The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-06-22

AMI those WHO Were hanged for ii been a.
sincere IN their belief in the Justice of their
cause Is any man in this rebellion VAST
Ihls has never been Regarded as anv an
swer 10 the legal liability. Ii a man or
-et ot men make war against their GOV
crnment. they DO it Al the peril of making
The w'lr successful cr of taking the legal
consequences.
Ii when The rebellion WAS over We had
SAID 10 every man engaged in ii, ''we will
allow You 10 retain your life and property,
hut you shall never participate in the gov
ermncnt OF the country YOU have attempt
el 10 DESTROY. hy voting or holding Office"
+ II would inare been all they could have
expected or had amy right 10 expect
Ibis l. the basis upon which Maryland.
Missouri and other states have settled ii
Tor themselves.
But we leave the great mass utterly
untouched. and the leaders with their
llre>- iiclr property the full enjoyment of
all their civil rights ami privileges, with
the right of vo1in. for all officers. both
state and national. with the single restric-
iion they shall not hold office The dis
proportion between the callSe and the con-
-oIuclcc i - "rc;lt al 10 almost make II
ridiculous. | know If Is said that this Is
a measure - harsh and severe that ii viii
no: inc accepted 10y the south But / DO
llot ielitre 80; Un the contrary believe
ii viii he acceptable 10 the masses, that
they will consider it a very easy atone
mcnt, and thai If there Is anything like
punishment in ii. ii falls where If is de-
served Ii there be amy included in this
class Ia il * agreed there may be) who
Were really forced into the rebellion against
tii,ir will, it will be very easy to procure
ib>oluiion 10y making the fact appear 10
comGrc-s.
The remaining propositions OF amend
:ncn,. dcclarin" The sacred and inviolable
character Of our rational obligations. and
ic ilerllliy and inyalidity of the rebel
i'-ld, and ot amy compensation for the
SLAVES who have been freed. admit of no
,loui'i IL sound propositions IN themselves
The only question that can he made upon
!!I,ln ! ihe propriety or necessity of in
cooperating them into the fundamental
law For mv-clf. think that although
the. ln.ly nm Il certain scloe he said 10 Toe
inattcl'- UI a temporary character, still
they involve Interests OF such immense
magniiuie that il X proper they should be
settled In The most solemn and enduring
mIole ami thai their incorporation into
the constitution viii save disputes and
wr.in-linG hereafter.
Air President. il has been said that all
ilg-e proposed amendments. ;is a whole.
IL =. General plan Tor the restoration OF
,hc.-, ~ialeS, Mil no: bc acceptable 10 them
AMI iiiai il.y aill mot adopt them, or at
least iheT wiil noi do il willingly; and if
iilcy 4 loln ilicm a; all il wall only be uh-
,l..r 4 linl of ,-orr,-ion and because they
,-.,i:l,i o.iyrwi~e ni'l.lin what they seek
.aspl tia. ygc i.:tve no right 10 secure even
nrs,.,,r s.lalr. llla,-ili> in that WAY.
/: -.-i.l- Ia IA, iii;li this plan. a. whole,
AMI i,ri,e:s,.ily,. that ii cannot tail TO COM
ri,,-''-; i;-i Tia People ui Iii,--, states -
lllai they wi,l readily and freely give it
li,,ir >,,ici..l- iiui- SIR ifit I've true that
iilcy ar. mri satisfied with IL and will on
lv :;'iaI'; j. /, >,'r1lrc ilirir return TO share
IA lha li:lii,.,a:sl power | ann - well satiS-
ici that ihi> plan contains nothing but
what yye iilrr Ihe right To insist on. and
which iu>;l''e Ia The nation requires. that
should t-.I no hesitation IN saving kind
: H. i1l. firmly. .-you mu>t acquieSce in
iil,.-e :lln,n,lln,illS before we will permit
yoI io lake part in the administration of
ii.e .c,'icral government" There Is mo-
;hiu. n.w IN ihi-, either, Did these
>;,,:,@ Icceld tie amendment aboliSlling
. >lay-rr WILLINGLY rnuch mere impor-
= ;;s3.i ln:iii,r Ia sil,'m than ANYTHING con-
l,.n.~i ln The Propositions! Did they
. declare ill,ir ordinances of secession null
: ;.,l,! void or declare the rebel debt irral-
il willin-ly Ne know they did not.
ha; n,.iy ;',y=lsl-e ihe president required it
oi Il.-iI- la, slnv ollc ever blamed the
pr,-i,ly:ii "r thought iic WAS unjust 10 the
>,u.h IN these regiirement>7 Ii the peo-
: PIE oi TIA nation. through their represen-
i;.,i,e>. I.eliest that something more should
/ ju-.iy H. required, they haze the equal
ri.lll .,ni should exercise The power TO dc
lnanL IL
: " should no. exercise our bower 10
make any unju-; demand, but what is
iu-t :iad ri iriIi 10 exact We should be want
i:.g in our duly If W, failed to have
r done.
-ig- l'r~il,:.i, il l. matter of great
satisfaction 10 M tia: al last, after so
lGuci anl - anxious Jelil,cr;ation, il ap-
p,.irs - nroislble that congre>s will be
: aide 10 Present a plan upon which the
, requisite nlaiorili,> ot both houses will be
= ;li..e 10 :sgrec, ami specially when rs "A
whole tli- plan commend- itself to my own
judgment ol what l. right
Ii Is known that some differences of
: oi,inion hare exi,icl between congress
airl iilc executive on This subject
Ia t;r,5.ii differences lave existed among
ourselves many opinions have had TO
: yi-li Ia enable u 10 :igroe upon a plan
, /. w ;ire ~ fortunate. a. | trust We shall
: To- 10 pas ihcse propositions 10y the req
: Gi-.ic majoriii,-, although they may not
: IN All respects correspond with the views
{ oi tl3e president ! heliere he will feel it
+ 10 l'e hiS patriotic duty 10 acquiesoe in the
IA plan proposed and give his powerful in
: iin'no ''nd support 10 procure their adop-
. iin'- We arc ali aiming Al the same