Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-01-20
GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN.

rate them Are men afraid to do that which is right
because it may not be popular? Sir it is this ghost Of
the unpopulary of opposition to the war, which seems
to sit like nightmare upon American statesmen.-
Sir think there was more truth than poetry in what
said by western man. He said he got caught by
opposing the last war, and he did not mean to get
caught again-he intended now to 60 for war; pestl-
ence and famine. And think there is good deal Of
that feeling in the country now! Men afraid to
take bold stand
1t is said the people have already decided this mat
ter; that they have settled that the shall be pros
ecuted. deny it entirely. do not believe it. The
People have settled i'll have never met among the
people, one in ten who thought the war was right or
thought that it would be right farther to prosecute it.
believe, sir that the heart Of this whole people is
sick ofthis miserable, temporzng policy, which is put
ting JUSTICE and right and truth out, in order that
pediency may walk in and govern, control and direct
our actions. wish that the experiment might be tried
by Congress of acting and voting on this matter ac
cordlng to the convictions of their understandings
as expressed by themselves, when they speak of the
character of this war. | listened the other day with
PLEASURE to the remarks of the honorable Senator from
South Carolina trust | heard with profit the sug
gestions which he threw out when speaking on his res
olutions But confess was somewhat astonished
that man of his great eXperlence-his vast learning
his keen obsevation-could really think that there
could be any virtue in the passage of those resolutions
not that think their passage would do any good in the
world IN the present emergency. But they might, if
adopted serve a sort Of landmark, showing with
what rapdity and what procvity we have travelled the
road to ruin. But that there would be any virtue in
them have not the least idea. Pass these resolutions
unanimously both branches of Congress, and let the
President append to them his usual declaration that
the war was commenced by Mexico; nay, you may 60
beyond that, and with all the forms and soemntes
with which you could embody them, you may make
them part of the written fundamental Constitution Of
the land and what would they be worth? Not the pa
per upon which they written; for the very mo-
ment that they stood in the way Of popular majority,
they would be utterly set at naught lie that IS not
persuaded Of that has not read it seems to me, the
first primer Of oul history. think, that the resolutions
themselves contain much that is Just and true, and
that the passage of them might be of some conse-
quence in the way which have suggested But that
their passa ge would check the downward tendency Of
affairs is altogether out OF the question.
believe that the people desire us TO go right and
that we have not faith enough in the people Nothing
. is more common than to find ospiranto for public fa
hattering the people, and continually palsng their
intelligence and patriotism, and every thing which
gives value and dignity to the human character. But
you do not find these euogsts of the public virtue at
all prepared to venture little upon the intelligence
which they vaunt so much. There is faith in exped-
ency, in policy in every thing but justice truth and
right.
The present is, believe a critical period in our his
tory. believe, that it is presumptuous in us to affirm,
as the President has affirmed in his message, that the
great question of the capabllity of man for seltgov
ernmet has been settled 1t is not settled, sir. We
are now settling it. Whether the manner in which
we are settling it will favorably unfayoraby affect
the condition of mankind hereafter, yet romans to be
seen in the future. We settling the question not
only for ourselves but for all who are to come after
Inns nt nc Golf CbOud
fail, who can estimate the consequences to our race?
We are to-day writing our history. Weare Impress
ing that little space which occupy between the past
and the future, with footsteps which will be indellbe
Whittier are those footsteps now tending? Shall those
who are to succeed us find that the course which
are pursuing leads to the broad fields of liberty,
of peace, and of prosperity? Or shall it be, that we
are only erecting monuments marking the bye-paths
that lead to the pitfalls of destruction? These are
questions that must come home to the heart of every
man who loves his country and prizes its free insttu
TONS and the dangers which now threaten them
Are blind tanatical, so stupid as to believe
that the great laws of the physical and moral world
are to be reversed in our favor3 Are we emphatica
y the children of destiny? Can take our destiny
in our own hands, and control it? Not So 1t seems
to me, that there is light streaming down the patti
way of ages Illuminating the destiny Of nations, and
that it is written in glazing retribuon.
1t is law in operation all around usin the physical
moral and political world 1t is true of nations of
individuals, "Whatsoever man sows, that shall he
also reap" would ask those disposed to look at this
question in the light of history, to go back and by its
aid trace the long vista of ages that have elapsed
Let them 90 back if they will, to the morning of Gre
ation when all the Sons of God shouted together fol
10y, that Almighty Power had spoken new world in
to being; and they will not find it recorded in any
page Of that history that any nation ever sowed the
seeds of war and slavery and reaped the fruits Of
peace and liberty. No! that passage remains to bt
written; and eqei~es eseat effort Of tho i'm
agination to fancy that we now hear the voice o
all nations Of the PAST sounding solemn warning in
our Let us beware lest that fate which has con
stantly followed such course of policy may soon be
ours.
. have thus eudoavored to discharge my duty. au
quite aware of the mperection of the effort. But be-
S fore conclude, wish to say single word personal
to myself, and to let you know, sir, and the Senate
know, that if it be fanaticism which have | am no
alone responsible for it. 1t is not peculiar to myself
sir, nor those with whom act. We had, year or Sc
ago. in the State of New Hampshire, pair of demo.
cratic organs and it rather doubtful whether they
were entirely harmonious But in May these New
Hampshire "Patrots" came togcther-they had an an
nexatlon-and when they came together, they under
took to define the true democratic faith upon this very
doctrine of slavery. read from the "New Hamp
sire Patriot" of 9th of May, l8l7
Mr. Hale here read extracts from the New Hamp
shire Patriot, conendng that the Democrats of slave
States were friendly to abolition and would ultimately
effect it.
That is "New Hampshire Patriot" democracy
about twelve months old. &c. if am fanatical, am
not without authority for my fanatlcism and mar
may seems, entertain all the sentiments which have
advanced without being cast ont of the pale of de
mocracy as it is now organized But leave the sub
ject thank the Senate for the patience, kindness
. and candor with which have been heard. 1t is ne
pleasant duty that have performed. Ii is not agree
able to my feelings to occupy the place of an lshmae
; lite here; my hand being against every mans, and
every mans hand against mine. If any remarks have
fallen from me, offensive to the feelings of single
Senator of which am wholly unconscious, can as
sure him from the bottom of my heart that they were
altogether unintentional. | have endeayored to deal
with principles and measures, not with men. | be-
ieve that the institutions of the country endan-
gered. believe that the course in which we are pro-
ceedng unless our career be arrested, will most inev-
itably conduct us to destruction; and have thrown
out these suggestions, in the hope of doing some
thing, however feeble the attempt, in order to excite
correct public sentiment on this all vital subject
szsnuzz-zzzz5sruEEHE1gzszEIsz
Mr.. H. Grattan lately stated in his place in Parlia-
ment 1899 persons had died for want of food in
Oh I