Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-05-15

THE POLITICAL NECESSITIES OF TIN
SOt1TH

week =
My DEAR Sra. - You will remember our
conversation at our last meeting, regarding the
opportunities we Of the North now have to do
good to our countrymen Of the South. Every
step take, everything / see and hear, confirms
the views | then expressed. Opportunities and
duties 20 together. Opportunities invite to
actions and duties bid MS TO act and IL will be a
source of regret in coming years If we Of the loyal
states fail now TO improve these opportunities,
and to perform these duties. Never did men
inspired by patriotism, liberty, Justice, humanity
and religion, have before them field Of labor SO
inviting. In this field Of action which God in
HIS providence has opened to us, the loving heart,
the tender conscience and the enlightened reason
can work out great results for the country, for
humanity and for God
Congress having laid down the conditions Of
final settlement, those conditions will be accepted
IL is of vital importance that these states shonld
pass into the control OF men who for the unity
of the republic impartial freedom, equality Of
rights and privileges in law aud IN fact, for the
education vt the people. and for their Improvement
and elevation. We of tho North have won IN the
field, have won in the puhlic councils Ideas,
principles and policies which deem vital TO the
country are embodied in the conditions we have
required our cuuntrymen Of the South to adopt
We have sought not 10 dishonor or degrade any
but to protect and ii NJ the oppressed, the poor,
the dependent. The long contest Of Justice in
a..
conflict with avarce ana uppression, M the words
Of jefferson, is over The passions, prcjudices
and bitter memories engendered by the great
struggle should he forgotten in this day Of our
triumph. In the long conflict Of ideas it was duty
TO country, to man and to Cod to meet the men
Of the South front to front, face to face When
war came, it duty TO demand its vigorous
prosecution When hostilities ceased, 1t was the
highest duty ever imposed upon US to see that the
people we had made free in name should be free
in iact-that they should be citizens, with equality
OF rights and privileges. That great duty has
been performed by the adoption OF terms and
conditions that will be complied with.
Now, a noble work may be accomplished by the
people Of the North, who have saved the country
and the cause Of liberty That work can only be
accomplished by the PRONUNCIATION Of truth with
inilcNble ilrmness, but in love, charity and
patience. This people, am sure, need that the
causes Of the rebellion the responsibilities of the
rebellion, and the results of the rebellion, should
be presented to them from the standpoint of truth
in the spirit Of kindness. They have been, and
continue TO be fooled to their cost. 1t is said
John Quincy Adams, among the evils Of slavery
that II tants the very sources OF moral principle,
- estabshes false estimates of virtue and vice,
"perverts human reason Slavery did It's perfect
work amoDg~o sour couutrymcn Of the South, and
the truth in all its integrity proclaimed in loving
kindness, can alone restore this perverted human
reason Efforts to advance the cause of national
unity, of universal freedom and equality OF rights
aud privileges. Of impartial justice, Of education
for all races and Of general progress, will be met
with opposition from those who mourn over the
lost cause or by GOODNESS, Indifference or
contempt. But if our people are firm, persistent,
patient, torbearng, we can achieve a great work,
which patriotism, humanity and religion will
approve.
deem IL Of vital importance to have the issues
clearly defined and sharply drawn between unity
and secession, loyalty and disloyalty, liberty and
slavery, equality md privilege, education and
ignorance lac good Of the country and the
Interests - the rebel states imperatiyely demand
that these issues should be made at once, and that
men should 60 where their principles lead The
ever-lOy al men, ninc-tenths of the freedmen, many
compromised 10y the Tebolion-wiih il, but not OF
it--and some repentant rebels, will act together,
standing square on the platform Of the Union
republican party. The secessionists evidently fear
and dread contest in which they already see that
they must go down where their lost cause has
gone. If the friends OF the country emancipation,
civil rights, suffrage and education will aid in
speakers, workers, papers and means of informa-
ton, am more confident than ever that these
states will send true men to Congress, and put
progressive men in control Of their affairs They
can do it II they will work. This is not mere
partisan work. Every thoughtful man who sees
the condition OF these states, VINO comprehends
the pressing needs Of this people, who wishes to
see peace, law, order, prosperity and iraternal
affection prevail, and our country become the
leading Christian nation of the globe, may
contribute 10 advance this work Northern
capital is needed to develop the material interests
oi tteso states and make the wasted fields bloom
again. Northern labor is required 10 enlighten
and instruct. The Christian people OF the North,
whose arms have triumphed and whose ideas have
conquered have now a glorious opportunity by
the blessing Of God TO confer lasting benefits
upon these states and this people ! tIust they
VIII hail and improve 1t.
Ever yours, Henry Wilson.
Ga HE 18th Of February 1866, the legislature
Of Louisiana passed an act requiring a residence
OF five years in the city of Now Orleans as one of
the qualifications for policeman it that city
HE following extract from AN order of General
Sheridan, dated May 3 1867, viii show what that
officer thinks of the law and its workings Hay-
ing quoted the act rcierred to, The order says
The object Of this act was to exclude ex- Union
soldiers from the police force Of this city Il was
faithfully carried out by the newly elected mayor
John T. Monroe. and every ex-Uuon soldier dis
charged to make room for those Of rebelious ante
cedcnts.
To annu this unjust prescription, SO much of
the above act as requires residence OF five years
is hereby suspended, and a residence qualification
of two years adopted.
The mayor of this city, Edward Heath, is
hereby directed to adjust the present police force
that at least one-half of said force shall be com
posed of eN-Union soldiers, and all acts and ord-
nances, State or municipal, in the way of this
adjustment, will be disregariedn
This action OF General Sheridan is exceedingly
grateful to the Union men of New Orleans but it
will probably furnish anew text to certain northern
papers for sermons on military despotism.
Evidence is published to show that the govern
ment bad nothing 10 do with the pardon broker
age business, and did not tolerate it, although
great deal of it has unquestionably been done -
Some time ago acting secretary of state, Mr.
Seward, addressed letter to Randall Hunt, New
Orleans, informing him, in reply TO an inquiry,
that the department cannot recognize even indi-
rectly or by implication an attorneys interest in
pardon. In another letter TO citizen of Alabama
MIR. Seward says there is no officer of the govern
ment who is authorized to procure pardons or
charge for doing it and a letter to w. W Downs
OF Texas, of whom $500 was demanded for his
pardon, told him not TO pay it, and inclosed d,I-
plcate copy OF the pardon
Tue SHOOTING or A u. S. OFPIcnR IN KIN
IUcKY.--Ihe telegraph few DAYS ago reported
that detachment of u. S,troops sent to Nicho-
lasyllle, Ky, to make some arrests, were fired
upon and the officer in command seriously wound /
ed. We Gnd full particulars of the affair in Lex
ington (ky.) correspondence of the Cincinnati /
Gazette, from which it appeals that the officer
shot was Col James III Rice of Boston Assistant