Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-06-15

10 the coiored men, or not. He adds
"Does this amendment do justice to the
colored people Of the South? Mr.. Presi-
dent, am sorry to feel compelled to say that
i do not think il does. ! cannot feel salts
fed with q scheme of reconstruction oi these
rebel States which gives no direct and Imme-
date benefit to the only class of loyal people
living in them. When / remember how
loyal and faithful these people ever proved {;
how they fed, clothed, concealed. and guided
our prisoners who escaped from rebel prisons
and starvation A.: how faithfully and truly
they brought us Information and guided our
troops; and more than all. how calamity
they fought by the side of our men, and how
nobly they yielded their lives to save the ma
tion, | feel that something more direct
should be granted to and done for them.
should be much better satisfied If the right
of suffrage had been given at once to the
more intelligent Of them and such as had
served In our Army. But 1t Is believed by
wiser ones than myself that this amendment
viii very soon produce some grant of sui.
frage 70 them, and that the craving for pO-
Iticai power will ere long give them uDIyer-
sal suffrage. such | know 10 be the opinion
Of many Intelligent UnIen men Of the South
with whom / have cOnversed. | trust the
result may be ia they predict, and that the
day may come when IN all the nation, as IL
my own free Si.le, the law shall make and
know no difference between men on account
OF race OF color. Believing that this amend
ment probably goes as far IN favor Of sui
frsge 10 the negro Is l. practicable 70 accom-
plish now, and hoping 1t may in the end ac-
complish all ] desire in this respect. | shall
vote Tor its adoption, although | should be
glad to 20 further"
The third section, depriying the Southern
leaders Of the right to hold Office, Mr. Pc
land considers linicnt and just, and believes
it viii he accepted by the Southern masses.
as an easy atonement.
The other two propositions OF amendment
are also declared sound and expediont, and
the speech concludes a. follows
Mr. President. il has been said that all
these proposed amendments. as q whole, a. d
general plan for the restoration Of these
States, Will not be acceptable to them. and
that they will not do it willingly and il
they adopt them at all il will only be under
& kind Of coercion and because they cannot
otherwise obtain what they seek and that
We have 10 right TO secure even proper
amendments IN that way.
IL seems to me that this plan, as a whole.
is characterized by 50 much moderation and
iorbearanee that 1t cannot fail to commend
itself 10 the people Of these States 80 that
they will readily and freely give it their sane
tion. But, sir, If 1t be true that they are
not satisfied with it, and will only adopt it
TO secure their return TO share in the nation
al power, am so well satisfied that this
plan contains nothing but what We have a
right 10 insist on, and which justice to the
nation requires, that should feel no hesita-
ton in saying kindly, but firmly, "You must
acquiesce in these amendments before We will
permit you 10 take part in the administra-
tion Of the General Government" There
is nothing new in this, either. Did these
States accept the amendment Astonishing
slavery willingly much more important
matter 10 them than anything contained in
these propositions ? Did they declare their
ordinances Of secession null and void or de-
clare the rebel debt invalid willingly We
know they did not. but only because the
President required it Of them Has any one
ever blamed the President or thought he was
unjust to the South in these requirements ?
Il the people Of the nation. through their
representatives, believe that something more
should Justly be required, they have the
equal right, and should exercise the right. TO
demand 1t.
We should not exercise our power to make
any unjust demand, but what Is Just and
right 10 exact We should be wanting in our
duty il We fail to have done.
Mr.. President, il Is matter Of great sat
isiactl0n to me that at last, after So much
and so anxious deliberation, it appears so
probable that Congress VIII be able to pre-
sent plan upon which the requisite mai1ri-
ties Of both Houses will be able to agree.
and especially when as a whole. this plan
cOmmends itself 20 well TO my Own judgmen.
Of what Il right.
1t Is known that some differences Of orin-
Ion have existed between Congress and the
Executive on this subject.
Great differences have existed among our
selves many opinions have had 10 yield to
enable Us to agree upon q plan II We are 20
fortunate, as as | trust we shall be, to pass
these propositions by the requisite majoTities.
although they may not IN all respects cores
pond with the views OF the PresIdsnt, be
heye he will feel it to be bis patriotic duty
to acquiesce in the plan proposed. and give
his powerful influence and support TO pro
cure their adoption. We are al aiming at
the same grand result. the difference il rath
er in the choice OF modes and means to at
tam it. We are all, trust actuated by the
same high motives OF patriotism. and all de-
sire to see all these States again acting hsr-
moLiously together In matter Of such
-
our action, with no guide IN the COnstitu-
ton but that furnished by its general spirit
and purpose, it lie not singular that great
diversity Of ideas should exist In such
case opinions must yield to some extent. or
else nothing could be agreed or settled, and
all would be anarchy. ! will not allow nv
self to believe that these measures Will
not, under the circumstances, receive the
sincere support of the President, although
be may not believe them perfect.
Mr.. President, there are men who believe
We are now on the verge Of ruin, and that
We shall never again become a united, and
harmonious people. But, sir, / believe thew
are either towards or eroakers, who always
ste the dark side Of the picture. For nv
self, / see no such cause of alarm. To me
everything oks hopeful for the future.
We have Just gone through the greatest war
the world has ever seen. And unparalleled
social revolution has taken place IN the
South-three or four million people turned
from slaves into free people.
That in so short time after these great
events so much OF order and quietness and
obedience to law should exist Is astonishing.
The world never witnessed its parallel. We
did not expect It ourselves before the close F.
of the war, but now We are impatient and /
troubled because it Is not better. lime I
alone Will smooth and allay the stormy
waves of excitement and passion caused by I
such momentous events To me, sir, a /
great and glorious future is opening for our
country. Slavery, the great blight and
curse that has hung upon US, lie ended for
ever. The South, so long retarded BY it,
Will be opened and expanded by the influence
d free labor and free institutions. A new
agriculture will enrich and beautiiy her
fields. Commerce and manufactures will
build up busy towns and carry thrift and
wealth along her great rivars. All causes
)i discord between North and South being
,ver, we shall become a homogeneous nation
If free men, dwelling together in peace and