Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-01-27
From the Independent Democrat and Freeman,
Chances at Washington.

UlanCGS at WaSllll9lOn,
A man at Washington, at last! Many apollo
gies for such a being we have had here before.
Many such we now have. But the mantle re-
al man-free, erect, unseduced-is seldom met.
Why should the paltry images of manhood con-
gregate here, where most the true divinity is need
ed? A Nations Capitol Think of that-the
place where her great patriot heroes, if such she
has, are wont to gather-the place where her
god-Iike nobility offer gifts to Liberty A shrine
is that-to awaken mighty thoughts and make
men think of their greatness-their priceless val
ue. But the idea of a soul-slave is terrible. 1t
is terrible tale to be recorded that the outward
image is made chattel-bargained sold, fettered,
and driven brute-like into the field. 1t is a hor-
rid spectacle to see Gods image placed in the
shambles aud sold on the auction block. 1t is
terrible. A dreadful abomination to live on
the records of the nineteenth century-black hid
eous, unulterably detestable. And yetit is written
there-the record of the Ayenglng spirit against
a modern Republic
But the degradation seems still more awful,
when the soul yields to its captlvity-when the
nobler man within bows to a craven destiny
Thraldom for the triumphant spirit What a
woe to weigh down the might of him who should
be little less than an angel. But the woe is. 1t
is here-hcre beneath the Eagle and the Stars.
Would itwere not. If the city of Washington is
infamous as the Nations great man-shamble,
where the dark-hued brother has become the chat
t|elvictim of the winter, so, too, is it the mart of
souls. Hyena Shylocks trade in other men. Pol
iticians sell themselves! They pass under the
yoke basely as the slave bows to his fate. And
this is fallen mamie whose home should have
been among the stars, and his hope heaven-born,
like the great one over whom political corruption
stole as a death shade
"The brightest, wisest, meancst, of mankind"
These thoughts have sprung up as they have
naturally, in my attempt to say a word of the
Hon. john P. HALE. Here then is a manor
some body that SEEMS to be a man. Here he
stands-almost alone, like the old prophet in the
DOOMED city. He bears no market price upon
his brow. The slave-stamp is not there. 1t
wares its regal look as lordIy as ever Roman did.
He has no master. See what amalesty freedom
gives to him! How other men covet the glory
of an independence like his, How much they
would give to be free!
This John P. Hale is a man then. He has won
the title. Now, if he wears it %worthily. Here i:
the rub. He will, me thinks. 1t becomes him
and he puts it on with a pride that betokens mucl
of hope and hrmness.' He has put his hand tC
the plough for something. lie will not look back
His eye is onward upon the beautiful star of free
dom. He was nursed among free hills. He has
never been shorn of his mountain strength
Their is neither dew nor rust upon his armor
He will wear it bright in all the successive con
hicts where Liberty and Tyranny struggle to
gether. Such a man we want-We who have
bowed and bit the dust in servility-we who have
struck dow our eagles wing and coveted tn
bastard blood Of recreants. NcV HampShir
wants such a man. She wants him to 90 fortI
and proclaim her repentance and rear her grea
pledge up before the world. 1t is likely she will
find him in John p. Hale. She hopes so. An,
she has proud reason to "hope on."-His BRAY
defiance Of party-his drawer defiance of tina
all-pevading villainy which enslaves even party
gave the world some assurance of a man." ]
was a noble stand-to be taken in that hour {
darkness and of his enemy's might. That wa
noble. And then to be so triumphantly maintain
ed. Was not that nobler? How the "snap
chain-links'' rang at every blow he struck. Hov
the coward traitors to freedom shrunk away a
he strobe up and down your State. They kne'
whose ghost it was. They had solemnIy gull,
tined him at Concord. They had pronounce
him dead. But that ghost seemed more terribI
than ever had the living man. The terror of tn;
hour has not abated. The voice of that victi
is still sounding on like the death-knell of the
political hopes. 1t is sounding among yol
mountains and calling men to duty and to RICH
1t is rising and ringing here. Old polite
s~leepers are startled. 1t is something new to he
voice like this. Men look about in wild amaz
ment, wondering what is to be the effect or whei
the blow is to fall.
You already have your brave Senetor's speec
es. Such speeches are not common here. N
blv has he sustained himself-terribly has he
harmed the dumb dreamers in the Capitol her
See how all eyes are upon him. All are intei
to hear-except your paltry Atherton. In h
mightiness he affects contempt for his colleagu
and disdains to listen. Think of that! All,
would be Glad not to hear. His sins are glarir
before him in every burning word the hero utter
Think of the ludicrous scene of Anterior
stopping his ears, while Calhoun, and Webste
and Crittenden, and Benton are eager to catC
the speakers every word No wonder. II
man that would paddock folks lips, would glad
stop their ears-and his own, too.
Rejoice with us. In these struggles of yo
Independent and stout-hearted Senator. Liber
is awakening to a new life. She is shaking
her grave clothes and death sleep. A glorio
race she is to run-such as the New World h
not yet witnessed. What an era is breaking up,
lis. The old pillars are shaking-bending tot
great Movement of the age. And honor to who
honor is due. New Hampshire sends here t
master man to pioneer the revolution. Let yo
hills be alive with the echoes Of his free voice.
GRANITE.