ed citizens are
represented, they are denied ne right of suf
irage they have no right TO vote or exercise
any of the functions which belong to any man
in his political capacity. In consequence OF
the abolition of slavery, the Southern States
gain the clear profit of their rebellion pro
portion of just twelve and one-half members
in Congress, for their slaves who have never
tere. .ofore, been representatives, the limit by
law cf'the whole number of representatives.
l. 242 Their, fore this twelve and one-half
members TO be deducted rom the repre-
sentat ion the north has heretofore enjoyed.
The consequence of letting the thing stand
ss II now Is, Is to take twelve members from
the loyal north and hand them over to the reb
-. 81 10
den, of the United States and his party call
upon the people of the Union to sustain 1t
seems only necessary TO state a proposition OF
that ch iracter 10 show its gross injustice ; and
think may challenge contradiction on this
point especially before such body of men
yourselves. A proposition of this character
Is manifestly uD ust, il is unreasonable. IL
strikes at the foundation of Republican equal
ity. Further, the whole number of R-presen
tatlves In Congress 10 which the old slave
States would be entitled under the present
Constitution would be 97-34 of whom would
represent a population Of colored citizens
who no. allowed the rights privileges
which in governm ments at all free, regard
ID heionvine IN citizens And IN addition
TO that, according to the Dred Scott decision,
they belong TO a class who never cum become
ctizsns And why is il there should be such
opposition to granting the negro the ri ght
of franchise and sutfragee BY the ConstItu-
ton of the United States, any man, who at
the expiration of five years shall have lived in
| conformity to the laws OF our land shall be
EMIT led 20 receive the full gsrb OF citizenship
and exercise the rights OF citlzsn-any man
except negro Now, gentlemen, If the
Constitution amended that there shall be a
true Republican equality in the matter OF
Congressional or Other representation, the
census OF 1870 will find more than one-thrd
~ ,f iniO with
tion based upon the most tyrannicai system
that ever existe; in any government having
the semb,auce of freedom, controlled by an
aristocrauc class, where the power is confined
TO few Lands, in the interests of aristocracy
aud a.ainst the interests of freedom aud eQuai-
! ity, and this the Democrats-or that party
which call themselves Democrats-request the
people o. this country to sustain . Ibis is a
doctrine. gentlemen, to which l can never as
sent d.! To prevent such movement as his
these Constitutional amendments are proposed
and upon them a, means to great and perma
| De ut security and peace, the masses OF III
people stand immovable. They say that the
States that have been in the rebellion shall be
| called upon to agree to this " radical constr
tuition, Def, re they force themselves upon your
Representatives entitled to make laws for,
you
Congress proposes to do some other things.
1
| has the power and shall be necessary, that
spirit which abounds the South and which
| broug ht on the rebellion. Ii proposes by one
means or another, to restore the rights and
| privileges of the Union TO the men who, du-
! ring the dark days of the war, were true to
| their govern ment and their hag. But there
| are some VIII say, how can you do this Ihe
restored rebels in preponderance ln the
Southern States, and the Constitution says
that each State shall regulate the right o.
suffrage within its own borders " But, gentle
men, the gov vernment of State which Gai
taken up arms against the General Govern ment
and has thereby Lecome disorganized In all lis
civil function E, and has to be lifted out OF The
.s slough OF despond," into life. l take 1t, i
subject to the reformation of Congress, and
think that body when it assemblies on the 4th
of December next, will be perfectly competen
r to take ike exercise O! this faculty OF govern
ment out of the hands of the Executive. Ih'
. | governments which have been organized In th'
southern States therefore, having been organ
izei by the Executive, aud not the law m ak ING
/ power of the government, are In the cIvl
sense unconstitutional, and are merely militar
or provisional, and the representatives OF tn
people have perfect right, IN my oPinion' I
make law which shall re-orgaElze ever
, Southern State, and as a necessary preceden
thereto to declare who shall be entitled TO vote
and under what circum stances. And then "
e shall, l hope, as the President himself has de
1 declared, give the offices aud lucrative pos
s tions everywhere, and more especially nnde
8 the General Government, to the loyal men
1 who have stood by it during our daik day
b and those who have been true to the countF
S and the Gag shall exercise the high politics
t powers which belong to freemen. L believ