Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-12-11
Our Washington Correspondence.
The Message-Mr. Edmunds' Speech Othe'
Speeches-Finonce and Impeachment-In
difference.
WASHINGTON ID. c, Dec. 6, Is
THE MESSAGE.


Mr. EDITOR The Presidents message
has doubtless been read and pondered by all
your readers, that they all have better
idea of it than | could be permitted to give.
1t was received on Tuesday last, having been
previously published in all the principal
cities throughout the country by all those
papers which were willing to pay enough
for it. Thus was an insult attempted to be
given to Congress al the very first, entirely
outside of the subject matter, by anticipating
the delivery of it to Congress in publishing
it to the people, and by selling it publicly
almost, to the highest bidder. 1t is a docu-
ment Of 2 eat interest in many particulars,
and apart from it's official character is highly
amusing an invectiye against Republican
ideas and Congressional measures 1t is
asserted that Mr.. johnson was not the author
of it, some giving the honor to Jerry Black
and others to Attorney General Stanbery
W hoover wrote it. however, seems to have
been fully imbued with Mr.. Johnson : spirit
and though little more sparing in his
sweeping platitudes, excels anything ever
known before for insOlence satire and bold
ness. The spirit of hatred for Congressional
reconstruction is shown to be undiminished.
and his determination to resist by force any
proceeding he dislikcs is very alarming
His bold assertions in regard to the military
bill and his contemplate impugning of the
motives of those who passed it, are only fit
to come from such man, who, utterly de-
void of any sef-respect, seeks to bring the
peoples chosen representatives on level
with himself.
Had he known what was going on under
the sanction of that same bill, and how the
states were pressing on towards a final and
happy reconstruction, 1t hardly seems as if
he could have had the impudence to have
written such things. AS is usual in regard
to his assertions, the one that the Southern
states would be negro states is utterly false
To be sure, the negroes are the most loyal
and true men there, and yet they do not
seem to desire to thrust themselves forward
in the reconstructing process. Already the
convention in Alabama has sat several DAYS
and nearly closed its work. OF this con
vention a gentleman wrote, it " is a fine
body of men. l was greatly surprised on
entering the capitol and finding SO creditable
a representation of the radical party.
may say that it will compare favorably with
any body of men have ever seem So
much for the ignorance and reputed weak
ness of the loyal white element in the rebel
states. g There are eighteen colored dele
gates out of one hundred. This does not
look much like negro supremacy The
business of the convention is conducted with
great harmony and the kindest spirit pre-
vails.'' So much for Alabama, where the
bugbear negro supremacy is greater than in
any other state except South Carolina. They
will soon have good constitution and their
representatives, who will all have the recon-
mendation of being loyal, be admitted to
Congress.
| In Georgia, the convention has very few
colored men in it, and they were elected only
because there was great difficulty in finding
loyal white men who were willing to engage
in the work of reconstruction, and courageous
enough to be candidates
In North Carolina the large majority of
the voters are white, and some sections of the
state have a very small number of colored
residents.
In Louisiana, also, the convention is IN
session, and although now opposed by all
the power of the Executive and Military,
eloS. eselng toward favorable result Th.