The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-11-16
WHOLE NUMBER 1929

have received. from ii, is that ii has III
ined them. They have lost their thou
sands of millions of dollars in slaves-al
their property nearly. \ much large
population probably has been lost in tn,
south than in the north according TO then
population. Their number of crippled
soldiers. widows and orphans. is mucl
larger in proportion TO the population
than ours. They have an immense pen.
sion roll They have incurred pecuniary
loss altogether beyond what we have am
every one of their cripples, widows anu
orphans goes pensionless This immenst
debt which we have taken upon ourselve,
has been rolled up in putting down the
southern rebellion. and don't care what
men they send to congress from the south.
do you believe there would be a single
southern representative that would not
prevent by every means in his power the
payment of a single dollar of that debt
Ii Is not in human nature that Il should
he otherwise. five were I'm the same
serious situation that they are in we
would do the very same thing, Do YOU
think that the men who went ont TO Chi
cagD III that dark hour in our country :
hl>tory-lo YOU think If would be impoS-
>ibie tor them 10 vote against an appropri-
aticn for paying tins debt 1t does moi
look either impossible or improbable 10
me This Is reason enough why we need
10 guard our interests hy the adoption OF
this amendment
But | should have gone still :;lriher.
would not have been content. myself. with
these conditions. 1t has ALWAYS seemed
10 me 10 be 81 unjust in itself that in a
scheme OF representation TO bring thesC
states back into the Union. it WAS til,
most crnei piece OF injustice TO neglect the
blacks who ai'led us 80 efiectuallv during
our dark DAYS of trouble Out of tht
black population in the south W. got mon,
than 2on.0nO soldiers 10 help put down
the rebellion. Throughout nil the south
when our prisoners escaped, they wer,
aided IN every possible WAY bv the blacks
Not an instance has been found wher,
these people refused aid, shelter or help o
any kind 10 our soldiers and friends. Al
though they were in the power of theil
masters they were loyal I'm every inStanc,
and true Ia the flag of the Union. and Il
lid seem Ia me io he hard that we slloul,
propose Il plan OF reunion lv which they
would ne left out. Iwould hare adoptei
, the good old Vermont rule. wher. ever,
man, white or black. rich or poor. has !
right To vote That Is the rul,. beliey,
ia, That l. the rule would have been
satisfied with and nothing short of il Tap.
I Piau>el had it been deemed practicable.
liut il was believed bv the committee or
rc-on>truction-ot which my tricnt Nh,
la~- spoke, Mr. Morrill, w:l~ 4 memiper-
mpractlcIble that ANY colored man shoul,
be alloWed 10 Vote. and it WAS believe,
that II would not he adopted tor many q
the northern states Connecticut an,
Wisconsin both have voted against ex
tending suffrage TO colored people in tho>,
states. Yet we do hope that. a. lin,
rolls on, Ibis prejudice against negroe>-
growing ont of slavery in some degree
will cease. and the great desire ON IN,
part OF the south for political power. vii
lead TO the extending of suffrage 10 color.
ed men 1t certainly seems 10 me. Mr.
President, that they have no right TO com.
PLAIN of the propositions embraced I'm tlii.
article: that II l. no more than we llav,
4 right TO require no more than the I'm
icrc>t and safety and perpetuify Of ihi
government requires in order TO meet tla
! changed state of things that has beer
brought about 10y their own overt act.
against the constitution and laws of IN,
land
\ word. Mr. President. in reference (,
the remaining article. We have said t,
them that any person who has held 30
SltIon requiring him 10 support the con
stitutiOn of the United States. if he shal
have held anv office. either under the "en
eral government in the so-calle,l confe,ler
cy. thereby breaking his oath 10 the con
stitution of the United States. that h,
shall not be allowed TO hold office mle
! either our general or state government
until Il two-thir,lS vote OF congress Shal
decide. Now * there ANYTHING wrong j,
reference TO that We allow any ma
who has been traitor merely. who lla
been guilty of nothing but treason. 70 b
entitled-if he can get through the lies
oath''-not only to the right of suffrage
but he may hold office; but. we hav
said TO them that these prominent Me-
who have held up their hands and calle,
upon God TO witness that they would 10
, true to the constitution of the | mite
STATES and then have gone into a blood
war TO tear down and destroy the govern
: ment they have sworn 10 protect. unit
: Won have shown 10y 4 sufficient length 4
| good behavior that YOU have repeniel IN
wrong Won have done. YOU shall hold N
office until two-thirds of congress say yo
may. Is there anything rash or unjust j
this Can Won point me TO an inStanc
: in any country where traitors 10 ihei
. government. rebels who have been CON
PEELED TO submit TO their government, har
, ever been let off on such terms a these
' There have been rebellionS from time I
e time in England-not such a we hay
. had exactly, but arising from disputes :
| to who was the rightlul heir to the cruwr
some questions of genealosy where som
D one would assert their right TO the crow