The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-04-24
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE,
Gcntiemen Of the Senate,

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an extraordinary and very alarming character.
The elements Of dsunion which, in portion of
the United States, for many years, vented itself
in threats and menaces, has eliminated in open
rebellion; and an unna atural and causecss civil
war has been prcclpitated against the General
Government.
Unprncipled and ambitious men have organ,
lied despotism, and an armed force, for the
purpose ofoyerthrowing that government which
the American people have formed for themselves,
and of destroying that con titutional frame work
under which we have enjoyed peace and pros
pcrlty, and, from small and feeble people,
grown and expanded to IL rank among the first
nations OF the earth.
The enormity of this rebellion is heightened
by the consideration that no valid cause exists
for it. Tho history OF the civilized world docs
not furnish an instance where u revolution was
attempted Tor such slight causes No act of
oppression, no attempted or threatened invasion
OF the rights of the revolving States has existed
either on the part of tho General Government.
or Of the loyal States; but the principle h. ;
been recognized and observed, that the right Of
each and every State to regulate It's domestic in
stitutions, should remain inviolate
The inception and progress of this rebellion
have been remarkable, and characterized at ev-
cry stage by a total absence of any high, hon
orabe principle or motive in its leaders. Its
master spirits are composed. essentially, of men
who have been in high official position in the
General Government and it has transpred
that members Of the late Cabinet at Washing
ton, while in the exercise of their official func-
tions, were engaged IN reasonable plots for sciz
ing the public property, and subverting the
United States Government.
ot ip fln
States, chosen, in some instances, by a minority
of the legal voters in those States, have, with
indecent haste, adopted ordinances of secession
which ordinances have in no instance been sub
mitted to the people for their ratification. These
proceedings have been followed by d convention
OF delegates from the several revolving States,
which convention has organized Confederate
Government, adopted d Constitution, elected its
Executive officers and subordinate functinna1 les,
consutu ted itself into d Legislative body, and
enacted Il code of laws-all OF which proceed.
ings have been Independent of any action OF the
people Of those States.
The authorities Of the revolving States, and
subsequently that Of their Coniederacy, have
proceeded to acts OF robbery and theft upon the
property OF the United State, within their lin
It's. Forts, arsenals, arms, military stores, and
other public property have been seized and ap-
proprlated ior use against the power Of the Cen
eral Government; and custom houses and mints
in Southern cities, with large amounts of treas
ure. have been feloniousy robbed.
These acts have been followed by military
demonstrations aad strategetlcal operations
against the United States forts at Pensacola and
Char eston, the latter of which, under it's gallant
commander, Major Anderson, after lombard
ment Of thrty-tou hours from the beleayuerng
batteries OF the insurgents, was evacuated on
the 18th instant, and the Flag of the Union
Withdrawn.
But the crowning act of perfdy on the part
of the conspirators is the proclamation of JEFF
terson Davis styling himself the Presden, of
the Southern Confederacy, " inviting all those
who may desire, by service in private armed
vessels on the high seas, to aid his Government,
to make applications for commissions, or letters
grand scheme OF piracy on the high seas, against
the lives "nd private property Of our peaceful
citizens.
These acts of outrage and daring rebellion
have been equalleI only by the forbcaance Of
tho general Government. Unwilling to lrecip
ita te !. conflict which must involve the country
in all the calamitics of Civil War, the present
Government Of the United States has exhausted
every effort for peace, and every measure for
bringing back to their allegiance the disafected
and misguided States.
The duty Of protecting the Forts and Gov
ernment property, not possessed by the lnsur-
gents, was Imperative upon the Administration !;
but further than this, no measures for coercing
the revolving States into obedience to the Con-
situations and the Laws were adopted and in
the matter Of the beleagured Forts, the Govern
ment acted only on the defensive, until the con-
illct was commenced by the insurgents.
Such forbcarance on the part of the Govern
ment, while it has served to place the conspira-
tors 10 q moral wrong, is no longer justfable ;
and the Country halls, with entire unaniinity
and with ardent enthusiasm, the decision of the
President to call into requisition the whole pow
Ell OF the Nation tor suppresslng the rebellion ana
repelllng threatened aggressons.
From every part of the Country in all the
loyal States, there is one united voice for sus-
tanning the Union, the Constitution, and the
integrity of the United States Government. All
partzan differences are ignored and lost in the
higher principle of patriotism.
Ia this patriotic enthusiasm Vermont emil
ncntly participates. Her ctizeas, always loyal
to tho Union, will, in this hour of peril, nobly
rally for the protection of the Government and
the Cons titution.
On the 18th inst, the President of the Uni.
ted States issued his Proclamation, /" calling
forth the Militia of the several States of the
Union, to the aggregate number of IS 600, in
order to suppress reasonable combinations, and
cause the laws TO be duly executed
The quota required of Vermont, for immedi.