Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-05-18

preceded him oil along the route he had
travelled. He had found along his whole
route the same familiarity with the facts, and
the same state OF indignant excitement. Il
seemed as though some electric medium had
diiiused over the country full knowledge Of
the circumstances, and that but one senti-
ment pcrvaded all parties, sects and factions
IN the country through which he had passed,
lmpelllng them to the strongest denunciat,on
of the recent outrage upon popular sover-
eighty, and the purity of the ballo. box. Il
was indeed too true that Kansas had been
invaded, conquered, subjugated BY an arm
ed force from beyond her borders, led on by
a fanatical spirit. trampling under foot the
principle Of the Kansas bill and the right Of
suffrage.
lie reminded his hearers of the fact that
he had been, as they well knew, an early
and consistent friend and advocate of the
principle Of that bill--he believed in il then,
and his opinion wns still unchanged. The
people of Kansas would ask nothing bat that
the principle Of that bill should be carried
out, and that the rights for which they had
the sa cred and solemn plege a the nation,
should be secured to them. That this bill
had been repudated--that those pledges,
under which they had gone forth to establish
another republic, had been forfeited, il was i'm
possible to deny. lie said none knew better
than those whom he now addressed. how
constantly and consistently he had contend
ed Tor all the constitutional aud legal rights,
which had been guaranteed to every section
Of the Union, and how sternly he had warred
against the fanaticism that would violate
them He was ready to oppose the fanatic
ism that was reckless of the rights of others,
come from what quarter il would, and all he
asked for the infant and feeble community
over which he presided, was that their ballot
boxes should be respected, aud their rights
held sacred With the decisions they
should then make, he would rest salts
fed. But when they were overborne by
numbers and preparation beyond their power
to resist, they must appeal to the spirit Of
freedom, and the sense of Justice among
their fellow citizens Of the States, to redress
their wrongs by the moral force OF a unani-
nous and determined tone of public opinion,
that would frown down the wrong and vim
dica,e the right, acting in legitimate and eff
hcicnt channels
To every right thinking man, a consttu-
tioual, legal, or moral right WIS equally
sacred, whether claimed by the North or the
the South, the East or the Wesley Ter
u
That the same feeling which had induced
him to stand up oft and again for the con-
sututional rights of the South. mpeled him
now to claim, with equal pertnacity, the
right of suffrage for the people of Kansas.
lie could not hold the South responsible for
the iayasion which had been referred to-
nor could he, with propriety, visit the respon-
slbiliy upon the State of Missouri. Its
authors were the fanatic leaders and corrupt
and reckless presses of some half-dozen
border counties, who had inillmed, excited,
and deceived their own people, and had then
urged this misguided and deluded populace
to the commission of the wrong. 1t was due
from Missouri, however, to dsavow and re-
pudIate il, and take measures TO prevent its
recurrence. Failing in this, she might fair
ly be held to sanction il. II she should thus
sanction it, we must appeal to the honor, the
Justice, and the magnanimty of the South
srn States TO stay the outrage thus commit
ted by one of themselves, IN the mistaken
expectation Of advancing their common
cause. That rebuke and dlsapprobation from
them would he all powerful, cannot be doubt
ed and If this reliance should fail, il will
be for the rest of the Union 10 say whether
the plighted faith of the Nation TO rs shall
be kept or broken whether the right of sui-
Erase shall be a reality or a mockery wheth-
er, we, their fellow>cilizens, shall be freemen
OF slaves.
The Governor closed by again referring 10
the old and cherished relations he had sus-
tanned with these around bun, and with the
expression of his qualification and his thanks
for the honor conferred, and the regard man
ested, by this enthusiastic popular demon
'tration.