The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-01-25

outweigh the premium offered by polite;
and military ambition? What leisure Wi
the citizens find for study or invention, q
art, under conscription: nay, what interest i
them will society feel when fear an
hate shall have taken possession
of the national mind? Let the Mi
ncr in California take heed: for its goldel
wealth will become the prize of the nation
that can command the most iron. Let III,
bordcrer take care Cor the Indian will agaii
lurk around his dwelling. Let the pioneer
come back into our denser settlements: io
the railroad, the post road and the telegraph
advance not one furlong further into lht
wilderness. With standing armies consum
ing the substance of our people on the land
and our navy and our postal steamers with
drawn from the ocean. who will protect or re-
spect, or who will even know by name our
petty confederacies? The American man-ot-
war is noble spectacle have seen it en-
ter an ancient port in the Mediterranean. Al
the world wondered at it. and talked of it
Salvos of artillery. from forts and shipping
in the harbor saluted its flag. Princes and
princesses and merchants paid it homage
and all the people blessed it as harbinger
of hope for their own ultimate freedom.
imagine now the same noble vessel again en-
tering the same haven. The haS Of thirty
three stars and thirteen stripes has been
hauled down, and its place signal is run up
which haunts the device of lone star
or palmetto tree. Men ask, "Who is tie
stranger that thus steals into our waters .
The answer contemptuously given is. "Shc
comes from of the obscure republics Of North
America. Let her pass on
Lastly, public liberty. our own peculiar
liberty. must languish for time. and then
cease to live. And such liberty. Free
movement everywhere throughout our land
and throughout the world: free speech. free
press, free suffrage the freedom of every
subject to vote on every law, and for or a
gainst every agent who expounds, administers
or executes. Unstable and jealous consede
raeics, constantly experimenting assaults
without and treason within, formidable only
to each to each other and contemplate to all
beside; how long will it be before, on the
plea Of public safety. they will surrender all
this incStimahle and uncqualed liberty, and
accept the hateful and intolerable espionage
oe military dcSpo;ism?
And now. Mr. President. what is the cause
ior this sudden and eternal sacrifice of 50
much safety, greatness, happiness and free
dom? Have for-i IN nations combined. and
are they coming in rage upon Us? No. SO
far from their being enemies there i. not a
nation on earth that is not an interested, ad-
mir;ng friend. Even the London Times. bv
10 means partial to US. says
At is ,,uite possible that the problem of 4
democratic republic MAY be solved by its O.
verthrow in i few days in spirit of folly.
sciti,huess and >hort-Si ishtedness.
Has the the federal government become
tyrannlc;tl OF oppressive. or even rigorous or
uu>ound? Has the constitution lost It's sp;r-
It. and al al once collapse iaIo lft..e>, let
ter? No; the federal government smiles
more beulgnantiy, and works TODAY more
benelicenty than ever. The Constitution is
even the chosen model for ;he organization
Of the ncwl y rising coEtcGerucit-s.
The occasion Is The election OF a president
OF the United States. vino is unacceptable to
portion Of The people. There WAS no move
ment OF o!>union before the ballots which
eXpr,, ,,sed that choice We're cast. Disunion
Ut,ali as soon rs the result was announced
The Justification II asst isnci was that Abra-
ham Lincoln had been elected While the sue
cess OF either one ot three other candidates
would have been acqulesced In. Was the e.
lection illegal? No, il is Inimpeachable l.
tie Candidate personally offensive? No. he
Is a man OF unoiemlsheu virtue and au..aDIt
,,t,
frequent or extraordinary transactiono Ne.
VT never had ohet magistrate otherwise de
iSnated than by such election, and that form
oi choice is renewed every four years. Does
any one even propose TO change the mode o.
! appointing the chiei maSls;rateo No, elec-
tiun by universal suffrage, Us modified by the
constitution. i, tnC one crowniug franchise
OF the American people. To save it they
void defy the world. Is it apprelrnl.eu
that tie new president will usurp despite
powers? No, While he is of all men The
most unamO!tlouS. he is, BY The partial sue
cess OF those VINO opposed his eieolion. sub
lrcteu 10 such restraints that he cannot
Without their consent, appoint 4 minister, oi
even ponce agent, negotiate Il treaty. or
procure the passage OF 4 law, and Can kardl,
draw a musket from the public ay,cnalS to
defend It's Own person.
What, then, Is the ground Of discomfort: !:
1t Is that the d.Sunionlsts did not accept as
conclusive, the arguments which were urged
III belat OF the successful Candidate IN the
can, ass. Ihls is ali. We.c Their own aryu-
uIent> s,alii>t INN more satisfactory - his
supporters? OK course they were not; t:.ei
could not be. Does The constitution. III let
Ter or srirli, require or IMPLY tt the ar5u-
, uients y. one pa:ty shall be sall>idctor, 10
the other? No, that Is impossible. What
Is The constitutional remedy Tor this :neyil;,-
Ole dissatisfaction Renewed debate and
ultimate re-hearlns III Il subsequent election.
Have the now successful majority perverted
power to purposes CT opprcssIon? No, they
have never before held power. Alas. how
prone we are to undervaluc privileges anu
blessings. How glaciy, how proudly, would
tue people oi any nation III Europe accept,
Oh Sucn terms as VT ENJOY It, The boon ot t.
lcctinS Il chiet mag istratc every four wears
Dy tree, equal. and universal suffrage, iiow
thankful! would they cast aside al lneir own
systems ot so, cIiimrnt, and acccp, this rc-
pubic OF GUYS, Win ali lis SHORTCOMINGS
and lis diSappolntments, maintain it with
tne!r arms, and cherish 1t III Their hearts. Is
1t hot The Her! boon Tor which they suppl
caie GOD Without ceaslng, and even wage
var, wli:l intcrmissloms only resulting from
Exhaustion? !Io" strange are tie times lii
which VIZ live. Inc Coming spring season.,
." the otaer s!de ot the Atlantic, VIII open
on d general conflict, wased 10 obtain, through
whatever lndrecilUn, just such Il sl stem as
ours; anu on TINS eide of the Atlantic, with
N the same parallels of latitude, it viii open on
iraternai War, wased III moment o! irc.zici
discomfort, 10 overthrow and annlhllate the