The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-06-25
The Objects OF Treason.


Personal ambition Is not the only in
cenlivc or object Of the present rebellion,
There we're those aud not a few in the
Southern States, who even when South
ern rule was firm and 10 all appearances
invincible, earnestly desired separate
government. There were those, paricu-
LARRY ia South Carolina, who had no relish
for our free institutions they despised
the greasy mechanics" the " mud sills y
Of society, as Senator Hammond termed
the laboring people Of the North. They
hated government which afforded the
opportunity Of political prefermeni and
official place TO such men. In their view
no one was eligible to Office who was not
gentleman and born " gentleman Z
at that. They longed for the titles, the
insignia, the honqrs and the obcisance Of
monarcbieal inst&1tions.
But while this was not an universal nor
perhaps general feeling at the South,
there was another subject upon which
th,re was less difference Of opinion. Il
was the status of Slavery. Since the days
Of Washington and Jefferson, their views
on this subject had undergone an entire
change. They had come gradually TO the
belief that slavery was right and just;
their divines, their men Of letters and their
statesmen united il declaring slavery to be
an institution founded on the laws Of Ma
ture and of God.
And here arose the great difficulty. II
slavery was such thing as they believed
il 10 be, It should be encouraged, strength
cned. expanded. There should be no OBJ
stacles 70 its growth and progress. In
the Constitution of the United States they
met such an obstacle for although il am
ply protected the institution within the
limits of the States, yet the constitutional
existence Of slavery in the territories was
a matter Of serious doubt, while the Con-
stitution forbid in express terms the i'm
portation Of negroes from abroad.
Here, then, may be found the chief OBJ
ieet Of the rebellion. 1t is 10 fortify and
build up the institution Of slavery; to es
tablish nation in which slavery shall lie
the foundation and main interest; 10 le-
galize and nationalize a system of labor
which even the feeble and more imperfect
civilization Of past generations was uuwil-
ling 10 tolerate.
That ii is the intention of the conspira-
tors TO extend the domains Of slavery adj
mits Of no doubt. Indeed, such is the
ayowed sentiment and boast Of their lead
ing spirits and he who believes that their
present cunning device Of prohibiting the
foreign slave trade would last longer than
the acknowledgement Of their indepcnd-
ence, il credulous indeed.
1t is this accused purpose which marks
the rebellion with the darkest dyes Of in
fanny and guilt. II is not only treason,
but treason in her most revolving and de-
graded aspect.
An oppressed and yirtuons people no
bly, coniending against the superior mum
beers aud resources Of tyranny, may well
enlist the sympathy and the well wishes
Of the brave and good but Boosting
band Of rebels, seeking by an unexampled
course Of perfdy and ingralilude to de-
siroy a government which has ever pro-
teeied and watched over them with ma
ternal solicitude, and to build from its ru-
ins an unnatural government, whose vital
principle shall be the bondage Of feeble
and unfortunate race Of fellow beings. viii
receive from m aroused and indignant
public sentiment throughout the globe,
that scorn, contempt and maledielion hich
they 50 justly deserve.