Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-03-02

nedlIs Vi Tue people, tIle source OF power, let US
return to the United States, and see what the
revolutionists, thus suddenly deprived of their
leaders, are doing.
AS soon as that noble band Of pioneers is TAX
EN- from them, they choose others to administer
the affairs of the new nation. These, too, are
seized as rebels. They Immediately electmore.
What shall the colonial officers do against such
pertinacious, yet unresistings opponents? The
whole population avow their determination to
be free. The whole population offer them
selves for punishment. The prisons are filled
to overlooking with rebels; yet they have ac-
jcomplished nothing, for every man they meet is
rebel. What is to be done? Shall they
send for an army? That is needless, for their
present force is unresised. But suppose an
army comes. They can do nothing but take
prisoners and destroy property, and perhaps
execute few persons; for take it for granted
that they would not attempt to put to death the
great mass of the population. All that they do
TO enforce obedience renders them more odious
TO the people, and nothing is effected towards
destroying the principles ofbcrty. Intelligence
This adds fuel to the fre. Their determna-
ton, before strong, is now irrevOcable. On the
other hand, the news Of their measures, their
pertlnacity, and their non-resistance, is con-
stantly going to the people of England, a pco-
pie already moved to sympathy by the constan-
cy and hcroism Of the patriot leaders, and al
ready half persuaded by the arguments ofthose
leaders that their cause is just. Can it be i'm
agined, is it consistent with the attributes ofhu-
man nature to suppose, that such a persevering
: and undaunted defence Of principles so Just
would fail Of working conviction in the hearts Of
people like the English? Even were it pos
sible for parliament to pcrsevere in the attempt
to subjugate such opponents by force, the whole
civilized world, indeed, would cry out shame
upon them, and force them to abandon the de-
sign, and finally to recognize the Independence
of the Americans.
1t follows a necessary inference from the
principles before alluded to, namely, that NOR
al might is always on the side of Justice, and
that governors and legislators are never desti-
tute of the feelings and sympathies Of men, that
firm perseverance in such a course as l have
described mast have resulted in the acknowledge
ment of American independence and probably
that result would have occurred in much less
time than was occupied by the revolutionary
war. This will be made perfectly clear by
looking, for a moment, at the reason why Great
Britain at last gave up the contest. Did we
conquer that mighty nation? Not at all Sill
less did they conquer us! Why, then, did not
the war continue? Simply and soley because
Great Britain was tired of fighting! absolutely
wearied out by contention and its necessary
consequences! Would not similar pcrtinac-
ty in time produce the same effect without the
use of physical force 1 say, we should ccr-
tainly in this way have attained Our Indcpend-
ence.
We will now suppose this object effected
Let Us see what evils the pacific course has
produced, in comparison with the evils actually
resulting from the revolutionary war.
1st. Loss OF LIFE. We will make liberal
estimate, and allow that one thousand persons
have been executed as traitors, after deliberate
trial and sentence and that ten thousand (men,
women, and children,) have been slain, unre-
sIstng, by the exasperated british soldiers. !
Upon this enormously exaggerated suppositon
We have eleven thousand lives lost. But it is |
computed that hundred thousand Americans
persisted during the eight years Of the revoIu-
tonary war. We have, then, a direct saving of.
leighty-nine thousand lives of American citizens
tby pacific measures. This alone should decide
the question in favor of peace. But VIC have
other considerations.
I'd. EXPENSE, DIRECT AND INDIRECT. Com
meTce, trade, and manufactures have been to a |