The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-11-16
Reported r the Vermont Record.
Speech Of Hon. Luke y. Poyo,d

EplteHf0taeS Hall. on tile eyep,u0 of Oct
24M.
-H. President and Gehiemon Of the Leyis-
Mue:
am suffering 50 severely to-day that 1t
was hardly my purpose to have occupied
any time at all in addressing the members
OF The Two Houses upon their invitation
contained IN their resolutions, but it was
insisted by my colleagues that | ought at
least to JON with them and say a word up
on the subject indicated, vet | have no
doubt you would have been equally gratif-
ed had the time of the distinguished gentle
man who have preceded me been extended
50 that no remarks could be made by me.
1t has been no part of my vocation TO
make political speeches. My duties have
been OF different character. First, gentle
men, appear before you to express my
acknowledgements to You and to the
people OF Vermont for the long continued
pubic favor that has been bestowed upon
me ana the constant support | have re-
celved, and also to return my thanks for
your renewed expressions Of favor at the
present session Of the legislature.
nave been invited by the resolutions
OF that body to address the two Houses
upon the subject Of the proposed constitu-
u"nal amendments and political topics
connected Herewith For forty years,
gentlemen, this country has been governed
iii the interest oi slavery, and for LONG
period, among the people OF the north it
had been dccrecd that, at least, we should
contlne and restrain the institution OF
slavery to the present slave StateS-that i
the Hbn present slave StatcS-that il should
occupy or spread itself into no more of the
territory OF the United States This was IL
iar a. the fondest dream of the intense
lover OF liberty, or the most ar,icnt hatcI
"i slavery went-that it should be con-
mel Wilhn lis then present limitations.
1t had been claimed that the congress OF
the nlted States had no power whatever
over the institution OF slavery within the
states : that the power to remove or re-
tam 1t remained with the several state
governments that it could not be rcmov-
"d except by a constitutional amendment
and no one supposed. then, that they
would ever see a constitution amendment
adopted by which slavery in the nited
states would he abolished To restrict
iondest hope OF the most ardent lover OF
liberty in the north. Upon that issue the
people went into Il Presidential election in
1850 and succeeded in clccln. Alr. Lin
coin a. President OF the United States
LIS was made the occasion for the revolt
although 1t was not proposed by the
i'"rtr in power Liiui .L,,,,, niti,ir tI,
states should be disturbed, abolished, OF
intertcrtd with iii any way. They claimed
that thcy had the right to settle the mat
ter by Lailot-no one claimed they mad
the power to do any more than this This
WAS excuse enough for the southern >tatc>
to attempt the disruption of this go.ern-
: mcnt. After four years OF bloody war
after the loss of thousands OF millions OF
dollars. and after loss of almost half :;
million of lives. Muted rebellion through
out the land has been Subdued and we
now come to the important question OF
4 how these states, which have been lii re-
bcllion, can he restored TO their proper
siduS in the Union. There are two theo-
ries upon the point-two pollccS. One !:
the policy of congress and Is embraced ii
the constitutional amendments as proposed
and the other is the one termed the policy
OF the President. or ''-W Policy" The
question now to be decided (which O
-, these Is ihc right and the true policy
Which will most quickly advance the res
tUration of the Union. We are met a
the outset by this argument on the part o
: the President and his followers. They
say that nobody has any right TO impose
: conditions of any description upon the
south until they are represented III con
grt>s that when the rebellion was sur
. pressed these states assumed their former
stnus in the general government; thai
. they came ont III all their original strength
and beauty, and that nobody has a righ
! to impose a single condition upon then
prior to their re-admissiOn into the nation
al congress,
Now, gentlemen, if that is tue-lf it b.
. true that there exists in this government
, no power whatever TO extend conditions Il
those who have jrlst retired from fruit
= less effort to oycrwhelm and destroy TIN
government. then there is an end OF TIN
!, iwholc matter at once, That is the ''poll
cy" of the President n0r-wlat was l
r when the rebels first laid down their arms
What was his doctrine MeH! Did IN
.tlcu saw, that no conditions could or shoulc
e be imposed upon the rebels! What dl'
e he do The first thing to be done Wa
- the appointment Of provisional governor
over the recently rebelIious states Gov
ernor Holden OF North Carolina was tn
first governor thus appointed. Ines
governors were directed to assemble con
ventions of delegates from the varIou
counties and precincts within these state
rs to meet for the purpose of making an
d framing new constitutions or amendn
their old constitutions, whichever NIGH
be deemed best, and set them up 50 tha
l. they could be restored to their places i
y the Union They were told that prior
taking their places in the Union the
must adopt the amendment to the const
tuition abolishing slavery throughout til
at United States. The. are told,-you mu: