The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1867-12-10

II republican government in the ten
States to which they apply II binds
them hRud aud foot IN absolute slavery.
and subjects them to a strange and hos
tile power more unlimited and more
likely to be abused than any other now
known among civilized men. IL tram
pies down all those rights in which the
essence Of liberty consists, and which
free government is always moro careful
to protect II donies tho habeas cor-
pus and tho trial by jury Personal
freedom property and life. II assailed by
the passion, the prejudice or the rapao-
ity OF the ruler, have no security what
ever Il has tho effect Of bin Of at
taindoa or bill Of pains and penalties,
not upon few individuals but upon
whole masses, including the millions
who inhabit the subjugated States, and
even their unborn children. These
wrongs being expressly forbidden cannot
be constitutionally inflicted upon any
portion of our people, no matter whoth.
or they live in States, Territories or
districts. ! have no desire 10 save
from the proper AMI just consequences
Of their great crimes those who engag-
ed in the rebellion against the Govern
ment, but as mode Of punishment the
measures under consideration are the
most unreasonable that could be invent
ed. Many OF these people are perfect
ly innocent; many kept their fidelity TO
the Union untainted 10 the last many
We're incapable of any legal offence; aud
a large proportion even of the persons
able to bear arms were forced into the
rebellion against their will, and OF those
who are guilty with their own consent,
the degrees OF guilt are as different as
various as the shades Of their character
and temper. But these acts OF Con-
gress confound them all together in
common doom. Indiscriminate ven
gance upon all classes, sects and par
ties, or upon whole communities, for
ofienses committed by portion of
them against the Government to which
they owed obedience,swas common in
the barbarous ages Of tho world. But
Christianity and civilization have made
such progress that resources to pun
ishment SO cruel and unjust would
meet with the condemnation of oil un-
prejudiced and right-minded men. The
punitive justice OF this age and especial
ly of this country, does not consist in
stripping whole States Of their Liberties
and reducing all their people, without
distinction. to the condition Of slavery.
IL deals separately with each individual
confines itself to The forms oflaw, and
vindicates its own purity by an impair
tial examination OF every case before q
competent and judicial tribunal. if
this does not satisfy all our desires with
regard to Southern robels let us con-
sole our selves by rejecting that FREQ
Constitution triumphant in war and un-
broken in peace is worth far moro to ms
and our children than the qualification
of any present feeling. / am aware it is
assumed that this system Of govern
ment for the Southern States is not to
be perpetual. 1t is true this military
government is to be only provisional,
but it is thro' this temporary evil that
a greater evil is to be made perpetual
If the guara ntees of the Constitution
can be broken professionally to servo q
temporary purpose, and in part only
Of the country, we can destroy them
everywhere and for all time: arbitrary
measures often change, but they gen
orally change for the worse. It is the
curse Of despotism that it has no halt
ing place; the intermitted exercise OF
its power brings no sense OF security To
its subjects, for they can never know
what more they will be called TO enure
when its red right hand is armed to
plague them again. Nor is it possible
to conjecture how or where power, un-
restrained by law, may seek its next
vsctim. The States that are still free
may be enslaved at any moment, for il
the Constitution does not protect all, il
protects none
NEGRO SUFFRAGE
1t is manifestly and avowedly the OBJ
ject Of this law TO confer upon negroes
the privilege of voting, and to disran.
chise such q number of white citizens
as will give the former clear majority
at all the elections in the Southern
States. This, to the minds OF some per.
SONS, is SO important that violation oi
the Constitution is justified as q meant
OF bringing it about. The majority il
always false which excuses q wrong be
cause it proposes TO accomplish desi.
rable end. We are not permitted TO d.
evil that good may come. But in thil
case the end itself is evil as well as tn,
means. The subjugation Of tho States
to negro domination would be wors'
than the military despotism under which
they are now suffering. Itwas belieyeC
beforehand that the people would en-
dure any amount Of military oppression
for any length Of time rather than de
grade themselves by subjection 10 th,
negro race. Therefore they have beer
left without choice. Negro suffrage
was established by act OF Congress ant
the military officers were commanded
TO supsrintend the process Of clothing
the negro race with the political priyil
ege torn from white men. The blacks
in the South are entitled TO be well and
/ humanely governed and to have the
protection Of Just lawsfor all their right
/ af ,...s.. anA Tf "A