Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-05-17
WHAT THE PRESIDENT MEANS.


ange. engraved on his signct the motto.
wiH maintain" These three words became |
the bulwark Of Holland stronger than her |
dykes which kept out the sea. They were the |
shield which turned the edge Of every Span
ish sword that smotc at her liberty. Against
the craft Of two crowns, aud of all the red |
hats in the College at Rome against the cruz
ell power Of the lnquisition, with the blood Of
ST Bartholomew whetting il to keener edge; |
against the strange banner brought from Cas-
tile 20 be borne over a sunken land and pros
trate people against tratorous conspirators
within the State who, fearing the daylight,
crep, stealthily by Midnight to their treason
against each and all Of these in turn, the great
defender Of the people remembering their
ancient liberty and meaning to preserve It,
threw calmly down his iron gauntlet-ond all
Spain. and all France, and all Rome, joining
their guilty hands together. could not lit it,
nor were able TO destroy tine liberty which the
Prince bad said " will maintain
At the present time, and ON this side of the
sea, the Chief of the People Is a man whom,
during seven months, men surnamed the ST.
lent and who, when at last be spoke, held the
same speech, " | will maintain These words
are now becoming the bulvark OF the Ameri-
can as Of the Dutch Republic; the shield
which is to shver the sword that strikes at
It's liberty. Against the craft Of arrival Pres
ilent and cabinet of accomplccs against
the last desperate struggle of the Slave Pow
er, with the prestige Of forty years continued
victory TO give it hope OF one more and final
success; against strange banner that has
been huisted where neither citizens nor sol
dcrs should have seen augbt but the Stars
and Stripes against many-headed treason
calling itself Seven Sovorcgnties, each array
ed ia armed rebellion against their common
Government, their lawful Presidents solemn
duty has been and Remembering the an
ciert Constitution and meaning to preserve it
ITO take up the gauntlet thrown at his feet,
and at the point Of the sword TO give back his
answer, " will maintain
Not to speak Of the nation three days i'm
patience with the Government--which, hav-
ing good intent, has worked not harm hut
good both T. people and President--we merely
ask and answer the question. What does the
President mean =;
Scarcely more than sixty days ago he left
his home, and set out. like the Greek orator,
'' to take the helm Of state when the ship was
woll-nigh wreck" When his friends crowd
I ed round him, showing by their faces what
]
when an the nation held rs breath to catch
his .irst words they were plainly and only Of
This meaning. " will maintain When ia
every city through which be passed, the crowd
increased. CRYING still louder, 3. The Republic
is going to pieces what means you for its
satety;' his reply was always the same, "
will maintain" A. events thickcued, aud
peris multiplied, and a dav seemed like a
tttlv
lhe rebellion was lrlc, gilt edged note
sheet Of polite Secretary. and the revolution
was bursting into fury like ftorm Of haii.und
"a single breath murc was iikcly TO blow down
The dome OF the Capitol aud bury the Govern
mont beneath ii-cvcn then, In those three
perilous days, which, as three day. had been
long enough tor one successful revolution,
threatened not to be too short for another,
it was only the noise and confusion that kept
men from herring the voice for which they
listened, ana when at last they raugh, its ut
terauoe, it was in the same words, g" viii
maintain
/ Who, then, can any longer doubt what the
President means: is he ia the habit OF say
ing one thing and meaning another, Has he
naght The pcople>to take only the word Of
hi, promise, add 10 doubt its faith; a Ro-
man senator said Of the EmBcror-
- II ibis were roo now hlt th. space
Brtoern ihc breast aud lips' 'herIu.' heart
Irs thought firthrr fhtn 1unfscr mau's'
But The mon now in tic Chair of State is
frank, oad docs not conccal--is honest, and
dare rot lie.
Trta.eIcr was our Erel.t A'',cd named;
irHth lover H, rur Eulii.b NHtri
Whatever tc0..td leap 900 l.lt
he never shall Dc .Aa,ucd
Mon r,v, 500 fh.t 10 h. , f~,ta and L,,.o