Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-06-19
guuttbmun y Stair JournaI.
BY E. p. WALTON
MoNTPELIER. JUNE 10. 1866.
VERMONT ON THE RECONSTRUCTION
QUESTION.

' LhNbNl ON lllh httONN l hlOllON
QUESTION.
We remarked, last week on the suggestion of
the Freeman that the confidence in the President
expressed by Republicans in 1865 encouraged him
to treachcry, that the Vermont Convention Of that
year was uniusty charged, because its platform
an Indictment to fidelity rather than an invitation to
trcachcry. For all who remember the resolutions
Of 1868 that reply was sufficient But few, proba-
bly, do remember the exact language and full inn
port Of those resolutions, and therefore now
print all touching President johnson and the
struction question. our reasons are both personal
and public personal to oursclf since the Conven
ton placed US ON the Committee ofrosolutions per-
sonal also to colleagues aud public to the
Convention which took The responsibility of adopt
ing the resolutions.
The resolutions these;
Resoirtd, That confding in the patriotism, integ-
rity and firm fidelity Of ANDREW JouNsoN to the
high trusts committed TO his hands tender TO
him generous sympathy In the delicate task of in
shutting measures tor organizing civil government
in the late rebellious States, whereby justice may
be established domestic tranquility restored aud
loyal citizens protected In all their rights Of liic
liberty and properyi and hearty support in all
measures tending to full and complete guar
antics for the future unity, peace and prosperity of
the country
Resoired That looking back to the happy expo
ricnce of our own state in extending the largest
liberty TO native natumlzed citizens of quiet and
peacoahlc behavior. irrespective of color or race,
and forward to the incstimablc blessings that will
flow to the slave States from free, industrious, in
tclgcnt, virtuous, peaccahlc and patriotic popula-
tion, we do respectfully and earnestly counsel the
people of those States To- blot forever from their
statutes all laws pertaining To the late condition OF
slavery, and to conccdc 10 all Of thcir native and
naturalilcd citizens by constitutional guaranty,
equality of civil and political rights leaving each
10 reach hls proper social position by the character
lac bears and the merit lac fairly wins isN
Resoir,d, That ON the failure of any reorganizcd
State Co give the guaranty named n The preceding
resolution we insist that Congress shall use all its
constitutional powers SD as to secure q Republican
government, both in form and essence, to the peo-
pie of such State.
1t thus appears that the confidence in the patriot
ism, integrity and fidelity Of the President was fol-
lowed and carefully guarded by the promise of sym
patty and support oniyn measures fit and ucccssa-
ny for the restoration OF the country to universal
liberty, unity, peace and prosperity Next was
added clear statement of the principles ON which
reconstruction ought to proceeds and finally Con-
gress was invoked to secure the adoption of these
principles in every rebel State, and refuse read
nit to the Union any and every State until it shall
have adopted them. In short it seems plain to us
that those resolutions essentially forecast the actual
history of reconstuction-ihe principles upon
which it is now going successfully, and the pow
er by which is done, to wit that of Congress We
quite say that il forecast the trcachery of
the President, but it certainly did designate the very
power and mode by which his treachery was to be
and has been defeatedi so that we think we can
truly say that the resolutions Of the Convention OF
1865 were both Il warning against Presidential
treachery and an incitemenAto fidelity Now one
fact more. The war ceased and Andrew johnson
assumed the Presidency in april, 1865, aud The
Vermont Convention met on the 2sth of June fol-
lowing. IT was the first Republican State Convon-
ton held after The conclusion of thee war, ard the
first to adopt formal Platform of Recon structon.
Fortunately it adopted, in essence and effect, the
very plan which Congress has since enacted and
which it is now bound to enforce against whomso-
ever resists, Presidents, people of rebellious
States so Vermont is clearly entitled to the hon
or Of first formally promugathlg the Platform or
Principles Of Reconstruction that Congress has
adopted.