Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-12-27
GEN. PHELPS, PROCLAMATION,
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLEsEX B I6ADE,
Ship Island, Miss, Dec. 4, 1861.
To fLs }ou5I ,,,i~,rs r IL, Sn,,l,rsst.

Ship Island, Miss, Dec. 4, 1861.
10 Tie loyal citizens Of The Southwest
Without any desire of my own, but contrary K
my private inclination, again find mysslf smops 9
you ae military ofieer of the Government. A
proper respect for my fellow countrymen renders
1t not out Of place that should make known
10 you the motives and principles by which my
command will be governed
/ Wo believe that every State that hae been ad-
| nltted as slave tate into the Union since the
adoption OF the Contribution has been 20 ad-
! mitted In direct viola ion of that Constitution.
" . believe that the slave States which existed
as such. at the adoption of our Constitution are,
oy becoming pa ties TO that compact under the
highest obligations OF honor and morality to
abolish slavery.
Ii Is our conviction thai monopoies are as
destructive ss competition is conservative of the
principles and vitallties Of Hepubi lean govern
ment; that slave labor is z monopoly which
Excludes tree labor and competition; that slaves
are sep IN comparative ldIene and ease in
lertiIe halt OF our araUle natIoual territvry lie
ire, white IaoOTeIs, constantly augmenting in
numbers IRON Europe, confined 10 tae other
halls anu are often distressed by want; that the
free labor # the Nor,h has nvre Iced of e1-
pan-.ou into the Southern States, from which it is
virtually exci uded, than slavery mad into Texas
IA Is46; thar free l4Ocr Is iai 10 free in
stltutlOus; that these institutions are naturally
better adapted AZ more cungsnial ~ the Anglo
saxon race than the despotic tendencies Of
slavery and finally, that the dominant political
principles of this North American continent, 30
Ion l the CaGctsiIa race continues 10 fJw in
upon Us from Europe must needs be that of
free institutions and fec government ANY
distractions to the progress Of that form of
government In the United States must inevitably
be attended with discord and war
slavery, from the condition Of universally re.
coEnized social and moral evil, has become at |
length political institution demanding political
recognition. 1t demands rights 10 the exclusion |
and annihilation Of those rights which are insured
to US by the Constitution; and We must choose |
between them, which we will have, for we cannot |
have botl. The Constitution was made for free |
men, not for slaves. Slavery, as a social evil /
might, for time, be tolerated and endured; but /
as d political institution 1t becomes imperiouS aud
exactlng controlling, like dread necess sitv, all
whom circumstances have compelled to live under
its sway, lampering their action and thus impei-
ing our national progress. As political institu.
tion 1 could exist as a Coordinate part only Of
two form Of government, in the despotic and the
free and it could exist under free government |
only where public sentiment, in the most uure-
strIcted exercise of a robust freedom, leading 10
extravogance and licentiousuess. had swayed the
thougAts and habits OF tle people beyond the
bounds and liu.lts Of their own moderate aud con-
,tItutIOnal provisions 1t could exist under
Of unreasoning exuavs- ance mad permitted popu-
ar claulor TO overcome puplic reason, and had at
empted the imp0ssibility OF setting up perma
lenLiy az political institution social evil which
5 opposed TO moral law.
BY reverting to the history Of the past, we iiud
hst one OF the most destructive wars on record
nat Of the treuc1 revolution, was originated by
ne attempt ty give political character To an in
tltutlon when wBs lot susceptible Of political |
nsracter The cuuic cn, By b,In! endowed with 20
II powe win - coAYeut-, lis schvo4s lie in
1euse laud,u wealth. It's associations, secrvt end
pen, became the Tulin- power OF The state and
nus occasioued war # mure stIic AMI bl ,od-
he'd, probably, than ANY othse war vnicD has
Isolated the earth.
Slavery Is still less susceptible OF political {
haracter than the chuTou; IL il ~ fit at this
lomenJ Tor the lumuvr room u the p4st &c was in
1913 the monastery, tho lsnded wealth, the ex- ,
lusive privilege, etc, OF the Catholic church N
rance. IL behOovcs 10 consider, as a selt-gov-
rning people, bred and reare aid practIced IN 4
be habits OF sei-gOvernmcnt, whether we cannot, c
-hether We ought not to TevoIutIonzs slavery out
existence, without the necessity OF a conflict Of
rms, like that Of the French Revolution
Indeed we feel ass ured that the moment our
out thern brethren, every en O. whom have proc
bly, seven relatives IN the North, would begin TO :
merge from hateful delirium. From that mo- [
snt rsheved frUnn Imsg nary terroTs, their days
scone happy and their nights peaceab,e and tree
u N alarm; the aggrt gate ainouAt Of labor uuder
le new stimulus u lar cCLpetlon becomes :
-e2ter day by Gay, property rises ~ value; iu-
goTstIng Influences succee TO stIguatlon, de-
ncracy and decay; and union, harmony and / U
ace, o which we have ~ long Uecn stsaugtrs, {
come rostUred, and olnd Us AGAIN in the bonds / :
friendship and ami when se first began \
II national career under car glorious govern ,
eat u Ilo@.
W hy DO the leaders Of the rebellion seek 30 a
ause the tortn vt our snclcnt government? 1t Il
be ause the growth Of he African element Of d
a. population has come al lergth 70 render a ( {
.tage necessary NiiI yUu -rnIt the Tree gov
nment under which you have thus f4r lived,
lea Is we'll suited 10 the development Of true
iuhovd 10 be altered toa bel.ttliug despotIsm, III
der 70 adapt tle necessities OF Inerant slaves
u the requirements Of their proud AMI aristocIa,ic
ineis. VIII tue laoOrlng men Of the SCUM
nd their necks to the same yoke that is united
the slave We think not. We may safely
swer that the time has not arrived when our
uthcrn Dre h1en, for the mere sake Of keeping
ricans 4 slavery, Will abandon their long cher
Ied free institutions and enslaye themselves.
II the conviction Of my command as a part
the National forces of the United States that =
Dor, manual labor, is inherently noble; that it
mot be systematically degraded by any cation II
t bout running its peace, happiness and power;
at free labor Is the granite basis on which free
,tituions must rest; that it is the right, the cap
], the Inheritance, the hope of the poor man q
erywhere that it is especially the right Of five cl
lions Of our countrymen in the Slave States av
well as the four millions of Africans there, and :;
our efforts, therefore, however small or great, 20
ether directed against the interference of gov III III
lments from abroad, against rebellious COM IL
lations at home, shall be for free labor. Our OF
ito and our nndard shall be, here and every tt
ere, and on all occasions-FREE LABoR AND 20
Rights. II is on this basis and 6,
$ basis alone, that onr munifcent government -
he asylum Of the natiors-can be perpetuated J"
1 preserved. Cd
J. ". PHELPS. DC