The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-08-10
CHE l1oiIp fresmo1.
MONTPELIER, va,
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1861.
Extracts from a Late Speech Of Hon. Joseph
Holt of Kentucky.

Holt of Kentucky.
1t is not my purpose to occupy you with any
political discussion. The cleaning banner, the
glistening bayonets, and the martial music, and
indeed all that meets the eye or the ear upon
this tented field, admonish me that with you at
least the argument is exhausted, and that you
have no longer doubts to solve or hesltatlng
convictions to confirm Your resolution Is ta-
ken, and you openly proclaim that, let Others
do as they will, as for yourselves, unchillod by
the Arctic airs of neutrality, you are deter
mined to love your country, and, unaWeo ny
traitors to fight its battles and, if need be, to
Law down YOUR lives for its preservation. II is
indeed transporting to tie patriots heart to
look uuon the faces of men that are thus sub
timely resolved, and there is for me positive
enchantment in the very atmosphere whose pal
sa,ions have been stirred by the brcathlngs OF
their heroic spirits. Now that the booming OF
the cannon OF treason and the cry OF men
stricken unto death for fidelity to our flag are
borne to us on almost every breeze, 1t Is narrow
, ing to the soul to be dragged into companion
shin with those who still yacllate, who arc still
timidly balancing chances and codly ca lcnla
ting losses and gains--who still persist in treat
ing this agonized struggle for national existence
as o petty question OF commerce, and dellDer-
ately take out their scales and weigh in our
presence the boggarlv jewels Of trade against
the life Of our country.
Soldiers, next to the worship Of the Father
of us all, the deepest and grandest OF human
emotions is the love Of the land that gave US
J birth. 1t is an enlargement and cxaltatIOn OF
all the tenderest and strongest syinpathles OF
kindred and Of home. In all centuries ana
climcs it has lived, and has dehed chains ana
dnnoeoos. and racks to crush it. 1t has strewet
the earth with its monuments, and has 6heo un
diving lustre on Il thousand fields ON Whlch /
has batticd. Through the night OF ages, lher
mopylse gows like some mountain peak OF
which the morning sun has risen, because TWEEN
ty three hundred years ago, the hallowlng pas
sion touched its mural precplces ana Its 1roWn
! ing craes. 1t is easy, however, to be patfiotl
in piping times of peace, and In the sunny hou
of prosperity. 1t is national sorroW-lt Is war
with its attendant perils and horrors, that test
this passion and winno"s from the masses mos
who, with all their love OF lie, still love thei
country more While your present position
y most vivid and impressive illustration of pal
riotism it has glory peculiar and altogethe
its own The mercenary armies which hay
n swept yctoriously over the world, and hay
It gathered 50 many of the laurels that history hs
embalmed were but machines, drafted into IL
service of ambitious spirits, whom they obeyet
and little understood OF appreciated the pro
lens their blood was poured out to solve.
Within 50 brief a period no such glganl
mower has ever been placed at the disposal
any Government as that which has rallied
the sunport OF this within the last few month
through those volunteers who have pour'
J alike from hill and valley, city and yl!las
= throughout the loyal States. All casse" al
all pursuits have been animated by the san
in lofty and quenchlcss enthusiasm Wh!Ic' ho'
ever. | would make no inyldious distinction
where all have SO nobly done their duty, L c;
not refrain from remarking how consplcuo
the barl~banded tllers of the soil OF the Nor
and West have made themselves IN SWellIhS J.
ranks of our army. We honor commerce WI
its busy marts, ard the workshop Win us ?
tient toll and cxhaustless ingenuity, onC 81
we would be uniaithtul TO the truth .! l'lS'o
did We not confess, that the most herolc cilA'
ry Mons of human freedom and the most iilust
GUS apostles of Its principles nave come ii'
the broad field Of agriculture
There seems to BE- something in the scenes
nature. in her wild and beautiful landscapes,
how cascades and cataracts and woodlands, a
u exhilerating airs of her hills ana mountain
.b.t unhrares the letters which man would ri
D { anon the spirit OF his fellow man, 1t was
the handles Of the plow, and amid inc ore~
inc odors Of the newl y opened burrows 'h'''
' character of Cincinnatus was formed eHpaho
. and matured. It was not IN the city luil'
in the deep gorgcs and upon the snow ciad 50
r,;ts Of the Alps, amid the eagles and the I'M
' dcrs. that William Tell laid the foundations
q those affairs to human liberty, against whicn
sursinc tides Of European dtspotlsm III III
Lo,7rn for centuries, bur, thank God, III
, hca:eu IN VAIN. 1t was amid the primeVai
SCI. SCI. ests and mountains, the lakes and leap
Stroams Of our own land amid fields and waV
m AIN amid the songs OF the reaper and
t. 5inklings Of the shepherd 5 bcl' tna' |Vro n
turad tSose rare virtues which clustered S'':fi !
in the character of Washington, and ltteo
N moral stature q head and shoulders &V
the demigods of ancient story. =. .. -,
There Is one most swiking and distinguish
yoor feature Of your mission that should never
~. iost siobt Of. You are about to invade the
"l ritSry of foreign enemy, nor is your Pa'i
that Of conquest Or spollaaiti9;n. > oaouM ,eauas
orcuny I,,r, the south, you will do SO as trends
protectors, and Your aim will be not TO su
psth rato hat betrayed and distracted country
- - dol;ver il from the romorscless military dc
,;sm ~ bv which it is trodden down. Union ~ Il
ou Who arc your brethren, thTong IN thoSo s ..
VN snd will listen Tor the coming footsteps OF
dtT, am "nnav as the Scottish maiden of LUCKNOW
y hSc. nI srned for the airs of her native land.