Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-01-20

claim the Presidential chair, with their
trained officers, to represent the people
in Congress. We are about TO turn
loose upon our honest and industrious
citizens fifty thousand soldiers, whose
morals and habits Of civil and religious
order have been corrupted by the idle
ness and looseness Of the camp. Will
not the accumulation of vast national
debt expose us 10 the constant appeal
of "NATIoNAL GLoRv," which will quiz
ct the people, only to enslave and inn
poverish them To all these dreadful,
ruinous evils, we are now exposed. We
are entering, headlong, upon the career
of the old Nations, whose ruins SHOULD
induce us TO beware how we let loose
upon us the spirit of war.
We are also seriously threatened by the
encroachment Of the Slavery spirit.
The stern spirit of freedom, freedom
of speech, freedom of thought, of the
press, and the pulpit, has been well
nigh smothered by the usurpations of
this growing power. We have nursed
it, till it has become giant, and essays
TO rule us. And has it not ruled us, aye,
and that too with rod Of iron? will
carry you back but a year or two, and
put the question, were we free then p
Could we speak, and print, and petition,
like rREEMEN' Could we read, and
think, preach and pray like FREEMEN
do not, however, apprehend that we
have now much to fear from this kind of
development of this power. This over
bearing censorship of thought and speech
has ceased. 1t could not be endured
longer. But this great antagonistic
principle this monstrous element of
war, upon the very name and genius of
freedom, is still amongst us. 1t will
meet us at every point, and arrest every
measure, which may be made to save us.
The principles Of slavery and freedom
cannot coalesce. They are originally,
radically, and utterly, opposites essen
tial and irreconcilable enemies. They
cannot long exist in one government
In our infancy, they well combined, not
in spirit. but by compromise. Necessity
forced them to an armistice. But how
sure and rapid has been the develope-
ment of their deadly hostility. We now
approach the final and desperate conflict
Which will triumph is yet to be SEEN
One or the other must yield. There can
be no more compromise. If freedom
triumph, slavery must be driven from
the land. No more quarters will be
given to it. If slavery be the victor, we
are ruined. Its war is that Of eriermina-
ton. Liberty will be driven from the
earth, and despotism will load the mis-
cradle captive with chains, and the land
shall mourn, for the spoler has come.
1t is by no means a pleasant task to
dwell on our forbdding prospects,-but
duty is not always pleasing. 1t is nc
cessary that the christian people, the
good of our land of all names, should
feel our dangers sufficiently to arouse
them from their sleep, and call them
forth to prayer and action. Probably,
never since we became a nation, has
there been such demand on the zeal
of the people Of God, as there now is.
pIoUs GRATITUDE FOR COMMON BENEFITS
IS THE ONLY SURE BOND OF UNION.
The necessity of union to our con-
tinued Happiness and prosperity, is seen
and felt by all. 1t is equally necessary
TO us as society and church as to the
commonwealth and nation.
Where then, is TO be found the bond
that will preserve us from dscord and
final separation What will unite us
in heart on terms of fraternal confidence
and fellowship? Shall we look to arti-
Giles of faith, or compact, or constitution !?
But what are they without the concur
renee Of the heart? Does it lie in our
freedom, in our civil and religious insti-
tutions which we hold in common p
Alas how soon will faction and dis
cord desolate the fairest heritage, and
divided hearts spoil the Joys of the most
sacred union!
Some higher bond must lift us above
our selfish passions and bind our hearts
together in forbearance and charity
, The principle that will lead us to rejoice
in each others prosperity, is the only
, conservative bond that can move forward
the intricate machinery of human socie-
ty to one grand harmonious result
that bond is the piety ,chich puts her graie-
full trust in God.
, Let this sentiment pervade all our
hearts, that all our privileges are the gift
of God; let the eye of gratitude and
, trust for all, be centered on him, as the
great guardian of our veal, and our ce-
mented hearts shall be bound in holier
ties to one another, and the common
rights of all. There never was, and
there never will be, bond so strong as
this beside, TO unite men on earth in
fraternal kindness.
We must be grateful TO the Father of
our mercies, or our prosperity must end.
1t is only for him to withdraw his smiles
from US, and convert our worldly gifts
into snares of destruction; he has only
to commission the famine, the pestilence,
, anarchy and war to pass over the land,
and we, and our children, shall feel the
>c L.