Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-12-20
GEN. BuTLERs EXPEDITION.


Ship Island, of the coast Of Mississippi
The steamship Constitution, which left Ship
Island on the 9TH inst, arrived at New York
on the 10th
Ship Island is situated about 70 miles from
Mobile, 65 miles from New Orleans and 10
miles from Mississippi City, and is to be made
the depot for large military force and ox-
tcnsive supplies Of munitions, and arrange
mcnts are TO be made for making decent from
the island on some one Of the strongholds Of
the rebels, in connection with the navy.
Immediately upon reaching Ship Island,
Brig. Gen. Phelps issued proclamation to
the people Of the southwest. setting forth tho
objects Of his mission, and the principles that
would govern his action in conducting the
campaign. lie takes strong anusavery
ground, and the sentiments Of the prociama-
ton will find universal and hearty response
In the hearts Of Vermonters The proprety
Of issuing such a document at this time we do
not propose to discuss, but must leave our
readers FOR the present to peruse the docu-
ment itself, which is as follows
HEADQUARTERS MtnnLgsgx BRfa,Du,
Ship Island Miss, Dec 4
10 the Loyal Citizens Of the Soufhwest:
Without any desire u my own, but contrary Ia my
private inclination, again find myself among you as a
military officer N the Government proper respect Tor
M, follow conntrvmen renders Il not out Of place that
should make known to you the motives and principles by
/ which my command wi be- governed.
We believe that every State that has been admitted
slave State into the Union since the adoption u the
Constitution has been admitted in direct violation Of
that Constitution.
believe that the slave States which existed such
at the adoption Of our CONSTITUTIONS are, by becomng
parties h, compact under the highest obligations Of
honor and morality 10 abolish slavery.
II is conviction that mouopohcs as destructive
competition Is conservative Of the principles and Vi
aites n Republican governments that slave labor is
monopoly which excludes free labor and competition
TINT slaves kept in comparative deness and IN
fertile hf NJ arabic national territory while free.
white lalofers constantly aupmeuuv 10 numbers from
Europe are confined the other half and often dis
trcssed by that the free labor Of the North has
need Of expansion into the Southern States from
which is virtually excluded than slavery had into Tex
u 1916 that free labor is essential To fee Institutions
that these Institutions naturally better adapted and
more cauqenia TO the Anglo Saxon race than are the
dcspotc tendencies Of slavery and finally that thf do
mnani political principles Of this North American con-
tnen' so long as the Caucasian race continues % nov
~ upon US from Europe, must needs he mat OF tte n
sututons and fee government Any distractions TO tho
progress Of that form Of government in the United States
must inevitably be attended With dscord aud war.
Slavery, from the condition II universally recognized
social and moral evil has become at Length politira
institution demanding political recognition. Il demand
rights to the exclusion and aunhiaton u those ph'
which are insured 10 US by the Constitution and "
must choose between them which we will have ior "
cannot have both The Constitution made for ffc
n for a time he ta,erated aud endurrd but as a polite
ritutnr h. becomes imperious and exactiur coutr,
ing like dred necessity, alt whom circumstance Ia
compelled To- live under It's sway, hamperug their ac
and thus Impeding our national progress As polite
Il institution II could exist as CO ordinate part only
forms N government, in the despouc and the IRE
e and IL could exist under free government only whp
public sentiment in the most unrestricted exercise Of
robust freedom, leading to extravagance aud icentiou
n ness had swayed the thoughts aud habits Of the poop
hcyund the bounds and limits Of their own mndeai co
su'ional provisions II could exist under free go
10 eminent only when the people in period Of unfeasonin
10 cNtravaganoe had permitted popular cl'm1r 10 oNecom
,, public reason. and had Attempted the impossibliy
setting up permanently as political institution sooia
!, evil which is opposed 30 moral law.
By revcrng the history Of the past find that
Of the destructive record that Of the French
revolution, originated by the attempt to give pc ca
character institution which suscep tihe Of
political character The church by being endowed with
political power with It's converts its schools its I'M
mcnse landed wealth. its associations seotet and open,
became the ruling power N the state and thus occaoned
other which has desolated the earth.
slavery still less susceptible Of political character
than was the church it is fit At this moment for the
the landed wealth, the exclusive privilege etc. Of the
Catholic Church in France Ii behnoyps consider
a. seitgoyeug people bred and reared and practccd
Co. me habits Of self goyernmcnt. whether cannot
whether We ought not TO rcyouionize slavery out of
iigncs without thG necessity Of conflict u arms like
u..t oi the French Revoati1n
Indeed, we feel assured that the moment slavery is
abolished, from that moment Southern brethcrn
every ten OF whom have probably relatives ia The
North. would begn IN emerge from hateful dclrum.--
From that nlmeut relieved from aginay tefrors. their
days become happy their nights peaoeabe aud free
from alarm the aggregate amount Of labor under the
new stimulus Of fair competition, becomes greater day
ny Gay property rises in value nvgorating Influences
Succeeded 10 stagnation, degeneraoy and decay and
uhlou' harmony and peace, 10 which We have long
neen strangers become restored aud bind US again to
he bonds OF friendship and amiiy when first began
i7s5" 'o"' career under our glorious government Of
3
the form OF our ancient government II is because the
growth Of the African element Of your population has
come at length 10 render chsnge necessary Will you
pcTm the frrc government under which you have thus
Tar lived which Is so well suited to the development Of
tue manhood, to beltting despotism, 10 order to
requirements Of their proud and aristncrauc owners
wa the laborirg Of the South bond their necks 20
the same yoke that is united TO the slave We think
not We may safely answer that the time has not
rived whom our Southern brethen for the sake Of
keeping Africans lie slavery, will abandon their long
ch,lshed free institutions and enslave themselves.
~ Is ne conviction oi my command, as part Of the
National forces Of the United States that labor
he'r Is inherently noble that it cannot be systcmat
GUY degraded by any nation without running is pence
happiness and power that free labor is the granite basis
on which free institutions must rest that tis the right
the capital the inheritance the hope Of the poor
everywhere that it is especially the right OF five mil
mons Of our fellow counfvmen in the slave states well
m" four millions Africans there and all our efforts
therefore, however small or great, whether directed
agtinst the Interference Of governments from abroad
against rche1us combinations at home shall he for free
labor Onr motto ind our standard shall be, here and
everywhere, and ou all ocoasons-FRBE LABOR AND
WoHRINGsBN's RiGHTs. II is on this basis, and this
basis alone, that muu6cent govemment-the asy um
Of the lauons-can be perpctuated and preserved.
j. W PHELPS.
Brig Gen. Of Volunteers Commanding.
The proclamation met with varied reoep-
ton from those under the command of Gen.
Phelps, some dissenting from the position
therein taken, and others doubling the expe-
diency of issuing such a paper at this time.
1t was, however, sent to the main land to be
delivered to the people on the shore.
Gen. Phelps is brave and determined Of
fieer, and goes out to fight the battles of his
country, with no hope of ease and pleasure
to himself, and his proclamation shows that
he is determined to be frank and tell them
just what he means to do. With the past
experience of our army officers in issuing pro-
CARNATIONS, we shall not be surprised to hear
that Gen. Phelps proclamation is either
countermanded, or that he is superseded in
his command. Such is the fate of our brave
and efficient army officers, and such is the
r