Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-09-28

Tennessee. Are they harsh or degrading
DO you discern therein disposition to tram.
pie on the PROSTATE or push an advantage to
the uttermost! DO they cmbody aught of
vengeance, or any condition but that Of slave
ry? We solicit your candid impartial judg-
ment.
What Is intended by the third section is
simply to give loyalty fair star, in the re-
consruc ed States. Uuder the johnson poll
cy, the rebels monopolize power and place
even in communities where they are decided
ly outnumbered Their generals are govern
ors and members elect OF Congress their
colonels and majors fill the legislatures and
offoiate as SHERIFF.. Not only are the stead
lastly loyal prescribed, but even stay-at-home
rebels have little chance at competition with
those who fought TO subvert the Union
When this rebel monopoly Of Office shall have
been broken up, and loyalty to the Union
shall have become general and hearty, Con-
gress may remove the disability, and will
doubtless make haste to do so.
We do not perceive that the justice or fit
ness OF the fourth section--prescHbing that
the Union public debt shall be promptly met
but that Of the rebel Confederacy never--is
seriously contested
There remains, then, but the second section,
vi ich prescribes in substance that political
power in the Union shall henceforth be based
only on that portion Of the people Of each
State who are deemed by its Constitution fit
repositories Of such power. In other words .
State which chooses to hold part Of its
population inignorance and vassalage power
less, uneducated, unlfanchised shall not
count that portion 10 balance the educated.
intelligent, enhanoAised citizens OF other
States.
We do not purpose to argue the justice Of
this provision. As well argue the shape OF a
cube or the correctness of the Multiplication
Table. He who does not feel that this is
simply and mildly just, would not be persua.
ded though one rose from the dead to con-
vince him. That there are those among us
who would not have it ratified, sadly demon
strates that the good work Of Emancipation
is not yet complete.
But" say some, " this section is design
ed to coerce the South into according suffra. e
to her blacks" Not so, we reply; but only
TO notliy her ruling caste that we will no
longer bride them to keep their blacks 10
sefidom. An aristocracy rarely surrenders
rs privileges, no matter how oppressive,
from abstract devotion to justice and night.
1t must have cogent, palpable reasons for
50 doing. We say, therefore, to South Caro-
| lima, " If you persistently restrict all power
/ to your 500 GOO whites, we must insist tina,
these no longer balance, in Congress and the
choice Of President zoo. 600 Northern white
/ fretmen, but only 500 600. If you keen
I your blacks evermore in serfdom, it must not
be because we tempted you so to do and re-
warded you for so doing.
Fellow cit zens of every State but especi-
ally Of those soon to hold elections we en-
treat sour earnest, constant heed to the great
question now at issue. If War shall be al
lowed by you to dictate the terms of Recon-
struction, you will have heedlessly sown the
bitter seeds of future rebelions and bloody
strife. Already, you are threatened with a
recognition by the President of a sham Con
gress made up of The factions which recently
coelesced az Philadelphia on platform Of
Johnsohism--a Congress- constituted by null
lily ing and overriding plain law Of the land
"a Congress wholly inspired from the White
House, and appealing to the sword alone for
support. SO glazing an attempt at usurpation
would be even more criminal than absurd
Happily the people, by electing an overwhel-
ming majority of thoroughly loyal representa-
tives, are rendering its initiation impos-
sible.
/ We cannot close without a most deserved
tribute to the general fidelity wherewith, in
view Of the Presidents detection, the great
body Of the people, and even of the Fedeia
office holders, stand fast by their conviction,
and their principles. The boundless patron.
age of the Executive, though most unscrupu
lousy welded against those to whose vot,
he owes it, has corrupted very few. either o
those who shared OF Of those who would glad
ly share in its enjoyment. Not one of tn
twenty-five States which voted to re-elec
Abraham Lincoln has given in its adhesion Il
the Presidents policy; while New Jersey
the only free State that voted against him
has added herself to their number.
Our great war has taught impressively tn
:, peril of injustice; and the lesson has sun
/, deep into millions of hearts. The America
!, people, chastened by suffering, are wiser an
nobler than they were, with quicker an
n more open ear for every generous suggestion
The fearful lessons Of Memphis and Ne,
Orleans have not been lost on them, as
, proved by the result of the recent election
in Vermont and Maine. We cherish no snat
ow of doubt, that Penns ylvania, Ohio, Ind
: ana and Iowa first, then New York. Ne
Jersey, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin. Kan
y, sas and Minnesota, will do likewise, and thu
true restoration, genuine, abiding Peac
y will thus be secured to our country-a Peat
- that will endure, because based on the eyel
4 lasting foundations Of Humanity, Justice, an
> Freedom. Yours,
> MARCUS L.WARD, New Jersey, Chm.
JOHN ID. DEGREES, Indiana, Seo'y.
~ HORACE GREEELY, New York.
), S. A. PURVIANCE, PENNSYLVANIA.
!. WILLIAM CLAFLIN, Massachusett
!, N. B. SMiTHERS, Delaware.
, n. w. HOFFMAN, Maryland.
! II. II. STARKWEATHER, Connection
!. h. b. COWEN, Ohio
JOHN b. CLARKE, New Hampshir,
SAMUEL f. BUSSEY, Maine.
. ABRAHAM B. GARDNER, Vermont
a J. s. FOWLER, Tennessee.
. BURTON @. COOK, Illinois,
4 MARSH GIDDINGS, Michigan
: ID. p. STUBBS, Iowa.
; A. w CAMPBELL. West Virginia.
S, JUDD, Wisconsin.
ID, r, GOODLOE, North Carolina.
S. Il. BOYD, Missouri.
w. j. CORNING, Virginia.
THOS. SIMPSON, Minnesota.
c. l.. ROBINSON, Florida
n NEWTON EDMUNDS, Dakota.