Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-11-25

m On who were them slaves bad not appeared
a. question above the horizon Of politics
In July 1861, Republican senators and repre-
sentatives in Congress, pale with the terror
of the first Bull Run, made haste to disclaim
that the party was more abolitionist in war
than in peace. But Gods providence and
the logic of events,-much the same things,
if not identical-led the party in 1868, to
use the power of the government and the
might of the army to abolish slavery. This
accomplished, the party halted in the work.
President Lincoln reconstructed Louisiana,
Tennessee and Arkansas, recognizing the
freedom of the black race, but denying them
the ballot by which alone their liberty could
be made secure. Congress, in advance of the
President, and far in advance Of its former
cowardly disclaimers, passed a reconstruction
act, boldly graphing with the question OF
suffrage but the President vetoed it. The
national convention at Baltimore re-noni-
mated Mr.. Lincoln, but stopped short Of
equal suffrage. The treachery of Johnson
ana the teachings of reconstruction tina.
ignored the blacks, brought the party, in
1866, to take catholic ground in favor of
giving frecmen the power to protect them
selves ; and the presidential campa gn just
closed has been more squarely fought on this
question Of suffrage than on any Of the
many other issues that have been subjects OF
debate; and the triumph Of the Republican
party, whatever else it settles or leaves still
debatable, should he treated as asserting
the right as we'll the expedency Of equal
and impartial suffrage.
Such, in brief, is the history OF tho steps
taken by the Republican party in abolishing
slavery, and giving the ballot to the race il
has emaneipated. The work before the party
in order TO complete the November triumph
is 70 put into the laws of the land this princi
pie of equal suffrage; and there is oues
ton made whether this can be done by &
simple enactment, all doubts should BE re-
moved by adopting an amendment 80 the
constitution itself. 1t is In the power OF sh,
party 20 do this 1t has the requisite ma or-
ity in Congress, and OF the Legislatures o.
the States; and the Congress that meets II
December. we are glad to know, will b.
asked at the very outset to recommend such
an amendment. Before the next Fourth o.
July we hope to see in the organic law of tn.
Republic an explicit recognition of the grand
truth of the Declaration of Independence
that all men are created equal for thus only
can our government be truthfully said TO be
Republican in form.
What form this amendment should take,
whether it should confer upon Congress the
power to declare the qualifications of voters,
or should prescribe the qualifications in the
organic law, and what those qualification.
should be, are yet open questions, which we
shall have occasion hereafter to discuss
But the Republican party must not lose tn Ii
opportunity to secure for ali future time
equal suffrage to the people of the whoie
country 1t has other work before it, but
this should be its first achievement. And il
should set about it in the spirit of wise
and sagacious statesm in.hip, despising and
putting beneath its feet the narrow counsels,
and the time-serving expedients of mere po-
Iitical managers, who always look at the
next election, and not at she good of the
country for the generations to come.