Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-02-19
Our Washington Correspondence.
Supreme Court on Recon-
sfrucfion-Ihe Failure in Alabama Gran
and Johnson-Ei Election an Ne,c Hampshire
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb ID, 1868.

W ASHiNGIoN, u -, Tcu Id, lcoo.
IMPEACHMENT.
Mr. EDITOR The past week has been full
Of rumors and events. First the equanimity
Of the political world was somewhat disturbed
by the report that impeachment was again to
be considered and that the President, making
himself liable by his acknowledged breach of
the laws, was surely to be mpeached, after
the passage of Mr.. Edmund's bill which was
to bo forced through at once.
This subject, however, has blown over and
: now it is generally considered that it is en-
tircly dead, though of this have some doubt,
. and think it Will vet rise to trouble Mr.. John
son should he continue to break the laws and
: oppose their execution.
2 THE SUPREME COURT ON RECONSTRUCTION.
, Then we have had Il decision of the Su-
1 preme Court surprising every one and entire
] Iv settling the matter Of the reconstruction
5 laws The decision discharging the Georgia
= and Mississippi injunction case for want of
= jurisdiction, has established the fact that no
I power is possessed by that Court to hear and
decide any political question. The decision
{ also discharges the McArdle and all similar
? cases, and as the Court adiourns early in
April no purely law case, involving the re
: construction laws, can be brought before II
, until the next term. Thus have been put at
, rest all fears of interference on the part OF
l the Supreme Court in reconstruction and Mr..
johnson is again left TO fight his battles
-ainst loyal recons truction hy himself,
= with no one to aid him.
, Iu1 REASON FOR THE FAILURE N ALABAMA.
Occasionally he will without doubt be sue
cesslul as he has been lately in Alabama,
= more through the neglect of Congress, how
ever. than their want of power. Although
/, in Alabama the majority of those who are
registered are Republicans vet the action OF
the rebels throughout the State has, caused
She Constitution to he defeated. They them
8 selves stayed away from the polls and spot
I'D every white man who did vote. In
consequence OF this movement all the white
b friends of The Constitution throughout the
>Jatc,Were ntimIdated from voting and there
p fore il failed OF receiving the necessary ma
ioritv Of All the registered voters. Had the
Senate promptly passed the House bill, pro
r yidng for this very contingency by ma king
the majority OF votes cast sufficient TO ratifv,
instead of laying it carefully away in their
committee, where every good thing is covered
G up, the result would have been far different
I Besides having Carried tho Constitution. the
fall vote of the State would have been polled
and the election been fair index Of public
opinion
a Ii was one OF the great points against Mr.
that they were never submitted 70 the people
for ratification except. perhaps, in Nortt
Carolina and even there only about 80. 000
+ votes were p5liod both for and against it.
they We're iorcci on the people and received
u3 sanction but that OF the President
Npw Congress did not intend any such
= forced acccptation Of the forms Of govern
ment prop -ei under their policy of recon
o. -rruc,iou. and I'M order t. ensure The favor oi
r., ,,
them to model their own Constitutions ami
4 afterwards [, declare their VIII rs to its ac-
, ccutuucc. :, anxious were they In fact t.
obtain tire ratification of the people that
thev incautiously opened the way to the
tile enemies Of the Mon to prevent such
ratification by making it necessary for n ma
jarItv of the legal voters u vote Tor the Con
>tiuti0n. ihe result should the people he
u nmpered with can be predicted u he very
favorable. but If the President and all the
rebels Nindictivc and active as ever. should
. int r.crc rs they have in Alabama. we can
have iit,ic hope under the present law
Nhat Congress VIII d. i'm the ease remains
Is be seem. Nr. sherman has introduced a
~ hili u tile senate providing ar the admission
~ Alabama since she has complied with thc
reconstruction law in iorminEa Constitution.
and since the constitution formed has been
adopted hr tlc majority ot persons voting on
tic question. Tins bin may te al ipted
though il would have been far more 7lriStac-
T., tory If tine aforementioned one could hav,
been passed and thus saved every point
GRANT sNp Johnson
IS l4Ye also had tic sequel Il the c5rres
}auGcucc IT Grant and johnson and there j,
b ~ retraetjpn on either side. Ii i stiIl a
$ question ii Neracitv and each one is 70 be-
! 4lete wham-9eyer lie thinks 70 be right Il
i purely question of weight ot evidence t.
q D.
= parties. II ell those who are acquainted
Il with Mr.. j tAuSan.s accustomed and con>ti
tutsuual iucndacitv there is NJ doubt lc!c q
f.e tvut. ~ '.en. Grant = statement. Bal
iultunateiv thc President called ON his Cab
met for their version OF the matter. ami Sec
rct-ric~ Seward and Browning thc only one
who gave detailed statement ST the CONVEX
-atiun at that famous Cabinet meeting. while
coming 70 Jhc assistance of their chief plainl.
show that the statement of cen. Grant !,
+ correct AMI that JIG dill not promise To dis
q obey the law
Gen. Grants last letter ziu.i,ly denies rho
charge OF naturalization wallc rc,lsscrtiu1
The trlth OF his former statements Il,
shows That Mr. Stanton was recognized a.
( Secretary of War Dr. at least two Of the Cab
+ net officers and that orders had been issued t,
himself bF Mr.. :. Mt the request of both OF
those officers. That he himself was the only
Z mandc3 NOT 10 recognize the authority Of Mr.
: and protests that he has no intention oil
disJbeyiug any legal order OF the President
distinctly communicated
Anv reader of the whole correspondence
IF cannot fail to See that Cen. Grant is manly
straightforward and truthful throughout
while the President letters are full of art
lui subterfuges and are plainly only an at
ii tempt first - obtain Gen. Grants implied
q support OF his Illegal scheme AMI failing il
is that to bring him INTO contempt with tho
o people whom he himself had hoped t. have
r gained by Grants support. Never was ;
e mcancr decd done hy any man OF Il greater
1t insult put upon IA subordinate than this. ant
? never do any creature more deserve contempt
2 and hatred taan this same one who has by
y the most unfortunate Of accidents come int,
j. possession OF the President 5 chair and would
|. now sacrifice the honor and reputation o
Ii every one il necessary to gain his supremely
y selfish ends.
= ELECTION ~ NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Both parties are mtrshslling all theil
strength for the coming contest in New
Hampshire. S,lne of the best cam igr
= speakers on both sides are to canvass til,
! state among whom are Gen. Logan, John \
= Bingham, Senator Nvc anI other good Re
puhlicans. The Democrats are to be cheereC
l. ny such bright spirits Pendleton, Noor
o hoes, 6c. There is great hope of success OF
Z. both sides but though the Republicans W /
. perhaps lose some votes still they will striv,
desperately not to allow the Granite State L
give any aid and comfort to the rebels by
t sanctoning any Of the proceedings of then
e allies in the North "