The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-03-12

public peace and criminals, and to enable
them TO perform this duty they may allow
the local civil tribunals 10 take jurisdic-
ton Of and Try offenders, or when they
deem it necessary for the purposes of jus
tice they may organize military commis-
sicn or tribunals for that purpose; and
provides further that all interference un-
der color OF state authority with the cz-
ercise Of military authority under the act
shall be null and void Hence, sir il
will be seen that under this b.ll the State
governments in tho rebellious districts ara
simply permissive so far as the administrs4
ton Of justice is concerned. When under
Wholesome laws the rights Of persons and
property are properly protected by tho
local courts military power does not inter
tere, but when the loyal man, black or
white, is not protected il all !is rights,
either by reason Of unjust laws or dirlgynl
public sentiment, then the officer in COM
mand erecIs his military court and admin
isters even justice to all; and so, sir, it
seems TO me that during the period of
military occupation under the bill ample
provisions and safeguards are established
for the protection of the persons, property,
and rights of loyal citizens, and that un-
der no circumstances if the provisions Of
the bill are faithfully executed can rebel
supremacy or rebel malignity tralxple
upon tho rights of the loyal.
Such, sir, is my answer to the first
objection to the Senate amendment. 1t
is, however, further objected that under
the provision Of the fifth section suffrage
and amnesty are granted TO the leading
rebels. Sir, if | so regarded it wonld
oppose the measure; for never. never.
until there have been many works meet
for repentance and growth in grace for
years, would permit one OF that wicked,
oath breaking class either TO hold an
office or to vote. But, sir, the bill is not
obnoxious to such criticism, AMI gentle
men who adopt such a construction are
in my judgment mistaken. 1t is true that
the fith section provides that when the
| people Of any one Of the rcbellious States
shall have formed constitution, &C.
| plainly implying that all male cit zens
over twenty one years of age may vote
for members of the convention by which
the constitution shall be framed; but,
,ir. does this grant suffrage to N! Not
at all sir. 1t simply grants TO all the
| right which has ever been held sacred in
this country-alike to the innocent AMI
the guity-nanely, the right Of petition.
1t neither directly or by implication grants
suffrage or amnesty 10 leading rebels.
Still sir will favor an amendment, if
gentlemen consider such an amendment
important, providing that no person dis
qualified from holding office under tho
third section Of the proposed constitutional
amendment shall vote for members of the
convention elected to form the State con-
stitution
Now, Mr.. Speaker, think I have
shown that under the military provisions
of this bill we secure protection to all the
loyal people and the question now arises
as to whether the bill provides a plan or
platform whereby the insurgent States
may return to their allegiance and prac-
tical restoration TO the Union upon condl-
ton that are Just to them and safe for
ourselves. think it does 1t provides
that the State constitution shall be in con
formity with the Constitution OF the
United States in all respects; that it shall
be ratified by majority Of the male
citizens OF the State, twenty one years oil
and upward. Of whatever race. color, or
previous condition Of scr,itudc, who have
been resident of the State for one year
previous to voting upon the question of
ratitying such constitution, except they
may be di>tranchised for participating in
the rebellion or for felony; that the elec-
tive franchise shall be guaranteed to the
black man as well as TO the white man;
that the constitution shall be submitted to
Congress for examination and approval;
that the Legislature elected under tho
constitution shall adopt the proposed con-
stitutional amendment, and that slid
proposed amendment shall have become II
part OF the Constitution of the United
States before any Of said States shall be
restored to the Union and become enti-
tied TO representation in Congress and
that until all these conditions precedent
are complied with, the military arm of
the Government shall be charged with
the protection of the person and property
of every loyal citizen.
The bill secures universal suffrage on
the one hand, and on the other prevent.
any person from holding any office, civil
or military, State or Federal, who in the
exercise Of any prominent office had taken
the oath 10 support the Constitution Of
the United States and then engage in re-
bcllion or given aid or comfort thereto.
The future safety of the country demands
all these guarantees, and if they are ac-
cepted by the rebollous States, fraternity
will follow and the future of the South
will ua as bright and glorious as her past
has been wicked and oppressive.
A .Goop THlNC.-A California man
has been reading in n scientific journal an
account OF curious and recent invention
] : .tol,o ..