Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-02-22
Military Governments for the South

which we think there are strong hopes
of becoming laws of the land, as they
have already passed the house by VIC
ry handsome majoritics. One of these
is Mr.. Eliott's bill to establish a pro,
visional government for Louisiana, re.
organizing the state on the basis of
loyal and impartial suffrage. The
other is the bill reported by Thad.
Stevens of the reconstruction commit
tee, providing military government
for each of the rebcllious states until
some scheme can be devised to sever
the ngly knot into which all conditions
OF southern society appear to be roll.
cd. We are satisfied with both pro
Jects; we should much prefer that of
MIR. Eliott's could We be sure that it
would not at first require Mr.. Ste
venss army to put in working order !;
to tell the truth we have small faith
IT, southern loyalty or southern intcg.
rity when the ncgros arc not counted
III; hence we are fer drastic remedies,
FOR the experience of the past two
years shows us that demulcent drinks
do not alIay but only serve to agera-
vate the disease; therefore the pro
Ject to hold the south 10y military oc
cupatlon meets our entire appreciation,
as being the only thing that will bring
the rebels to their senses. besides
being an act of tardy Justice to
the long abused and down trodden
Union men who since the great armies
OF Grant and Sherman have been with
drawn from southern soil, and the
fleets of Farragut and Porter have
ceased to disturb southern waters
have held their lives 10y feeble tenure.
We arc aware that the measure will
meet with a storm of curses from all
the copperhead hosts over the whole
north, while shrill cries of "despot.
ISM and "star chamber" will RING
from one end of the country to the
other; but as long as it meets with
favor from any considerable portion
of tho loyal people we are content
and give our voice for a military occu.
patton of the south till the rebels are
brought to realize their forlorn condi.
ton and call for the rocks and monn
taiTs to fall upon them 20 hide them
from the avenging power of the ma
tlonal government, and will faithful,
" render unto Caesar the things thai
are Casars;' the military arm should
relax not particle till every state
and congressional district is placed
under the complete control of Iowa.
men without regard to color; the OK.
perience of years has proved that the
rebels respect only the argument of
the bayonet; the power of brute force:
laughing to scorn reason, entreatv and
the tender offices of mercy, passing
them 10y "as tie idle winds which they
respect not" they love not the Union :
1t is compact they hate, while its flag
they abhor; yet however they NAV
feel inwardIy they should at least be
compelled to show it outward respect.
and there is no other way to command
that respect and make them yield to
it strict obedience than to make them
once more feel its power through the
army and navy; it brought them t.
their knees once, but was abandoned
too soon for the nation to receive any
considerable share of that pcnitcncc
and true piety which We thought
and still think-they at that time nos
sesScd, and which but for the shame.
Iessncss OF the royal scoundrcl who
sits In state at Washington and gives
audience to traitors, would give the
far less trouble than they now
do.
We know none Of the features of
The bill beyond the fact that it gives
,wo regiments to each congressional
district, and as the south formerly had
some so or 60 members, her people
would be blessed with the presence of
some over 100000 of the cnvoys of
equal and exact justice in that earthly
This we suppose wo'd
'lace the government of those states
lirectly under the control of congress
While the military commanders would
Ne amenablc only to it; this would in
fleet reduce them below the condition
II territories. We would not advo-
ate this course from any base motives
# revenge, it forms no part of our
eslres, and should be far removed
rom the intentions and purposes of
ne government VIC believe that by
Ills means only will order be restored
the rebelliouS states; the preamble :
the bill does not recognize the pre-.
eht state governments as truly such
Ut as so many usurpations, aud that :
ongress never having authorized the
'rmlng of such governments. it will :
OF be Inconsistent in that BODY il all 3
= 4. Il