Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-08

honorable discharged. An Invitation or order
to desert the standard of our country VIII never
be obeyed by US, although it proceeds IRON inc
Governor and Captain General Of Vermont.
Perhaps it is proper that we should conIcn'
ourselves with merely giving your Exeeilency
the reasons which prevail upon us to disregard
your proclamation but we are impressed with
the belief that our duty to ourselves, to the soi-
diors under our command and to the puolic'
requires that we should expose to the world the
motives which produced, and the objects when
were intended to be accomplished by, snch an
extraordinary proclamation. We shall take
the liberty to state to your Excellency plainly
our sentiments on the subject. We consider
your proclamation as gross insult to tine oincers
and soldiers in service, inasmuch as IL implles
that they are SO ignorcnt of their rights as to
believe you have the authority to command them
in their present situation, or so abandoned as to
follow your insidious advice: We cannot re-
gard your proclamation in any other light than
us an unwarrentable stretch of Executive au-
thoritv, issued from the worst Of motives. to
effect the basest purposes. 1t is, in our opin-
ion, u renewed instance of that spirit OF dis
organization and anarchy which is carried on by
faction, to overwhelm our country with ruin
and disgrace. We cannot perceive what other
object your Excellency could have in view, than
| to einbarrass the operations of the Army, to ex-
cite mutiny and sedition among the soldiers,
and to induce them to desert, that they might
forfeit the wages to which they are entitled for
their patriotic services.
We have, however, the satisfaction to inform
your Excellency that although your proclama-
tions have been distributed among the soldiers,
by your agent delegated for that purpose, they
/ have faild to produce the intended effect; and
although it may appear incredible to your tx
cclleney even soldiers have diseernment spf-
ficient to perceive that the proclamation of a
Governor, when issued out of tho line of his
duty, is harmless, inoffensive, nd.nugatory
! docament-thcy regard it with mingled emo
tions Of pity and contempt for its anthor and as
a striking monument of his folly.
Before we conclude, we feel ourselves in JUS
tice to your Excellcncy, bound to declare, that
ii knowledge of your Excelency's character in
duces us to believe, that tho folly and iniamy Of
the proclamation to which your Excelency has
put yor signature, is not wholly to be aseribed
to your Excelcncy, but chiefly to the evil ad
visers with whom we believe your Excellency Ii
unhappy encempassed.
Signed by all the officers Of the brigade.
After the reading of that document, Mr.
President. the conduct and the character, th'
stubborn valor and the patriotism OF the mi
litia Of Vermont, | am quite sure, will re
quire no further vindlcatiop at my hands, be
fore this body.
This proclamation of Governor Chittenden
,tAI1 49, and OF, dir
nation, than his subsequent refusal to orde
out the militia of the State, after the actua
Eruption of the enemy into our territory o.
the opposite side Of the lake in the State o
New York. He, however, called upon Their
to turn out as volunteers, and in bis annua
message to the Legislature, in the month O
October, after, he took occasion to common
them for their promptness, their bravery an
their billiant success.
l am not to be understood, Mr. Preslden
as attempting to impeach the conduct, niue
less to impugn the motives Or the patriotism
Of Governor Cbittendon am merely sta
ing the historical facts. He acted have II
doubt, upon the honest convictions Of his ow
Judgment, and from sincere regard to wha
he deemed to be the best interests, the honor
and the safety Of the State. He acted cel
tainly not inconsistency with his politica
faith. He was Federalist Of the old schoo
and persistent opponent Of the war, and Q
the Administration Of Mr.. Madison. He wa
a member of Congress in the House of Rep
resentstiycs at the time of the declaration G
war, and was the only member from the Vel
mont delegation in either House who vote
against the declaration. The following yea
he was elected Governor Of the State Of We
, mont by the Legislature, after protracte
struggle, by u majority Of u single vote, tt
!, people failing to make an election in the POI
ular canvass no one having received an abs
lutte majority of all the votes cast, as require
, by the constitution of the State. He W,
, reelected, in 1914, by the Legislature, tt
people having again failed to elect, as in til
4, proceeding year. The popular sentiment
! Vermont was in favor OF the war, and Of tn
Administration Of Mr. Madison, as indicate
by all the elections, except in 1873 and 49,
when the parties were nearly balanced. tn
State cast its electoral vote for Mr.. Madison
as it had before done for Mr. Jefferson, an
, as it afterwards did for Mr. Monroe Vernon
was emphatically a Republican State. Witt
out calling in question, then, the purity of h
motives, it is apparent that the sentiments an
the course Of action of Governor Chittenle
in reference to the war, were not in acceort
ance with the predominant sentiment of tn
} State. But here 1 may be allowed to clail
for his action the charitable consideration
our Democratic friends upon the opposite sic
of the Chamber, in view of the fact that /
afterwards attached himself to the Jacksc
Democracy, as did many of the leading Fe,
eraists of my State, and that he rcmaine
through life most respectable, promincn
and influential member of that party.
Mr.. President have been prompted
: say this much by way Of explanation, and
vindication, chiefly on account Of RENAL
, that was thrown out by the Senator fro
: Pennsylvania the other day, while he was al
dressing the Senate in opposition to my pro
!. ositton; the purport Of which was, that he hi
d heard Of certain militia companies in Ne
f England who had refused to march beyond I'll
v limits Of their State, aud which. in the CO
n ection in which it was uttered, might be co
tructea as having reference to the militia
y my State, As representative, from til
r State, [ could do no less than attempt to vi
j. dictate the character of her militia, who
e bravery and whose gallant bearing had w
l. the applause and the admiration of the cour
l. ny, from nm implied aspersion, however reno
g the implication might be. With these |
: marks, submit the question upon my amen
a mont to the judgement of the Senate.
n CONGRESSIONAL.
h -... Monday, Jan 80.
1t HousE.-The Senate bill authorizing the CO