Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-05-31

TIE Union Republican Congressional Com
mittee have issued an addressfto the Sou;h,
which Is to be widely circulated in the
Southern States. and II Is TO ne hoped viii
have a good effect there.
The address, which is brief, i understood
to have been written by ex-Gov- Boutwell,.
o. Massachusetts. Itopens by declaring that
the Reconstruction Acts (coples Of vi ich are
appended to the address, were designed as
measures Of bencfcence and restoration, and
not Of revenge and punishment. Ii states
that the nation cannot hesitate at once to
freely concede 70 the colOred race every
political and public right that is enjoyed by
any class of citizens, and that the negroes on
their side cannot hesitate to support lhe
party and principles by whose labors and in
huence their redemption has teen accom-
plished.
1t proceeds, and closes, as follows:
For more than TWO hundred years tue slave
holding aristocrscy Of the South originated it's
policy ami controlled its destnies. The result
Is sen IN its exhausted and barren fields ID
the condition of iss laboring people, white anu
black IN the relative poverty OF the inhabi.
tAnts Of all classes ; IN the absence Of public
schools oT commerce. Of manufacture, and Of an
enlightened system OF agriculture. We then
earnestly invite aud mAp.ore the people Of the
South, OF all ciaSses-frs', 10 accept the plan Of
Uniye sal suffrage as the basis OF political, eiu-
cstional, and industrial prosperity and power.
b..
u the State a citizen than he vas az a slave.
The isborer, whether black or white, with eiu-
cation and culture, will elevate and enrich the
community which in his ignorance he dishonor-
Ell and burjeued. Secondly, upon the basis Of
universal suffrage, We urge the people OF the
South 10 direct their efforts 10 the establishment
! and maintenance Of a system Of public schools
Tor the education Of the children Of all classes
Finally, public policy should stimulate the la
| boring people to become landholders The
owners Of large estates should divide and sub
divide their lands, and sell them at reasonable
| rates 10 those who need them aud who can i'm
prove them In the South there Is land enough
Tor all, and all who desire should be permitted
to obtain homes This IL human common
/ right, which cannot be denied with safety to
society.
| In these measures cf justice We expect and
shall welcome the aid OF many who formerly
were slAyeholders, and participated in the rebel
I hon By the acts herewith presented i; will be
seen that Congress reserves 10 Itself the fIll and
unrestricted right o. judgment whenever State
| presents itself Tor admission mo the Union.
That right vii be exercised fairly and generous
| ly. But yet, IN the interest Of peace aud
/ loyalty. certain conditions and precedents are
I laid down III laws. These must be met But
! beyond these conditions Congress must be salts
lied alec thai the people Of the proposed States
respectively are, ami are likely 10 be. loyal 10
Union, oy decisive AMI Trustworthy mai0rities
that the Institutions are framed upon the bass
OF equality, and thar they viii from year 10 yeSr,
and from age 10 age, contribute 10 the peace,
progress AID prosperity Of the States and Of the
country. II the people Of the states lately in
rebellion shall cheeriu.ly and IN good faith re-
coguiza thtir governments upon the principles
OF The laws passed by Congress, there will then
remain no causes OF difference between various
sections ol country. The Republican party is
hostile to slavery and opposed to it's spirit and
purposes. II the spirit OF slavery lie permitted 10
control the institutions and civilization Of the
South, there can be no restoration Of the Union
IL fact, if there should be in name
The restoration OF the Union means the esta-
bhshment Of those relations Of friendship be-
tween the States Of the North and the South
which now exists between the States Of the 7
North. When that moment arrives, as it will /
soon arrive, if the purposes Of Congress are met .
in proper spirit by the people Of the South, .
the nation will ST once employ its immense re-
sources and power for the development of that .
region Of country, and in short period of time,
not only will the evidences Of war have dissp-
peared, but re-orgsnized States will be in the
enjoyment of degree Of prosperity not before
experienced There can be restoration, concili-
aiion, friendship aud prosperity for all if the
states lately in rebellion rebuild their institu-
tons upon principles of justice but if they
dwell upon the past, revive and strengthen the