Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-07-17

| Obviously. it was not for the Executive, but
for the Legislative. The President commands
as Chief of the army that
function was his but he could not make
States or Constitutions, determine how
States and Constitutions should be made.
All that he did to this end was gross usurpa
ton, aggravated by the motives and the con-
sequences of his conduct. Unquestionably
the jurisdiction was in Congress and l shall
never cease to lament that it was not asserted
promptly and courageously. Our delay has
postponed the establishment of peace and
reconciliation. Much as the President has
erred, Congress has not been without its er-
rors also The President erred from assum
ing powers which did not belong to him
Congress erred from declining to assume
powers which belonged to it The sins OF
the President were of omission the Presi-
dent did those things he ought not to have
done Congress left undOne the things it
ought to have done. In the exercise OF un-
questionable jurisdiction Congress should at
once have provided civil government, through
whose influence and agencies the rebel states
might have been shaped into Republican
forms. Such proceeding would have been
made Constitutional. and more according to
the genius of our institutions, than that
a military government, born Of military
power, with the true idea of Il Republic.
Tardly-too tardily-Congresse entered upon
the work, and then began hesitatiOns of an
other character. Even when it assumed ju
risdicton it halted. For long time it
fused to confer the suffrage upon the colored
race At last this was done Then it re-
fused to exclude rebels from the work of
reconstruction and when at last It attempted
something its rule of exclusion little
certain that an ingenious lawyer, by a writ
ten opinion, set it aside. There have been
bills, with riders, and after the passage of
these bills there has been a supplementary
bill with riders, and still further legislation
is needed. Surely these successive failures
have their lesson. They admonish us how
to make thorough work. If you Will not cs
tablish civil governments with the military
power simply support, then at least do
not hesitate to vacate the existing govern
ments. which are so many roots or centres of
sedtion. All the officers of these govern
mcnts, from the highest TO the lowest, exer-
else an influence aversc to a Just Reconstruc-
ton. They increase the essential difficulties
Of forming new governments. Through their
influence hostile influence is engendered
and sustained Such an obstacle should be
removed. At the same time be careful that
rebel influences are not allowed to prevail in
the formation Of new governments. OF course
this can only be done by excluding rebels du
ring the transition period, and until the new
governments are formed. The strict exclu
sion may be properly changed when loyal and
Republican governments have been estab-
lished. Ny attention has already been called
to cases deserving attention for instance
there are naturalizcd citizens who have tax
en- an oath to support the Constitution and
afterwards become rebels. But they are not
excluded. There are cadets at military and
naval academies, persons who have contrlbu-
ted to rebel loans or invested money in reb-
81 bonds or securities, contractors who fur
nished rebels supplies, also persons who a.
authors, publishers, editors, contractors or
who a. speakers or preachers encouraged the
secession Of any state or the waring Of war
against the United States Considering what
we hear with regard to the Board Of Regis
tratiOn-that in some states they are Of doubt
ful principles that in some Of the states
cOlorcd persons are excluded, 50 that n large
proportion Of voters have no representatives
in the boards-it seem to me that we ought
BY positive words To provide that the Boards
should be constituted without distinction Of
color. Colored persons may be chosen to
Offices and | cannot doubt that shall
soon welcome colorcd senators and rcpresen-
tatiycs to the national capitol. Meanwhile
the Boards Of Registration must be kept a.
open "a these chambers. and no commanding
general must he allowed to set up rule
ayerse to the rights of 4 race. y system of
public schools, without distinction Of color,
should BE- required. This important duty
mast not be left to caprice to the triumph
OF truth through local influences. Its per-
formance should be enforced as essential to
Republican government in these states. You
have required suffrage for all you should
should require also education for all. Pro-
visions should he made 70 invalidatc the de
crees of courts in rebel states which have not
been voluntarily executed. This Is ncccs-
sary for the protection Of loyal persons.
Look. for instance, at Texas, where, according
to recent reports, immense sums have been
taken 10y unjust DEGREES of courts if the
remedy is not applied now. it is doubtful if
the opportunity viii not be lost forever In
submitting the Constitution to the people
for adoption. it seems TO me advisable that it
should not be completed by any election Of
officers. State or National. until after the APP
prevail of the Constitution BY Congress.
There should also he penalties provided for
the violation Of the Act. The pardon Of the
President must not be allowed u confer a title
70 vote and since officials have shown such
a disposition to impair the efficacy of an Act,
by Interpretation reducing it to mere shad-
ow, we ought u provide that it shall be in
terpreted literally. In making these propo-
sitions ask that you should not hesitate
simply because they may not be embraced
within the terms OF the original acts. lot
us now do all we can to make this measure
ofReconstruction just and beneficial. | know
no other rule worthy the Senate or adequate
to the occasion.