Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-10-19
OF their successors, and pays a tribute Of
respect to the memory Of the deceased


Senators. M
The Governor then discusses the state
OF the country taking strong ground against
the policy Of the President, and in favor
OF the constitutional amendment proposed
by Congress, and We quote the most Of
this part Of the message as follows -
Unhappily Tor the best solution of this
problem of Reorganization, the national
Executive and the national Legislature
have not been in accord in their views of
the best method of restoring these insur-
gent communities to their true relations in
the Federal Government and the work
has thereby been much delayed, the diff.
ficulties which environ it have been much
increased, and the Southern communities
have become much more hostile than at
fest to the demands of that wise policy
which would render "treason odious," OBJ
lain ample security for the future, and en-
able the government to redeem every
pledge it has made to its creditors, to its
friends, and 10 the race which it has eman-
cipated.
The executive branch of the govern
ment, having inauguraled the work of re-
organizing the rebelious States without
seeking the advice or cooperation of Con-
gyess, has continued to insist upon its ex-
elusive control of the work, and has denied
to the legislative branch Of the govern
ment any share in the determination of the
status OF the insurgent communities, or
conditions OF their restoration and while
denying TO Congress all right TO Judge oil
the completeness of this work of re -organ-
ization, it has conceded only the right OF
each House to judge of the elections, re-
turns and qualifications Of its own mem
beers. This policy assumes that the Exc
cutive has the sole right to reconstruct
reorganize and restore to their former con-
dition in the government, the people com.
munities and States which have waged q
gigantic war against that government and
1t insists, with emphatic iteration, thai
Congress, by refusing to recognize the ex
ecutive reconstruction as just, safe, com.
plete and constitutional, and at once ad
hitting TO seats in the Senate and House
of Repre- sentatives persons claiming to bt
elected by States thus reorganized, is as
suming functions which do not belong tc
it, infracting the Constitution, and attempt
ing, with guilt equal to that of the re
bellion, to dismember the Union.
On the assembling of Congress in De
cember last, and throughout its last session
that body claimed for itself the constitu
I,ional right to examine this work of recon
"a struction, and judge both Of its conditions
and completeness. After careful anc
prolonged investigation, through its join
committee on reconstruction, of the con
diiion of the States lately in rebellion, til,
disposition of their inhabitants, and tn,
: workings and results of the executiv,
method of reorganization, it was fully sat
isfied that the political and civil power il
those States was, in almost every instance
placed in the hands of those who, durin.
the rebellion, were either active in ihei
: hostility to The national government, o.
gave aid and comfort to its enemies while
it was apparent that, without further con
ditions than the executive plan proposed
those who had been during the rebellion
the bitterest enemies of the national au
: thoriiy, would have the unche cked and en-
. tire political control of those States in the
future, and would use that control to CD
press and put under ban those who hav,
) never swervcd from their fidelity to The
f Union.
Congress, Their eiore, wisely in my .iudg-
a ment, declined to treat the States which
had confederated in their treason against
' the Government, as rightfully entitled to
+ immediate representation in The national
# Legislature, or TO be released from the
4 control of the federal authority; and this
a decision was evidently 10 agreement with
the opini, MS of a large majority of the
; people who had heartily sustained the
II Government in its contest with the rebel
5. lion.
d TO the reading and thinking people O
the nation, who judge by facts and result,
7" rather than by the re6nements of argument
e the riots of Memphis and New Orleans
,t have furnished the most complete ant
W startling evidence of the inherent error o
the executive scheme; and have writer
its condemnation in characters of blood
In those riots peaceable citizens, with cir
10 cumstances of savage atrocity, were cru
IF ely murdered by mob, melted and le
IF by local officials and inspired by an lib
A. eIh anu iuteuse pitJuuiCe dSdilet al lioi
fensive race and by vengeiul hatred Q
those who dared 10 claim equal, politica
and civil rights for all men; aud thes
outbreaks have furnished melancholy proc
,e of the danger of committing unresiraine
! political and civil power to men recent
rebels, and are significant commentarie
upon that reorganization of which the
ut were the legitimate fruits"
Ill The Governor closes by quoting tb
l. proposed amendment, argues in lis favol
ID and congi aulates upon the result Of lh
in recent elections in favor of it. 4.
5, Boar RACING Yankees at a Frenc
o, Regatta. the 10th ultimo there was
D. regatta in the French harbor of Che
g bourg, and among the prizes was one Civ
en- for men-of-war boats. Seventeen CT
ct tered for the race, including all the crac
e. boats attached to the French iron-cla
he squadron, all of them pulling sixteen oal