Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-09-30

been ~ guilty as the man who has been
incarccratcd in a Vermont prison for
felony? These men did not lay down
icir arms of their own 81 o &C hut were
compelled to do so at last 10y the force of
loyal arms (and many of them were car
ried 10y the pcgrocs) and they became
prisoners. BY what right do rebels now
claim that they should vote in any state
Or portion of this country, to the cXclu-
sion of loyal men-men who have done
no hing to jcopardizc the life of the ma
lion, but everything to save it,
Why should this Government hold
ont the induccmcnt Of rewards TO the
well doing and terror of punishment TO
evil doors, it does not intendto make
distinction greater still is the perlidy
of that government which would cx-
llt the guilty and punish its friends, the
innocent. The same spirit that would
deprive the loya people of the South of
he privileges of the elective franchise
their means OF protection, and bcstow
these privilege upon the disloyal to
crash them, would deprive a loyal soldi-
n of his pension and bestow it upon the
soldier OF the Conicdcracy
The Democrats of the South (all
have rebclled) do not like the idea of ne
groos voting. Now, in this matter they
have had their choice, and the result, rs
we find twas provoked by them. They
struck out to destroy the American
Government and establish an EN-
pre- of which human slavery
should be the paramount idea and the
chief corner stone. If they had succeed
81, then the chains of Slavery would
have been tighter invited, but they
allied entirely, and to-day the slave
stands forth Il freeman. There is no
halfway work about his freedom, he is
either still slave, or he enjoys his free
dom and is entitled to the privileges of
all men. We have no DISTINGUISHED
citizens under full Republican form
Of Government unless for crimes COM
mittcd. If we can ovcrlOoN the high
crimes ofrebcls who have drenched this
land in blood, and allow equal suffrage
to them, we can for greater reasons over
look a loyal mans complexion and al
low him to vote by his side.
"a man convinced against his will il
Of the same opinion sti ~ and the men
who are now waiting for moro favor
able opportunity to thrust thedagger fur
ther INTO the vitals of the Nation, are
not the men to dc ate who may, OF h )
may MOI VOC, their greatest anXiciy
should he TO secure the privilege to vote
themselves. Ifthcy have chosen to re-
qent of their high crimes, let them
come into lc ranks with men who OK
erted themselves TO save that which
was nearly lost through the Dcmocra-
5ic administration of the Government.
70 all such who come; the loyal masses
Of the United States will bid a joyful
welcome.
In the States which have already been
restored TO the Union, we believe this
question has been settled, AM by the
Constitutions of the States there is here
after to be no distinction made on ac-
count of color. If however distinctions
arc made, and class of men are dcpriv-
Cd OF there ballot, representation in Con-
greSs Will be diminished in the same
proportion. With the Republicans
,he whole matter is aquestion ofloyalty,
not of color, while with the Democrats
1t is Ni9ger, Niger.