Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-05-24

From the New York Commercial AIr,r,.--r

Thus spake Mr.. JEFF rsOE Davis IN HI
message to the Congress now i'll session d
Montgomery. Let us interpret the words O;
the rebels by their deeds.
On the 2Sth of December last, ther s.z
Fort Moultrie, Castle Pinckney, the Custom
House, PostOfce and Arsenal - Charleston.
all OF them indisputably tho property OF the
Federal Government.
On the 2l Of January they seized Forts
Pulaski and jackson, and the United States
arsenal a Savannah, all Of them indisuura-
bly, the property of she Federal Government.
On the 4th Of January they seized Fort
Morgan and the arsenal at Mobile, also tc
property OF the Federal Government.
On the 9th OF January they f-od into til
Star OF the West, bea ing the United States
Tag and carrying provisions and reinforce
ments to United States fort.
On the ltl Of January tney seized the
Cuited States Arsenal 1T Baton ROuge. and
Forts Pike and jackson.
On the 18th of January they seized tie
United States Navy Yard at Pensacola and
Fort BIrancas, and have ever since been
preparing to attack Fort Pickens and wrest
it from the United States.
On the 3Ist Of January thy seized the
:
and the mint with its treasure.
On the 20th Of February they took, by tie
surrender Il the arca-trdi,Or Twiggs, the mu-
nitions Of war and other public rropert; IL
Texas.
On the 18th of Apri they bombarded and
captured Fort Sumter.
On the 18th Of April Mr.. Jef.rson Dayi-
Invited Ofcrs for lettOrs OF m.rque. wagin.,
II
ernment of the United States.
On the 18th Of April the rcb-l Secretary
Of War publicly proclaimed their intention
to attack the national capital, and boas.ec
that ty the lst Of Nay, the rebel 1tz would
fl at from the Federal Capitol.
In every case of the SEIZURE # public prop
erty they hauled down the fIg OF the United
States and hoisted a rebel flag in It's place.
Yet ''all they want is to be let alone"
AuI we have enumerated UulY the more
prominent acts Of aggression and war wazcd
by the rebels against the constitutional gov
ernment Of the United States. We nigh
tell Of vessels seizsd, both national anu pTi-
yat". OF threats and monacas Of the su!juga-
ton Of the l0Jal States t. their despotism.
the driving Of loyal citizens from their
homes within insult Gnd jury, and the con-
hscation Of their propc- ty the a-.osI dHd
imprisonment cf United S,..5s cflcers anj
United States soldiers, wbo were loyal o.
their g1ve-cuent, and ia1uDeIsbl5 c-he-
acts Of aggression uTon thu RIGHTS nd r..
fIg OF tie LEi5ei States. And Iy6 '.-l
thcy waac is to be let alone
That IS to s4y, having inaC cu-ated ~Ob-
berry and armed rebellion before the covert
ment was p-,fared to prevent and punish
such crimes, and finding that the rcJp.e Of
the loyal States have 2wOac 70 the real re-
ture of their proceedings and purpose, and
that it is n0 longer safe to wage war uv0-.
Us, they become sudden converts t.
peace policy, and ak not only eze2l - q
from punishment but permission . retain
all they have stolen. = All they want IS 70
be let alone" But that cannot 6s. There
can be no peace now until the disgrace T. tho
United States fIg Is wiped away and atom
ior no - letting alone" now. until cycrT
vessel, mint, arsenal, navy yard, t0-t-eveIy
dollars worth and every FOOT Of property
stolen from the goyernm and private inGl-
viduals-is restored or compensated for. NJ
cessation now Of the war which tie rebels
were the first u begin, until eyerywhers
within the area occupied by the thirty-fcur
states of the Union the stars and stripes Goat
IN their beauty, and tie constitution Of the
United States Is openly recoguIz d anu the
laws OF the United States unhesitatingly
Obeyld. II the rebels want 10 be let alone they
must openly proclaim their submission 70
the federal government and make full atone
ment and restitution for the wrongs they
have inflicted upon it.