Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-12-14
Gov. Pierpont on the Constitu-
tional Amendment.

adopting the Constitutional amendment
He says;
"There is an /, fort being made at the
North and in the South by politicians who
support the Presidents policy, to induce
the legislatures of the non-I epresented
States to reject the Constitutional amend
ment, in the hope that in another contest
before the people they may be more sue
cessfnl; and they predict violent con-
flict between the Executive and Legisla-
tive branches Of the general government,
by means Of which he may obtain the ma
jority in Congress. But when we consider
the favorable auspices for the Presidents
policy under which the late political contest
was inaugurated-he having been elected
by the party which now opposes him, sup
ported by able Cabinet officers and some
of the shrewdest politicians Of the coun-
try OF the samapar,y, in the hope Of d.
viaing that porty by means of the power
and patronage of the Federal government,
10 some instances bestowing that patronage
on former political friends, in others, per-
suasively holding out The emoluments of
office to be conferred afer the election
and that in opposition to all this the Presi-
dent has been defeated, it is not likely that
another campaign can be so favorably in
augurated for the supposed interests of the
Southern States as the one just closed.
The people of the South ought not again
to be beguiled by the promises of these
professed allies and friends at the North.
The same promises were made in 1860
and 1861; need not remind you how they
were fulfilled. 1t is wise to look at the
material, as well as numbers of which
party is compose d. from which aid and
support is expected. That party which
supports the President at the North num-
bers in its ranks many intelligent and
wealthy men; it has also small portion
of what may be termed the middle class
substantial people. But its great numeri-
cal strength lies among the most ignorant
closes, and those representing the least
property. You have in this party, then,
those who aspire to be the aristocracy of
wealth and refinement, supported, for the
most part, in the large cities by the poor
est class. A party composed as this is
cannot be relied upon in case of physi-
cal contest. The wealthy are timid and
cling to their capital; the greater portion
Of the residue of the party being poor and
ignorant shrink from the contest for want
of interest, looking at little beyond their
physical security.
The Congressional party is composed of
a large class, the equal in veal h and intel
ligence of the leaders of the party of the
President; by the middle classes, among
whom are distributed by far the greater
portion of the property and intelligence of
the country; and by the independent la
boring classes of the manufacturing and
agricultural districts. 1t now embraces
the flower and strength of both the old
political parties in the Northern States,
brought together by the late war, and now
held together by common sentiment and
sympathy. Young men arriving at the
age of manhood, naturally fall into, and
thus swell its ranks. 1t will become
stronger for many years to come. This
may be termed the dominant party, led by
the ardent and cultivated intellect now
representing it in Congress. A glance at
the details of the late elections will con-
vince the most skeptical of the CORE ctness
of the views as to the composition of the
two parties above taken.
The great Atlantic cities are old, and
have been aptly termed the great ulcers Of
the body polite. The Ii wer classes there
live on excitement, and are mostly con-
trolled by their passions and preiudices,
except where they are intelligently en-
ployed in healthy manufacturing establish.
ments. The government patronage is Law
ishly dispensed, and there the President
finds his greatest strength. As you ap-
proach the great agricultural and manu-
featuring districts, where education is az
common as children-where the people
read and think-you find the great
strength of the Congressional party.
The practical question for your consid-
Grafton now is, whether by the rejection of
the proposed Constitutional amendment
you are likely to place the people of each
State in better condition. If the views
l have presented be correct, there is no
hope OF better terms. 1t is urged that it
would be disbonorable to accept the terms
offered by the amendment. think this
objection is not substantial. There was
no political power acquired by the surren-
der of the Confederate armies. The
terms were, as to the soldier, the surrend.
er OF his arms, giving his parole that he
would 60 TO his home and remain there