Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-04-04

seek places in the Legislatures, the Congress
the Executive mansions, and gave 1t a counte
nance and support without which 1t must hav
fallen in year and when its cause was hope
less they were quiet and submissive, and di
not rise to aid the United States.
Ii is certainly to this class of the white pop
ulaton that we must look for aid in restorin!
civil government in these States bu, it is
great delusion TO suppose them either bold o
strong enough to meet and defy the united ant
energetic faction of revoluiionists which drov,
them into rebellion. II they be in power, the,
will again do the will of the resolute and reck
less men who stood behind and around them
and no legal line discriminates them from tn,
| rebel mass.
If this discrimination be attempted by tn,
oath TO support the Constitution of the United
States, ererybody will take it and nobody vii
be excluded
| II the leaders of the rebellion, civil and mil
itary, be excluded, though willing to submit aud
take he oath, the mass of the rebel faction vii
be admitted and that will be the controlling
| and determining element in constituting the
| State government and selecting Representatives
and senators; aud the pract zeal result is the
same if nobody were excu ded.
| II either OF these forms be accepted by the
President and recognized by Congress, it will
instantly change the balance Of political power
| in the United states.
II is probable the people who have saved the
| nation not content 10 accept Us con>equen-
ces without murmur.
None of the white population Of the South
ern States is interested in paying the public
debt or imposing taxes to meet its interest.
| They hold none of it. 1t was created 10 sub
lugaJe them TO the laws. Il has been consumed
IN their overthrow. II is TO be paid in great
g halr tt b.s hut 90
their public d-bt. 1t Las filed the land with
ostraclsed officers, with wounded soldiers, with
an odious tree negro population, lately their
slaves, and still under their po ltIc4l control
If the whites be restored to political power,
their repres entstIve- interested IN repudi-
ating that pubic debt, IN refusing TO pay lis IN
terest, IN restorif heir officers 10 the army
and navy, IN placing their wounded on the pen
sion roll, indemnlfyIng lh=ir friends for losses
by war or contiscatIOn or forced tax sales in
restoring slavery under the forms OF aplren-
ticeship fixed wages and compulsory service
and discriminating and oppressive legislation.
The effort has already been made IL tennessee,
and the spirit which dictated II pervades the
whole South, and will find statutes ready 10 its
hand in every State. In Congress, minority
can arres; legislation. A majority Of either
House eau compel submission TO any terms, un
der penalty OF arrestlDg or dlsOrsanizing the
Government.
Ihe representatives from the States lately in
rebellion will form powerful and hostile mi
nOrity, and If they do not lind enough enemies
OF the Government from the States now repre-
sented TO give them a majority in one House
Tor some OF the purposes above indicated, tue
near past throws no light on the near future.
The prospect Of political dIsOrganiz4tion viii
present few terrors TO people sui hot WITH re-
halr no and
quite "a content 10 RUN as TO rule the country.
To expect them 10 JOIN IN eiecJing Repuo
lican President would be an amiaole deiuzlou
which the frst election would dlspel and they
might find Il some indemnity for emancipation
If the increased vote they would cast IL the
name OF their freed slaves should happen 10 de-
eide the contest and elevate them TO power.
Ii the people are ready for these conseq
ces then there IS difficulty in restoring polit-
ica power to the Southern States. Louisiana
or Virginia will serve models or otneT forms
viii grow with mushroom raplduy.
But II II be important that the friends and
not the enemies OF the Government stall con-
tinue to govern 1t, other measures must De
taken
The State governments in the Sonth must be
placed IN hands Interested TO maintain the aa-
thor.ty OF the United States. 1t Is not euougn
that conquered people are willing to submit 10
entitle them to govern Us. The United States
must 6rd friends interested and able TO sup
press hostility to its authority, and TO discharge
a the fuDclions OF the government, State and
national, in the face of every disoy.l or hostile
power. And the power of those who rebeled
must be curbed by those WIN did not rebel. aid
ed by those who joined the rebellion reluc-
tantly and are anxious 10 atone for their error
or weakness.
This can be done only by recognizing the
negro part ct the population an integral part
Of the Jeopie OF the Southsrn States and bg
refusing 10 permit any State government to be
| organized any other busis than ,.nipersai
suffrage and equality before the td,0.
Whatever anomalies may nave been winked
at during the era of slavery. it may well be
doubted If without serious blow al our rim
ciples, any government can be recognized s.
republican III form which excludes from suffrage
and equal laws a maj ority OF the citizens OF the
States, as would be he case 10 5, uth Carolina
and Mississippi, half the citizens, as would
| be the case IN Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and
Virginia, II the negro citizens be OIsran hIsed.
| Ii is certain that govern nents VII ch declared
them equal before the law, and recognized uni
yer al suffrage would be republican IN form
and substance also. 1t is equally certain that
such constitution in the Southern States is
the only one consistent with the national peace
an safety; and Congress has the right, and,
| think, ought to refuse to recognize any State
government in those States not on that basis.
| But the white people of the States which re-
belled will not organize governments on that
| basis. No considerable portion OF the wh te
| people OF those States is in favor of II. The
| loyal are Just as much against it as the rebel
| leaders.
None will adopt it of themselves, nor wi
they adopt II on the request and under the in
| huence of the President.
But ali will submit to il, if exacted, and az
cept il II unavoidable.
To submit the question TO the loyal voters OF
the State assumes the existence of State gov
ernment and u constitution defining the right
OF suffrage, and making loyalty a condition.
But there no such constitutions in any
State which rebelled. The United States have
refused to recognize any State governments in
any of those States.
There are, therefore, State governments,
| and no voters in any of the rebel States
There are States, and people of those States
both known TO the Constitution OF the United
States.
And the negroes are as integral part of the
| people of the State the whites. Both are
citizens neither has a right to exclude the
| other; neither can speak IN the name of the
State for the other; 1t Is the equal right oi
| both to be heard and represented IN cons titut-
ing their common government, and any propo-
sal 10 submit the question of the political or
| civil rights OF the negroes 10 the arbltrsment OF
the whites is upl ust and absurd as to submit
the question of the political rights OF the whites
to tte arbitrameot of the negroes-with this
difference, that the negroes are loyal everywhere
and the great body of the whites disloyal every