Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-04-30
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Gentlemen Of The Senate,

in threats and menaces, has eliminated in open
rebellion and an unnatural and c~ausoless evil
war las been precipitatcd against the General
Government.
UuwIacpIcl and ambitious men have organ
lied 4 desp1tlsm and an armed force, for the
purpose ofoyartarowipg that government which.
the American people have formed lor themselves,
aud Of destroying that con tultouai irame work
under which we have enjoyed peace aud pros
perlty, and, from u small and feeble people,
grown and expanded to u rank among the lrst
nations ol the earth
TIE enornlty Of this rebellion is heightened
by the consideration that 40 valid cause exists
Cor it. The history OF the civilized world does
not furnish an instance where a revolution was
attempted for 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 the toaeral Government,
or Of the loyal States but the principle has
been recognized and observed, that the right OF
each and every State TO regulate lts domestle IN
situations, should remain l%nylola'c.
TIE inception and progress OF thls rebellion
have been remarkable, and characterized AZ ey-
cry stage by a total absence Of any high, hon
0rabIe principle or motive 10 rs leaders. Its
master spirits are composed. essentially, OF men
who have been in high official position in the
General Government and it has transpired
that members OF the late Cabinet at Washing
ton, while in the exercise Of tboir Official iunc
lions, were engaged ~ reasonable plots for seiz'
lng the public property, and sulycrtmS the
United States Government.
Conventions ol delegates in the revolving
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 ia no instance been sub
mitted to the people for their ratification. These
proceedings have been followed by Il convention
Of delegates from the several revolving States,
which convention has organized a Confederate
Government. adopted a Constitution, elected its
Executive officers and subordinate luuetiuna1ies,
constituted itself into a Legislative body, and
enacted 4 code OF laws-all Of which proceed
ings have been Independent Of any acton Of the
people Of those States.
/ Tie authorities Of the revolving States, and
subsequently that Of their Coulederacy, have
proccedcd to acts Of robbery and theft upon the
n property Of the United State, within their lin
= It's Forts, a%rsenals, arms, military stores, and
other public property, have been seized and ap-
proprilted for use against the power OF the Cen
ertl Government and custom houses and mints
in Southern cities, with large amounts OF treas
I urc. have been feloniously robbed.
These acts have been followed by military
demonstrations and strateg neal operations
~ against the United States forts ~ Pensacola and
= Char cston the latter Of which, under rs gallant
- essswBfnsainftGdTT rtN4l Ri jjar s&52ahfasF 1ly7osm tie 5eleaaSaiait'fFiiHHss
, batteries Of the insurgents, was evacuated on
the 18Th instant. and the Flag of the Union
d" withdrawn.
Bat the crowuing act Of poriig on The part
e OF the cluspirllors IL the proclamation OF Jei-
) fers1n Davis styling himself the President OF
the Southern Con(ederacy, L" inviting all those
who may desire. by service N private armed
vessels on tue high seas, 10 aid his Government,
t. mako applications for commissions, or letters
OF marquo or r%epriS,l, > thus lnstltGting Il
grand scheme Of piracy On the high seas. against
BY the lives snd private property OF our peaceful
It's citizens
These acts Of Outrage and daring rebellion
IN, have been c%qualled only Ivy the iorbcirance oi
y the general Government. Unwilling to lrecip'
he rate u coolict which must involve the country
Wy in All the calamities Of Civil War, the present
Government Of the United States has exhausted
rs every ciflr. ,5r peace. and every measure Tor
bringing back to their allegiance the dlsliiec'ed
or and misguided States.
set The daty Of protecting the Forts and Gov
go ernmcat property, not possessed by the insur'
gents, was Imperative upon tue administration
TED but furt5er than this, no measures Tor coorclns
nj tie revolving States into Oh 'dienc' to tue Con
stitutious and the Laws were adopted and "
to- the matter of the ~belcagurcd Forts, tn Govern
mcai acted only On the defensive, until tae con
me, aict was commenced by the insurgents.
feel Such lurboarance on the part OF the uoycrn
70 mcnt, while il has served 70 place tue conSplra
, in tors in a moral wrong, is no longer Justnaole
we aud the Country halls, with entire unanImlty
the and with ardent enthusiasm, the decision oil III
| be President to call into vquisltion the whole po"
or Of tle Nation Cor supprcs'ins the rebellion an
/. ~rcpellmg threatened ass,es'iaas'
we'd, From every part Of the Country, in all III
n at loyal States, there is on united y0lce Tor su
here tanning the Union, the Constitution, and III
Nil. integrity OF the United States Government. a
~partizln differences are ignored aud lost in II
not higher principle oi patriotism.
In this patriotic enthusiasm, Vermont EN-
0 be ncntly participates. Her c%itzcas, always loyl
to the Union, will, in tAis hour OF peril, mob
heir rally Cor the protection Of the Government ~
5'on the Constitution.
On the 18th inst, the presiden, OF the I'm
ling led States issued his Proclamation, " ellIlu
ton forth the Militia Of the several States ol u
t all Union, 10 the aggregate number of 10 ,0OO,
order TO suppress reasonable Combinations al
way cause the laws to be duly executed.
nna Tho quota repaired Of Vermont, Tor lmmeC
ate f, %rvice, is one Regiment Of $50 officers al
a"el %priyates.
On receiving the rcquisition from the Seer
4. tary Of War, Tor this regiment, ordered t
GOV Adutlnt aud Inspector General To adopt I
the proper measures lOr calling INTO service sach
says the volunteer companies as are necessary
nj to make up the complement ana tue Vuatu
rider. Master General WAS directed to procure, WI
Iam- the least possible delay The requisite ou'n'
knapsacks, oyer-coats, blankets aud other equi
eetcd ments, which duty he has performed.
, and Having adopted the foregoing prei'm,na
,laaras c,r rsananlno q, tho call of the Pr