Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-08-28
Political.
RECONsTRUCTIoN.

injurious effects Of the opposition these men are
making 20 this rclicy, TO be found in an official
communicate rom General Pope TO General
Grant. dated .il-ai md just published. We
have space only i1r a synopsis Of It's contents to-
geiher with "a few exir. O.. showing the manner in
which General Pope Nis treated this important
subject
lie first singles out toe case Of freshly par
dohed rebel politician, Mr. b II. Hill, late a
senator from Georgia in the rebel Congress and
one OF the most persistent and bitter enemies Of
the reconstruction act iu che staie lie takes Mr..
Hill as the type Of the class TO which Governor
Perry. Of South Carolina, and llerschel V. John
son of Georgia, belong. These men, says
General Pope, care the representatives. OF large
and powerful element bent on reaction. and they
have been Ia tho habit OF controlling the southern
whites" IL would not be difficult. he says, 70 find
abundant causes FOR sencing them for their v.o-
lent speeches, but no reconstruction can be sat
isactory or at ali reliable to future results,
less these men permitted 10 discuss openly and
according TO their nature the issues presented. II
they still retain influence enough with the masses
Of the whites at the South 10 enable them by ac-
tive efforts 70 defeat reconstruction under the late
act of Congress- 10 is better that the country should
know IL before than after the rcadmission OF the
southern states into the Unon.n
lie thinks that Congress was wise in enacting
the disabling clause OF the Reconstruction Act,
which enables the people TO discuss freely the
great ISSUES UINuHut hfioIt tufhif WiNiNub tut
pressure or the personal influence their old lead
ers would have over them. " lt would have been
still better he says. 10 enforce their absence
from the country" lie continues -
" These di,irAnchised persons include, general
Is. the whole army of those who now hold or have
hitherto held office. With few exceptions, all
these persons were active rebels, and are bitterly
opposed TO reconstruction under the acts Of Con-
gress--opposed, ia fact to any reconstruction
whatever, except such would leave them in pre-
cisely the same political condition il there had
been no rebellion and no war. Even such re-
construction this they would only accept as a
necessity Of the situation, with the purpose 90 re-
new in Congress and pepetuate among them
selves as nearly as possible, the same conditions
which existed before the With these reac-
tionists dominant ia the South, freedom of speech
and of the press will not even exist lu name. The
Union men, aud even those who were secessionists
but have advocate reconstruction under the late
acts Of Congress, would find no peace aud no pro-
lection i'm the states. The last condition Of the
freedmen would be worse than the first"
Unless the victory OF right political principles
should be Openly and fairly won and very deci-
siye in its results, II may prove not only truteas
but absolutely destructive lie says further:-
Once admitted into the Union, the power Of
Congress over them IL reduced practically to the
general power which that body has over all states
iu the Uuion. By admitting these southern states
after siencing the old political leaders, aud neu-
tralizing for the moment old political influences,
Congress and the people disarm themselves. The
moment admission into the Union is accomplished.
the military power is suspended, and without all
restrictions are removed at once, these Old pohti-
cal leaders aud the old political and personal in
fuences will resume their activity, and W. may
iud too late that such reconstruction as we have
is not only not what is needed and expected. but
what will simply result in a reproduction OF ihe
same condition Of Affairs which made recoustrne-
ton measures necessary at all. Freedom OF
speech and of the press education. equality before
the law and ia political rights and privileges aye
the essentials Of any satisfactory reconstruction ia
the South Without securing these we have Sc
cured nothing
How can we know that reconstruction will ac-
cOmplish these results unless we know IN advance
the strength and power OF those who oppose it T!
Reaction is certain unless the reconstruction party
can win the battle by decisive majorites over all
the elements which oppose it, lett to develop
themselves and apply their iull force 70 the contest
II the reacjoniss thus LETT free defeat such re-
construction this, we then know what to do
what. in fact, we must do ii We desire to perpetu-
ate free institutions. IL is best to know all these
things before readmissou into the Union Is grant
ed 1t will be too late 10 learn them afterwards
Now is the time, and this is the opportunity tc
. complete this work that t will stand. Every
dictate of wisdom and patriotism demands TIM
work at hands, II bastilly or pntia ly dou'
reconstruction will drag with it train Of evils to
= this country which can never be remedied.
- 1t is not necessary to say that however we re
strain the opposition parry now, the moment re-
constructions Is accomplished this party will regain
its activity, aud ought to know in advance
whether it possesses the power to undo what we
thought we had done. do not mean to intimate
that 1t would be possible to re-establish slavery
! perhaps it would not even be practicable to TAXI
from the freedmen the right of suffrage, thougi
this latter is doubtful, These politicians are will
aud sagacous. They will make no laws which arr
not equal on their face to all men. IL Is in th'
execution Of these laws, which seem to bear equal
ly on ALL that wrong will be done, and condt
ton OF things produced which bears no resein
, blance to free government, except in name. So
cal exclusion, withdrawal OF business relations
open exhibition of hostility not, indeed, actua
hostile acts-ut eruption of or interference wltl
the lreedmen's snd other schools maintained bl
q charitable contributions from the North-thes'
!, will be the weapons used against Union men anC
the colored race. Acts Of wrong aud violence
will meet no sufficient redress-It, indeed. any re
e dress at all-in the courts These acts whicl
cannot be reached by the general government, am
yet which quietly and silently render justice i'm
possible, aud establish discrimination az ainst elias
c ses or color, odious and unbearable."
e The letter closes with cheerful prophesy as T.
the victory OF loyal principles in the ensuing elec
tons within his district. He is confident tha
. Alabama will give not less than ten thousand ma
7 iorty of the votes cast by white men, for recon
n struction, and that similar results may he eXpecte
T. in Georgia and Florida. Previously, however, /
this allusion to the political prospects, he discus
ses briefly an important question, in the following
y paragraphs -
e Another question ought TO be, aud probabl
will be, decided in the course Of the coming can
vass for aud against convention. That questio
is this Have the sluggshness of mind aud bod
and the tendency to assail by violence the right
= opinion and discussion, engendered by habits aS
Is qured during the eXstenee of slavery aud the sy
TEN of politics in the South, untitled the peopl
for such sell-goyernmeut as is implied hy fire.
y speech, free press, and the fullest peaeeable din
re cussion OF all past questions? This is most in
portant question, aud one which, if answered
the light OF existing facts, must be answered ~
j. fayollbly. Not only do the reactionary ant-r,
constructionists all the instrumeutal,ties ha,
J. named, except such they art restrained frol
N using by the military authorities but there is litt
N doubt that they would resort at 10 the intim
dation aud violence which long practice has mad
' a habit if they dared 10 do so in the presence
DC the military forces of the United States CandC
a. compels to say that this tendency to repre-
freedom of speech is not confined 10 either part.
m but prevails, though to a much less extent, anon
nj the reconstructioniss, whether they have been
ways Union men or have lately joined the ranl
of the reconstruction party IL becomes the go
st ernment of the United States to frown upon SUI
n measures, by whatever party exercised and no r