Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-03-28
Gle FIREMAN.
MONTPELIER VT.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH %. 1877.
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lmphtleHCts
The democrats of the northern states are
Just now trying to make the country be-
lieve that they are very impatient to have
the president fulfill "pledges made be-
fore his Inauguration, and that his taking
time to think about tho Louisiana and
South Carolina questions is sure sign
that he is going to do something very bad
This apparent anxiety is largely insin-
cere. If there is anything democratic
politicians, and republican politicians too
for that matter, want it is TO have n
southern question to gesticulate and make
speeches about. The prospect OF good
government and quiet living is not pleas
ant, either to those who have made pollt-
ical capital out of carpet-bag corruption
and legislation, or those who think it for
their advantage to fire the northern heart
periodically.
Ii is we'll to remember that it was only
This very month that U. 8. Grant was pre-
sident, and that the troubles are the accu-
mutation ofyears. Each party down there
has his infallible cure and to its mind any
body who has the powers either foolish OF
faithlcss if he fails TO apply the remedy
But surely, men who take time to consider
their course of conduct in matters OF much
less moment, ought to grant the president
u few days of examination to say the least
without accusing him of all evil things
In the first place those who know the
exact facts know THAT r, b. Hayes has
made no "pledges. ~ What did take place
was an attempt on the part OF certain
southerners to get assurances of n certain
policy before the electoral count was COM
pleted and beyond the reach of tilibuster-
ing, and their success in obtaining, from
gentlemen who knew Mr. Hayes views,
statement of principles which they were
willing to assert would control the new
administration. Those principles were
stated broadly in the letter of acceptance
last summer, and more in detail in the in
augural. The pledges the president has
given have been given to the Nation, and
they will be fulfilled, as folks will find out
after they get little better acquainted
with the staying" qualities of the chief
magistrate.
Mr.. Packard of Louisiana intends to be
governor, and Mr.. Nichols likewise
While the exact facts about the election
are not clear, and perhaps never will be
clear, it is no doubt true that without the
presence of the United States troops the
dispute would soon be settled in favor of
Nichols. There is no doubt, however.
that it would be by the shedding of blood,
and it is certainly worth while to avoid
this if possible. 1t is worth while too to
have it understood that the United States
has the right to put her whole army into
the State of Louisiana if that state is in
perfect peace and quiet, and had twenty
governors who were all opposed to the
presence of federal troops
The trouble about the troops in the
south is in having them there at the back
of man who determines his official posi-.
ton by their presence alone. 1t is in their
making Il state government, and not in
their presence that any wrong is done.
There is no use in talking about Louis
iana's full right rs state to call under
the constitution for such help as Vermont
is entitled to call for. There is no dispute
about the government of Vermont. There
is decided question about that of Louis
lana and there is no better way to find out
what is the state government there than TO
let them determine it for themselves All
other ways have failed; and the new one
may fail but it is worth trying.
At the same time there is no disposition
on the part of theInorth to see any class of
American citizens treated otherwise than
fairly, and there lies upon the national
government the duty of protecting its cili-
zens in all their relations with itself. 1t
has as VIC have said the right to put its
whole armey into any one state whether
it is pleasing to that state or not But
soldiers are made to fight and we hope that
when in the future federal soldiers are in |
Louisiana other than to garrison federal |
forts, they will be there 10 fight and will
fight; and that they will not act rs u
simple body-guard to some doubtful state
official.
We hope still further that there will be
no need of federal troops TO control cit-
zens in any place in their conduct towards
other citizens. Local governments should
perform that duty aud it will be found, we
believe, that the only local government
that can do that is the one which is self
sustaining.
Thus it seems to us true that if the Uni
ted States will let these troubled states de-
eide for themselves what their own GOV
eminent is, il will be found that there will
appear government able and willing to
give protection and all other rights to all
classes. But while we believe this we are
willing that the president should make
himself sure of it before he lets 90 the
military control there which he now exer-
cises. The southern whites can easily sat
isfy him on this point and upon their heads
will be the blame it, by reason of their un-
willingness to give such assurances, the
thing they desire is kept from them.
The Free Press reports that Judge
Wheeler hesitates about accepting the
position of District Judge. If he could
see through Burlington glasses the vast
amount of admiralty" business that
awaits him there might terrify him, but as
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