Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-01-05
The Issue.


being made, will be the most momentous of any
In the history of the Government, not excepting
the long struggle between jefferson and Burr in
1901. The overshadowing issue as now indica-
ted, which will divide the parties this year, is
whether this Government, net only for the next
four years. but for all the coming years, shall
be administered solely and exclusively for the
advancement and increase of the slave power
in the Republic, and the strengthening of its
hands in Congress. or shall be equally held and
its functions impartially employed for the com.
mon benefit of the whole country. This issue
has been shaping for many years past, has been,
more or less, d mark of division between the
parties that have been in and out Of power, and
has led in times past to some of the fiercest
party struggles thave shaken almost thestabil-
| ity OF the Government But it has never before
assumed the precise type in which it is now ex-
hibited. Till within ten or dozen years, it
has been somewhat modified, softenel in it's
tone, appearing incidentally, and having only
temporary or local significance, the excitement
passing away with the occasion that gave it
birth. But it now seems never to have been
entirely lost or abandoned, but only to have
been like the currents of some rivers that here
and there disappear from the surface, and then,
further on, come again to the light, till at
length, with greatly increased volume and pow
or, they run ever in the daylight, on their way
to the sea, At these intervals where its stream
has been for the time hidden, parties have shaken
hands on the crust of solid earth above it, huve
crossedand recrossed its hidden bed, and when it
has again shown itself have found themselves
standing on the opposite bank from that which
they occupied when last its dividing line flashed in
the sunlight. EARLY in the history of the Republic
the great mass of the people, North and South,
whenever this issue appeared, ranged themselves
without hesitation on the side of Freedom, the
Constitution. the Union, and tho just and i'm
partial administration Of the Government
Federalist, and Republican, Wing and Demo-
GRAFT. without respect to party lines, stood shout
der to shoulder, voted side by side in support
OF the common country against sectioualism and
disunion. South Carolina once raised the flag
of secession and disunion, but she stood alone
No other State gathered under that banner, or
kept step to that music. The arm of jackson
In the nation, the voice of Webster in the Sen
ate, at once crushed out that sedition, and
North and South applauded the great chieftan
OF thearmy and the great eKpounder ofthe Con
stitutien. Bisunion in Jackson day was not
only unpopular, it was impossible. There were
then both hemp and grape shot for traitors, no
matter on what soil they raised the banner of
rebellion, no matter for what domestic institu-
ton they waged war on the Republic
But though rebellion had then bad luck, and
the fiery ,Hotspurs of theSouth were instantly
subdued by the patriotic forces Of the Union,
the seeds of lawlessness, sedtion, disunion, re-
Nselfion, were sown broadcast, and have been
showing blade and leaf, and bitter fruit, since,
till now every slaveholding State, the &C
cursed crop shows its rank growth of traitors,
sheds poisonous fruit of rebellion, and timid
men trembie for this glorious Republic. Ana
what is the saddest spectacle of all, to him who
loves his country and his whole country, fthel
Catilnes mho'now threaten this Republic, who
swear they will tear its radiant ensign, erase
fifteen stars from its field Of blue, and with
their black flag of Slavery flying, march out of
the Confederacy, receive strength, aid, comfort,
encouragement, from the chiefs of a great. party
at the North, from such men as Caleb Cushing
in Massachusetts,, Charles OConnor in New
York, Stephen A. Douglas in illinois, men-who
hold about the same relative position 10 the
patriotic, Union-loving men of to-day, that
Benedict Arnold did to the heroes of the Reyo-
luton.
he'diFiding line between the patriots who
now love their country, and are striving to have
it governed according to the great charter under
which it exists, and according to the spirit in
which it was baptized and placed among the ma.
tions of tho world, and the traitors, who declare
they will have no more to do with it, will no
longer support it, but will in arms resist its au-
thority, unless they are permitted to makeit the
nurse, the protector, the igiend, the propaganda
list of Slavery, is clearly marked, and we are
not sorry that it is 80, On the one side THERE
publican party, comprising the intelligence, the
learning, the patriotism, the religion of the
North, appears with its constantly augmening
forces, carrying the Gag and keeping step to
,hte music of the Union 1t makes war upon