Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-02-17
Raw LEGISLATION.

Raw Legislation.
The fortv-third Congress Is within TWO
weeks of its dissolution. Certain questions
lo,-o ba,n staring it in the face for two
Years and have not been answered. Both
people and president have looked tor these
wise men either to devise some way Them
soIves for the regulation Of such things as
are wrong OF to cease crltlcizih@ o'iieis
f,r actino according to their best llghts-
Rnt CONGRESS. and the republican majority
i of course now the power therein, fails to
do ANYTHING so far. And now just al lhe
close of its existence it proposes,ln addition
TO the civil rights bill, to enact into law a
scheme sanctioned by Il close vote IN a
a caucus Of one fourth of the republican
members. The question of the day at
Washington is as to the passage OF this
new enforcement bill.
If if be asked what particular law such
y hill cnforccs, there is Il difficulty IN an
cv,rino. and on examination 1t amounts
to GIVING control over all elections and
making the power of the general govern
mont the universal panacca-tor Ills
,hv,icaI. moral and intellectual almost
which panacca is to be used rather as
yictuals than medicine.
Now the proposition for new election
in Louisiana Ia, been voted by a sort OF
common consent in Washington either
unconstitutional or too radical 4 meas
urc. With what grace can measure
that makes federal power omnlpotent IN
any election anywhere when the president
see, fit to have it 80, be passed by a Con
ores, that refuses to apply radical
rrmcdv to a single member of the body
p,litic?
The present Congress has spent its time
in tli-agrceing up to this near approach OF
its end The Southern question Is Il graVe
one and is not to be met with bretthln@s
of fire and vengeance alone. We do not
see that of which there has been mucl
warning on tie stump-any attempt III tie
S )uth to resist federal authority. We do
see violence, and an utter failure. in some
places. of the de ttcto civil government
to punish therefor Then comes the
same old cour>c-the state government l.
ovcrihrown by intimidation and vlo-
lence a call comes for protection-it
it given and the state government l.
propped up and pindemonium reign> I'M
der it.
1t is a fine time of day for Congress tC
he passing such measure as is proposed
There are laws enough now-more thar
are obcyed. There is power enough II
the general government to see that the
laws are obeyed both by its representative:
and by restless and dangerous classes.
There are many men in Congress who
appear to have forgotten utterly that there
has been ANYTHING done since the war, tia
any southern states have the same priv
lcgcs and duties that belongte our northern
states. 1t is generally true that where the
United States is not trying to bolster NJ
some very doubtful state government, There
is very little violence. and it is certain tina
where there is least show made of fedora
interference. the rights of all classes arr
most secure. Better then that Il rowing
commission should not be given the exec
utvc. If this Congress has not tim
enough to enact laws that will meet tn
case in hand without opening the door 70
4 dozen like cases to enter, 1t had bette
90 home and let the next Congress bca
some ofthe burdens of state. At any rate
no such hastily conceived and ill-advisc'
legislation rs the present caucus bill ougll
to pass. The time can be far better spen
in passing the civil rights bill, and in de
vising means to give us Il revenue sutlicien
to meet expenses, by cutting down eNpen
SEES to meet the revenue.