Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-06-15

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,nce of the Government to foster ana
ouild up feeling of attachment to the
Union and to allay the bitterness and
asperity now existing. In this view
It has seemed to me that it was not
80 desirable as many others have be-
ieved it to be that great haste should
be made in their restoration, and that
our reunion with them would be much
more likely to be harmonious and last
ing if done coolly and deliberately
than if we rushed to embrace each
other.
But the question is, whether In the
present state of facts it is safe and
Just to the nation to admit these States
to participate in the government OF
the nation upon such terms as will IN
cur any hazard of their being able to
take the control Of it, and if they
choose injure or overthrow 1t? L
have heard it asked what harm they
could do if admitted to full represen-
tation in Congress and were able by
political affiliations and alliances to
control the legislation of the nation.
[ will refer to but one of the many
things which might be most disastrous
to the people of the loyal States. 10
carry on the war and suppress the
rebellion we have incurred a debt to
the enormous amount of $3,OOO,OOO,-
900. The great bulk of this debt is
held by the people of the NORTH
Much of it is held by capitalists, but
not all, by any means. 1t has entered
into all the transactions of society and
business. All public trusts, whether
educational charitable, of religious, ARE
invested in it, as well as nearly all
private trusts for widows, minors, or
others. The entire currency Of the
country is composed Of it or based up
on it. In addition to this it Is most
extensively held among the people
in nv own State | know that almost
every man who had any money to In.
vest, whether the amount was great
or small, now holds it in Government
bonds. Indeed, | think | may say
that except what is invested in bust
ness or in business corporations, the
} great mass of the money capital OF the
: North is now in national securl
ties. To pay even the interest OF
2 this debt and our immense annua
5 pension-list will require taxation for u;
: of unexampled severity for many years
5 to come.
n Now, this debt has all been incur
/ red in putting down the southern rebel
f lion; our great pension-list is to re
ward or reimburse those who hav'
e suffered on our side in the same cause
J. The war to a great extent has devas
n tated the South; very many hav
d been made poor and destitute; the.
(, have lost their slaves, whose value the
IS counted by thousands of millions; a
II most every one suffered loss by tn
s bubble Of the rebel debt; they hay
/. their thousands of manned and disable
e men and their thousands of widow
o and orphans dependent upon thel
d for support, and for whom no provi
IS ion can or will be made by the nation
e Under these circumstances will the
d. not be FESTIVE under our heavy tax
Ig ton to pay orr national debt and OF
lie pensioners Say what we will, So
Of what they will, the truth is that if the
Is can avoid aiding in its payment the
u will do so, and preteXts enough wi
y be found in some fancied or preten'
We ed injustice to them on our part I
to justify such action on theirs. In sa
VI ing this | do not mean to assert tn;
cd these people are more faithless (
less sensible of obligation than we ar
e, for | have very little doubt that undC
or the same circumstances we should
IN the same thing. 1t is hardly in h
to man nature to do otherwise.
ny 1t is said we ought to be magyar
tn nous and truStful toward these pc
tie pie; put full faith in their promis
or and oaths; that we have no right
er assume they will not keep them.
Is would certainly extend all magyar
he nifty to them. | would trust all the
We oaths and promises which | believ,
IN they would keep. But should har
We ly desire to trust them to fulfill
CHI promise which under the same circu
rs stances fear should myself find sol
tn excuse for breaking.
III But | do not think we are special
N called upon to trnst or put faith
IL official and governmental oaths tax,
y. by our southern friends. Can tn
ed ever be more solemnly bound to t
5n- Government and to yield it the
TIC allegiance than they were at the We
at moment they seeded and violat
tie their oaths ? Our faith can hard
'St be strengthened by our experience.
he This class Of oaths has not in latt
ur years been found very binding on t
IL individual conscience, and of them
nd may say with Hudibras-
In
= "Oaths are but words, and words but wind
~ Too feeble implements to bind,
81 And hold with deeds proportion so
set AS shadows to the substance do"
OF But what have we to fear frC
elr them if admitted into Congress wi
Is all the representation they would ha
90 without any amendment of the &c
lal stitution. The North would still gre
en- ly outnumber them, and could alwa
vote them down.
IT, 1t is sneeringiy asked, do you n
ny consider yourselves their equals
~, Are you such towards and poltroo
5 as to be afraid of being beaten in {
ne bate and overthrown by these SOU
ne ern gentlemen with such odds in 70
ire favor? 1t is not hard to answer the
ed questions in fact: but it is hard a
W. humiliating to be compelled to ackno1