The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-05-16
Defensive War.

lot Christianity, that universal peace Woulu
reign triumphant among the nations OF the
earth. In this case the fearful implements
of warfare would be beat into those of peace
full husbandry. But that fopdly hoped for
period in the worlds history has not yet ar
rived. We cannot contemplate tho bloody
ravages Of war without emotions of horror.
1t must hurry contendng thousands to the
grave and fill the land with lamentation and
sorrow-para yze business and debasc morals.
But still a defensive war must be regarded
as a necessity. The law of seIfdcleuce is
one that is recognized by God and nature
In..'h great National struggle in which we
are now involved, our Government is most
clearly acting in the defence of our most sa'
cred rights. What is our Government bat
rope Of sand, on the supposition that disai-
fected minority have a right, at pleasure, to
throw off its authority, and DEFY its power
We recognize most clearly the hand of Prov
idence in guiding our fathers to these shores,
across the wide waste Of waters, and
giving them here a goodly heritage. 1t
was only by Divine direction, aided by in
spired truth, that our fathers laid the tounda-
tion on which rests the fair fabric of our
free institutions. Here We have been per-
mitted to enjoy unexampled prosperity. This
Country has been an asylum for the oppressed
of the Old World here they have been
cheerully welcomed to inviting homes and
rcmunerativc occupations Our agricultural
resources have been wonderfully developed,
and the sails of our extensive commerce
whiten every sea. The Christianity which
we have here cherished has been active and
aggressive, and our missionaries have gone
forth to carry the light of Christian hope to
multitudcs in foreign lands, sitting i'll the
darkness Of hcathenism We have our
pleasant homes and cherished interests all
granted us under the fostering influence Of
the Government which the people have
chosen, and God has blessed.
The great question now is, shall our Gov
ernmcnt he maintained? Is it worth the
cost of blood and treasure to uphold it, or
shall we suffer it be crushed under the iron
heel of the rebelious f4ctions that are now
in arms against it ? What Constitutional
right has been violated 10y the Government,
for which these Rebels propose thus in arms
to assal her :? The idea of peaceful ad-
J liustment Of these difficulties sounds pleasant
'llv. but the Rebels vii! be satisfied with no
terms, short OF the eutiro subjugation OF the
Government. We see now that those who
would delay prompt action to resist rebellion,
were the most deadly foes of tho Govern
ment.
Really, the most injurious OF all the de-
mands that have been made from the Sou!h
have been the demands of the pretend ed
friends of the Union there, that we should
\ not execute the aws--that the Constitution
: should not exert its force TO defend itself till
they had time, by threats or intrigue, to de-
privc it o.! the power Of defence. So that
+, really the open sccessionists have done little
r harm for the past two months, compared with
S those who plead for Union, in plea against
0 coerc~u.
Let US then like Christian patriots, meet
# this great issue of Government or no Govern
> ment. Surely the events OF the past dem
onstratc to us that our Government is worth
preserving at any costs. Here centers tht
g { fondy cherished earthly hopes OF millions IL
t our own country The Star-spangled banne
n is as dear to them as liberty anl life, and ou
II fondost hope for posterity is connected witt
e the permanency Of that form of governmon
e for which our fathers bled aud sacrificed. Blu
!, the interests of our country are not alone con
y cerncd The star of American liberty ha
= long been throwing the radiance of hope upo
,e the bosoms Of the otherwise despairing mill
a a ions whose limbs have long been CALLED by tn
1t chains of oppression. If we were to make
failure in this great experiment for sell gov
% ernment it would apparently roll back tn
progress of humanity for ages, and fearful