Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1866-10-17

cnlties which environ it has been much
increased. and the southern communities
have become much more hostile than at
first to the demands of that wise policy
which would render treason odiohs,
obtain ample security for the future and
enable the Government to redeem every
pledge it has made to its creditors, to It's
friends. and to the race which 1t has
emancipated
The executive branch Of the Govern
ment, having inaugrated the work of re-
organizing rcbelious States without seek
ing the advice or cooperation of Congress
has continued to insist upon its exclusive
control of the work, and has denied to the
legislative branch of the Government any
share in the determination of the status of
the nsurgent communities, OF conditions
of their restoration ;and while denying to
Congress all right to judge of the com
plecteness of this work of reorganization.
it has conceded only the right of each
House te judge of the electins, returns
and qualifications of its own members.
This policy assumes that the Executive
has the sole right to reconstruct, reorga-
uize and restore to their former condition
in the Government, the people, communi-
ties and states which have waged a gigan-
tic war against that Government and it
insists, with emphatic iteration, that Con
gross, by refusing to recognize the execu-
tive reconstruction as just, safe. complete
and constitutional, and at once admitting
to seats in the Senate and House of Rep
resentatiVes persons claiming to be elected
by the states thus re-organizei, is
assuming functions which do not belong
to it, infringing the Constitution, and at
tempting with guilt equal to that of the
rebellion, to dismember the Union,
On the assembling of Congress in De
cember last, and throughout its last ses-
sion, that body claimed for itself the con-
stitutional right to examine this word Of
reconstruction, and judge both of its CON
dtions and completeness After a care
tul and prolonged investigation, through
it's joint co nmitteo on reconstruction, of
the condition of the states lately in rebel
lion, the disposition OF their Inhabitants
and the workings and resn'.s of the exc
cutve method OF rcorg nization. 1t was
fully satisfied that the political and civil
power i'll those states was in almost every
instance, placed in the hands of those
who, during the rebellion, we're either ac-
tive in their hostility to the national
Government, or gave aid and comfort to
its enemies; while it was apparent that,
without further conditions than the exc.
cutiye plan proposed, those who had been
during the rebellion the bitterost enemies
of the national authority. would have the
unchecked aud entire political control of
those states in the future, and would use
hat control to Cypress and Put under ban
those who have never swerved from their
fidelity to the Union
Congress. therefore. wisely in my iudg
ment, declined to the states which had
copfederatca in their treason against the
Government, as rightfully entitled to i'm
mediate representation in the national
| Legislature, or to be released from the coli,
troll of the federal authority and this
decision was evidently in agreement with
the opinions of large majority of the
people who had heartily sustained the
Government i'll its contest with the re.
bellion.
To the reading and thinking people of
the nation, who judge by facts and results
rather than by the reGncmeuts of argu.
ment, the riots at Memphis and New Or
leans have furnished the most complete
and startling evidence of the inherent err.
ror of the executive scheme, and have
written its condemnation in characters of
blood. In those riots peaceable citizens,
with circumstances Of savage atrocity, were
cruelty murdered by mob, melted and
led by local officials and inspired by an
lilliberal and intense prejudice against an
inofensive race and Ivy vebgeful hatred
Of those who dared to claim equal politi-
cal and civil rights for all men and these
outbreaks have furnished melancholy proof
of the danger of committing unrestrained
political and civil power to men recently
rebels and are significant commentaries
upon that reorganization of which they
were the legitimate fruits.
Congress- however, did not insist upon
its constitutional right to inaugurate the
work of recognizing the governments of
the states which had confcderated in re.
bellion, nor did it surrender that light,
but in its legislative action it manifested
a willingness to suffer the work of the
Executive to remain uudlsturbcd, so far
as it could do 50 with due respect to the
dignity and safety of the republic and
proper regard to the security and protec.
ton OF the property, liberty and lives of
all the people of the U. S,
After laborioas end extended session
and patient comparison of views, both
III az