Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-09-28


will in due course become the supreme law
of the land. A law, thank God, which
not even Andrew johnson the diligent We
toer of all the vetoable laws, can deny or
forbid.
The first provision of this amendment
guarantees the right of citizenship 10 all,
citizens especially. The man who objects
to this is only fit for the company of pro
Slavery Rebels, with Andrew johnson at
their head. The 100000 people in South
Carolina have but 40,0e0 voters, because
only white males may vote. In Illinois,
100000 citizens have 100000 voters now
the Rebels claim that the 10000 Rebel
voters in South Carolina ought to have
just as many Representatives in Congress
as the 100000 loyal voters in Illinois.
Our Copperhead friends, who so modesily
think that one Rebel is as good as three
Copperbeads, may be right, but tell you
that all the rebels in South Carolina are
not as good as one loyal man. Our friend,
Andy, thinks this is not an opportune time,
TO amend this basis of representation very
likely. Is there soldier here who thinks
ibis vote ought not to count as much as
Rebels vote. :" No no, from all quarters
of The house.. The next provision of this
amendment forbids Rebels to hold office |;
will any man tell me why he objects to
this? Is The Rebel army such good school
for loyalty? 1t seems to me that the Fed
eral army was better school; but Mr..
Orr says we loyal men, Chat is we Rebels)
will consent to hold the offices. Was ever
such meekness seen before And our Cop
perbead friends say that Stephens, Breck-
inridge, Davis, Mason and Slidell are all
loyal men now, all obeying the law now,
all quiet and peaceable. Yes, it was very
quiet at New Orleans the other day, and
little earlier at Memphis, and at Mobile
very quiet. But tell me, if man steals
horse to-day; and goes TO Jail tomorrow,
is he any less horse-thief tomorrow than
to-day! Certainly, by this logic be is an
inofensive, law-abiding citizen in jail, be-
cause he doesn't steal any more horses.
JEFF. Davis is very law-abiding, loyal
man now. A voice, " 1t makes him sick,
thought Yes, it makes him sick. Cat
this moment Gov. Oslesby entered and
was loudly cheered.) The Rebels, laid
down their arms, TO be sure. Was it be-
cause OF their profound respect for our
flag? Why didn't they march under it from
the first then? No, Mr.. johnson, we will
never trust these men again. Let me ask
you question. If man had declared
on your streets, two years age, that Alex.
ander ii. Stephens would within two years
be Senator of the United States. how
long would that man have lived A voice
Not an hour. We notify these Rebel.
! that as long as there are loyal men enough
in the country to hold the Federal offices.
so long Rebels must stay at home. What
next? We will make all candidates for
office swear before high Heaven not only
that they are loyal but that they have been
loyal aud if they swear to lie, wen ex-
pei them from their seats. Moreover we
declare that the loyal citizens shall not be
taxed TO pay the Rebel Debt, and we have
too much respect then for Rebels TO per-
nit them TO be taxed for SO unpatriotic
purpose. England feels badly but we can't
help that. We say 10 England the Rebels
shan,t pay you, and we say TO the Rebels
you shan't pay her this amendment is our
platform we have made ii such and on it
we will stand, and on it we will conquer,
for we will not be beaten at the polls after
conquering on the field. If our Rebel aud
Copperhead friends think they hav MT rep
resentation enough, they know how TO get
more. Just let them make more voters.
and we give notice of two things First,
we'll never give up trying until the amend
ment is finally passed by The requisite con-
stitutional number Of Legislatures and
becomes the supreme law of the land If
we can't pass ii this Winter, we'll try it
next Winter and if we can't do il next
Winter we'll Try for the next forty Win
tiers, If need be. Secondly: Until this
amendment becomes the law of the land
no Rebel State shalt be represented in
Congress. Andy and bis anxious Rebels
must wait; that's fair warning; there's
where We stand. and on this line we shall
| fight it out. Now let the soldier come
forward who is not on our side, and let me
tell him that all the men who prayed and
labored and wept for him while he was on
the embattled field are on this platform ev
cry one, and only those who cursed his
loyalty and hoped for his defeat are oppos-
ing IT. Is there sacred veteran here who
has SO far lost all the best impulses of sol
dierly manhood that he will exchange his
conscience and his self-resptct for post
office at crossroads Then let him have
his L..