Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-01-30
what 10 % be Done


The decisions of the Supreme Court just
given, whether right or wrong, leave but one
course open for Congress and the people, and
that 10. continued political supremacy in the
country. There will be some way of securing
Justice and guaranteeing equal rights through
administered BY persons who love justice and
will insist on equal rights. II they are not
thus administered, justice and equal rights
will be denied, whatever may be the political
complexion of the courts. A court may help
. wicked executive in an attempted usurpa-
ton, but it can do little to hinder him and
it may help . righteous executive in securing
equal and exact justic, to all men, but 1t can
D little to prevent him from such use of his
power. The recent decisions of the court ap-
parently strengthen the President and the reb-
els but this is more apparent than real. With
johnson in the executive Office, a contrary
decision would have aided justice but little.
1t emboldens both the President and the reb
els, but il really adds little to their strength.
1t the Republican party remains in power,
and uses that power to the utmost constitu-
tional limit in favor of the rights of man, it
will surely secure those rights. and IN legal
and constitutional way. There is more than
one road 10 tina, consu nmation, and when one
is hedged up another must be tried. Grant
found the way to Richmond difficult, but he
finally reached the heart of the rebe lion, and
We may find the way to equal justice hedged
up with unforeseen obstacles, but we shall yet
secure equal rights to all men in this country
il We are wise enough to take advice of our
failures, and not run heads repeatedly
snd uselessly against the same obstacles.
Our constitution was made by AMI for reb-
els. Our fathers had seen the evils of an OPP
preasive military and absolute despotism, and
they rebelled against it; and while that op-
preston was fresh in their minds they took
care, in framing their constitution, to preserve
this country agains. a similar despotic govern
ment. They secured the largest liberty of
speech. They defined treason. They provid-
ed for the punishment of off.nces. They
guarded against all arbitrary use of power.
10 this they were undoubtedly wise; but
whether right or wrong in it, the fact and
their work remain. One of the recent decis-
ions of the court is unquestionaby fully in
accord with the cons,itu ton, and the other, if
not absolutely required by that instrument, is
yet quite in harmony with the free spirit OF
our institutions. We certainly prefer that
the court should err on the side of liberty
than of tyranny. 1t is better that the guilty
should Escape merited punishment, than that
the muniments Of liberty should be overthrown-
We shall rejoioe when test oaths go out OF
fashion. well as military tribunals. They
are both contrary to the spirit of repu blican
government.
But when We find our devices for Furnishing
rebels useless, what shall we resort to Not
to denouncing the court, for that kind of
scolding will be of little avail But let US
keep the bsIlot-box and our supremacy through
that. Let us fight less against past rebel
lion than against . present denial Of rights
to loyal men, Let MS work less to disfran-
chise traitors and more to enfranchise all men.
The court have just said, that even the sover-
eign State of Missouri has no right to put any
portion of Its citizens under a disability on
account Of treason to hold off ces of honor or
P.ess ~-A A. 49, ----s will asite HKeIy
decide, that a sovereign state cannot even dis
franchise q rebel. We should hardly be sorry
to such a decision, for, in its logic, we
should also find that man cannot be disfran-
chised for the blackness of his skin any more
than for the blackness of his crimes In par
rying the thrust against traitors, the court
have exposed the denial of equal rights in its
most vital part, and have invited Congress
ard the people to decree universal suffrage
Let Congress and the people improve the OPP
portonisy.
The work before Congress is simpli6ed. 1t
should at once declare, by solemn enactment,
that the presidential reconstruction of the
South is absolutely void, and the governments
in existence there illegal. Ifit had done this
one year ago, it would not have done it too
eoou, but it is not too late now. Ii should
also provide for the organization of govern
meuts in the revolted states, based upon i'm
partial suffrage. 1t has the right and the
power to do this, although it has weakened
itself and strengthened the executive greatly
by it's delay. Everything short Of this will
be time and legislation wasted, mere firing
blank cartridges in answer to the solid shot of
the executive.