Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-11-15
Going to 60.
From the New York Tribune, Nov. o..


The people of the United States have indicated,
accordingly to the forms prescribed by the con-
stibution, their desire that Abraham Lincoln OF
Illinois, shall be their next President Ond tlanni-
bal Hamlin, of Maine, their Vice President.
very large plurality of the popular vote has been
cast for them, and decided majority OF elect
ors chosen who will undoubtedly vote for and
elect them on the first Wednesday in December
next. The electoral votes will be formally seal
ed up and forwarded to w sshington, there to be
opened and counted, on given day in February
next, in the presence of both houses OF Congress:
and it will then be the duty of Dir John e.
Breckenridge, as President of the Senate, to de-
clare Lincoln and Hamlin duly elected Presi-
dent and Woe President of these United States.
Some people do not like this, as is very natu-
raj. Dogberry discovered, good while ago.
that when two ride u horse, one must ride be-
hind" That is not generally deemed the Flef-
cradle seat but the rule remains unaffected by
that circumstance. We know how to sympa-
thze with the defeated, for we remember how
we felt when Adams was defeated and Clay and
Scott, and Fremont. 1t is decidedly pleasanter
to be on the winning side, especially when-as
newt happens also to be the right side.
| We sympabhize with the afflicted, but we can
not recommend them to do anything desperate.
What is the use They are beaten now they
may triumph next time in fact, they have gen.
orally had their own way had they been sub
jjected to the discipline Of adversely as often as
we have, they would probably bear it with moro
philosophy, and doport themselves more betting
| ly. We live to learn and one of the most diff
fcult requirements is that of meeting reverscs;
with graceful fortitude.
The telegraph informs US that most Of the cot
| ton States are meditating q withdrawal from tho
! Union because Of Lincoln election Very we'll;
they have u right to mediate, and meditation is
q profitable employment of leisure. We have a
chronic, invncible disbelief in disunion asa rem
edy for either Northern or Southern grievances;
we cannot perceive any necessary relation be-
tween the alleged disease and this ultra heroic
remedy sill, wcsay if anybody sees fit to
mediate disunion, let them do so unmocstcd.-
That was a base and hypocritc row that the
House once raised, at Southern diction, about
the cars Of John Quincy Adams, because he pre-
sentod q petition for the dissolution Of the Union.
The petitioner had right to make the request
it was tho members duty to present it, And
now, If tho cotton States consider the value Of
the Union dcbatabc, we maintain their perfect
right to discuss it. Nay, we hold, with JefiGr-
son, to the nalienable right of communities to
alter or abolish forms of government that have
become oppressive or injurious and if the cot
ton States shall become satisfied that they can
do better out Of the Union than in it, we insist
on letting them go in peace.
The right to seOede may be a revolutionary
one, but it exists nevertheless and we do not
see how one party can have II right to do what
another party has Alright to prevent. We must
ever resist the asserted right of any State to re-
main in the Union and nullify or defy the laws
thereof, to withdraw from the Union is quite
another matter. And Whenever considerable
section of our Union shsll deliberately resolve
to go out, We shall resist ell eocrcive measures
in u republic whereof cotton is pinned to
tho residue by bnyonets
But while we thus uphold the practical lib
erty, if not the abstract right of secession, we
must insist that the step be taken, if ever it
shall be, with the elaboration and gravity be-
fitting 80 moment0us an issue. Let ample time
be given for reflection; let the subject be fully
canvassed before the people and let popular
vote be taken IN every case before secession is
decreed. Let the people be told just why they
are urged to break up the confederation let
them have both sides of the question fully pre-
Sonted let them reflect, deliberate, then vote
and let the act ofsecession be the echo OF an I'M
mistakablo popular fiat A judgment thus rem
dercd, demand for separation so backed, would
either be acquiesced in without the fusion of
blood, or those who rushed upon carnage to
defy and defeat it would place themselves clear
y in the wrong.
The measures now being inuugurated in the
cotton States with view apparently to Sc
cession, seems to us destitute of gravity and
legitimate force. They bear the unmistakable
impress of haste-of passion-of distrust of the
popular judgment They seem clearly intend
to precipitato the South into rebellion before
the bascessness OF the clamors which have mis-.
led and excited her, can be asccrtalnod by the
great body other people We trust that they
will be confronted with calmness, with dignity,
and with unwavering t7ust in the inherent
strength of tho Union and the loyalty Of the
American people.