Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-08-01
RUTLAND HERALD.
THURSDAY, JULY %, 1857.
The Last Veto.

The President has again seen proper
TO present in his veto OF the amended
reconstruction bill the old srgu'
ment upon the subject, spiced with lit
tie acrid sentiment as to military despot'
ism, as he calls is, sud declares that Con-
gress has subjected the South to tyr
amy the most intolerable. Does the his.
tory of Congressional Legislation upon
this subject sustain this declaration OF
the Executive? Let us review It's
course and ascertain whether Congress
has endeavored to create a military des-
potism, or evinced In any of its enact
meuts spirit that can be tortured into
, construction OF despotism. AT the
last session of the 39th Congress, that
body passed the Military Reconstruction
hills. The President vetoed them on the
positive ground that they made the Mil
itary Commander Supreme and absolute
over the people of the States lately in
rebellion. Congress acceded to his In
terpretation of the acts, and re-passed
them over his veto. The loyal people of
the Northern States cordially endorsed
them and that, too, much more heartily
than the people OF the South expected.
The progress of affairs, soon developed
the fact. that the sentiments OF loyalty,
would triumph in majority OF the
States to be reconstructed, and then the
decision of Attorney General stanberry
was promulgated, under the advice OF
the President, that the Military COM
msnders under these laws were mere
nolice officers, and subordinates to the
provisional Governments over which
they have been placed, and our army
under their command only q force to
carry out the DEGREES of the rebel Gov
errors. In this instance at least the
President nullifled the doctrines OF his
March Veto, and the people were unable
to comprehend the tenor OF such shift
Ing on the part of the National Execu-
tive.
The people under these circumstances
had no other resource but to appeal TO
Congress in which they had reposed
their confidence, to come together, and
they assembled from all parts OF the
country fastening to assume their legis-
latiye authority, to make such declara-
ton of the intent OF their legislation
that no legal officers OF the Government
could place false construction upon or
mystify it. Again it has been vetoed
and re- passed over the veto and become
q law which the President must faith
fully execute. After full examination
OF the history of the legislation and
Presidential acts upon this vexed ques
ton there is no disimilarity only that
Congress has made the black man free
man and given into his hands the sacred
right OF q ballot for protection. The
President during his administration has
declared that all civil governments had
been destroyed by the rebellion, with
ont the force OF positive law to sustsln
him, He made State governments SUB
ordinate to military power and provided
for calling State Conventions with nc
provision for their acts to be submitted
to the people, He also established
test oath. What more has Congress
done than this? Nothing, only that
Congress required the people to call con
ventions themselves, then submit theil
acts to the popular vote. Here Is the
only difference. The sum total OF the
difference after all when the history O
the acts of tie two parties are reviewed
side by side, are that with the President Z
plan and under his guidance in nearly
every State rebel power resumed its au
thority, but with the power which Con
gress has placed in the hands of the
Military Commanders, the loyal people
of the South will control the civil
governments and loyal reconstructed
Government will be the final result.