Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-09-28
A DOR f. S S
Of the National Union Committee,
TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

F,iio,o Citizens Very grave differences
having arisen between your immediate Rep
resentatives in Congress nd the President,
who owes bis position to your votes. we are
impelled to ask your attention thereto, which
they render imperative.
We shall avoid the use of hard words
OF these, there have already been too many.
And, that the matter in issue may be brought
within the narowest compass, let US first
eliminate from the controversy all that has
already been settled or has never been in dis
/ pute.
The Republic has been desperately assailed
/ from within, and its very existence seriously
imperiled Thirteen q ates were claimed as
| having Withdrawn from the Union, and were
represented for years in a hostile Congress
meeting at Richmond. len Of these States
were, for time, wholly in the power Of
hostile confederacy the other three partially
so. The undoubtedly loyal States were re-
peatedy and formidably invaded by rebel
armies. which were only expelled after obsti-
nate and bloody battles. Through four years
Of arduous, desperate civil strife, the hosts
Of the rebel Confedefacy withstood those Of
the Union. Agents Of that Confederacy
traversed the civilized world, seeking allies
in the war against the Republic, and melting
the rapaoious and unprincipled to fit out
armed coIsairs to prey upon her commerce.
BY State authority, and in the perverted
names Of patriotism and loyalty, hundreds Of
thousands of our country men were conscript-
ed into rebel armies and made to fight des-
perately for our national disruption and ruin.
And though, by the blessing Of God and the
valor and constanoy OF our loyal people, the
! vfh boil lion uwA la. h.l -
did not succumb until it had caused the des-
truction Of more than half million of pre-
cious human lives, not to speak of property
to the value Of at least FIVE billion Of dollars.
At length, the rebel armies surrendered
and the rebel power utterly collapsed and
vanished. What then;
The claim Of the ins urgents that they either
now re-atquired or had never forfeited their
constitutional rights to the Union, including
/ that Of representation in Congress, stands in
/ pointed antagonism alike to the requirements
of Congress ard to those of the ecting Presi-
dent. II was the Executive alone who, after
the Rebellion was no more, appointed Pro-
I visional Governors for the now submissive
med Southern States, on the assumption
that the rebellion had been revolutionary"
and had deprived the people under its sway
d
assembling Of "a Convention, composed Of
delegates to be chosen by that portion Of the
people of said State who are loyal to the
United States, and 40 others, for the purpose
Of altering and amending the Constitution of
said State" 1t was President johnson who,
late October lasi--when all shadow Of
overt resistance to the Union Lad long since
isappeared-insisted that it was not enough
lnf ttbf ab I.l ft,. q
nize her Ordinance Of Secession as null and
void from the beginning, and ratily the Con
stitutional Amendment prohibiting Slavery
evermore, but she must also repudiate " eve
ny dollar Of Indebtedness created to aid in
carrying on the Rebellion" 1t was he who
ordered the dispersion by military force OF
any Legislature chosen under the Rebellion
which should assume power to make laws
after that Rebellion had fallen. 1t was he
who referred to Congtess oil inquil ers as to
the probability Of Representatives from the
States lately in revolt being admitted to seats
in either House, and suggested that they
should present their credentials. not at the
organization Of Congress, but alterward.-
And finally, it was be, and not Congress,
who suggested to his Governor, Sharkey Of
Mississippi, that
to all persons Of color who can read the Con-
stitution Of the United States in English and
write theiT names and to ali persons of color
who own real estate valued at not less than
$3.50 and pay taxes thereon, you would COM
pletely disarm the adversary, ard set an ex-
ample that other States will follow"
If, then, there be any controversy as to
the right of the loyal States to exact condi-
/ IA II IL -
plunged madly into secession and rebellion,
the supporters respectively Of Andrew John.
son and Of Congress, cannot be antsg onist
parties to that contest, since their IecoIt
places them on the same side.
1t being thus agreed that conditions o
restoration and guarantees against future re
rebellion may be exacted Of the States latel,
in revolt, the right of Congress to voice il
prescribing those conditions and in shapinl
} those guarantees is plainly uncomfortable
, Whether it take the shape of law or Of
constitutional amendment, the action of Con
gress is vital. Even il they were to be set
4 tied by treaty, the ratification of the Senate
by two-thirds vote, would be indispensable
t There is nothing in the Federal Constitution
$ nor in the nature of the case, that coun enau
= ces an Executive monopoly of this power.
What, then, lie the ground of complain
n against Congress -
Is it charged that the action of the tw
Houses was tardy and hesiialing, Consde
i how momentous we're the questions involved
s the issues depending. Consider how utterl
silent and blank is the Federal Constitalio
IS touching the treatment of insurgent Statei
whether during their fragrant hostility to tn
s Union or after their discontinue. Consid=
: with how many endorsements and Difficult
q ties the problem is beset, and you will nc
. wonder that months we're required to devils,
e perfect, and pass, by two-thirds vote in ei
s ther House, just and safe plan Of recon
sttuetion.
S Yet that plan has been matured. 1t ha
q passed the Senate by SO to | /, and the Hons
4 by l3s TO SO. It is now fairly before tn
country, having already been ratified by III
s Legislatures of several States and Tejeote
by none. Under it the State of Tennessee
I has been formally restored to all the privieg
D es she forfeited by Rebellion, including rep
= resentaton in either House Of Congress. -
And the door thus passed through stand
7 invitlngly open to all who still linger with
out.
e Are the conditions thus prescribed intole
rable. or even Illuminating They are j