The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1843-02-24
Number 147.

this right, from The Revolution downward hat they
nave been struggling, at intervals. for near half
century, to possess themselves of and establish thu
right, bu, in vain; that Il ue more llnn year
since they lesorled TO The only peaceful mode left
unlred, which the wit of man could De, se, viz a.
Conre"iio Of The people; that the people, in due
inrm, and by mnjoriiy of two to one, adopted a
Constitution securing this right; that they attempts
ed, peacedhly, to organize the government under
This Constitution, and that then il WIS that the old
government began TO arouse itself; TO issue pro-
cnmnons; 10 call out the militia; to make re-
QUESTIONS Of war; 10 put down the ''hsurgcnis"
aud "Iralors." as the suffrage men were called;
that they were finally dispersed, pursued, driven
into exile cast into prison, &c. &c. Perhaps
many Of The friends Ul The DISTINGUISHED majority
may not view the matter in 80 strong II light, but
we consider the wrongs, for which they sought
redress, not u whit behind those which led 10 he
Revolutionary struggle Of l775--6- laxalon, nil
ltary service, &c, without representation, or any
voice Whatever IN the government. fou may hire
10 painters Ia color aud daub it over, but still This
is the aspect in Which the Case Presents itself 10
our mInd-ugl Y, drormrd, ahhrrrent.
The people Of Vermont are intelligent, enlipht-
encd. liberal and palrolic-none more so. We
say Ibis though they have hten politically wrorg
for Twelve wears, up 10 March !, 1871. The great
majority of her people intend TO uphold The old
|
mcnt, no on property, hut humanity, and securing
equal rights IN a They believe in neither black
nor white slavery. What then, should have been
the course of the Government Of such people,
whether lrdrrnliS, or democrat, why or lorv, ma
| case involving such grave issues rs that in Rhode
| Island? From proper Difference tn the popular
sentiment, II he could not in conscience, say any
thing To encourage those engaged in u Struggle,
sanc'ihed by the Industrious eXaup'e Of the Ameri-
can Revolution, he should have, ut least remained
silent Instead Of that, with nothing to impel him
hrt the principles he cherished, he volunteered,
in his annual message, TO become the Jealous nd
'ncute Of the oppre,sor against the opwcssed-or
wrong. injustice and tyranny, No wonder that tho
"Agerines" Of Providence, grateful for the will
ing service Of 50 high lunc OnIry, should tender
him the compliment ola public dinner. No won
der that the Chief Executive oiier under the 10Y
nj charter of King Charles H., should presen, him
with n card and offer him his arm, for The Ball
given by the lnianry--an independent company,
(pcrhapS the body guard Of King hnlself), whose
hayones were relied upon to put down hose sem
Hances Of men who had presumed Ia rise up and
assert lhnse rights which the Constitution of the
State Of Vermont guarantees 10 all her cities over
twenty. years Of age. Nor is it wonderful that
Gov Paine should have honored that Ball with his
presence, since doDciog was one Of the acconlp-
li,hmcnis upon which his friends relied for his cleo
tion in The campaign Of 1871. The man who could
indr his message shopd not only have attended
the Ball and accepted the dinner, but have remain
cd there, loyal subject under King Charles
charter. and left The people of Vermont to choose
n Governor who would moi thus dlshonor and dis
grace them and rel DIR himself contemplate in
the eyes of every true patriot and democrat in tho
Iand.-Pahioi.