Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-07-26

AAN4O AANO AlA N~DAS
lows Henry Spence, a native of England
is aged 80 years; John Davidson, a Scotch
man, aged . years.
The Cuba arrived at New York on SunIIy
Froma speech OF Hon. George 5. Bout
well, delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa
Society of Harvard University on the 18th
inst, we extract the following
l come now to a proposition which has, as / be
Iieve, the general support Of history and expert
ence Whenever a rebellion is based upon a dis
similarity of Institutions, the rebellion is finally
to be controlled only by a modification Of the in
situations themselves. To the substance Of this
proposition l think the country must ultimately
come. If, in the prosecution of this war, there IL
developed a strong union sentiment, l shOuldmuch
prefer TO rest upon that than upon any policy Of
our own. But in the ~exigency that l anticipate,
we shall be obliged to address ourselves TO the
question Of slavery, so far, at least, as to rOnder
the national capital secure, and 10 demonstrate u
the Shareholders, by a loss Of power on their part,
that slavery cannot control the government, that
its positive and relative forces, which can be applied
to the work Of dissolution. is less than ever, snd
that a renewal Of the contest il likely 70 be FL
lowed by a farther loss Of power and consideration
in the country.
BY the Constitution authority is given to Con
greSS 10 suppress instructions II does not
follow that military force Is the only means BY
which insure ctions are TO be suppressed; indeed
we might well infer that other means are 70 be
resorted TO when practicable. If Congress fnd-
Maryland and Virginia in a state Of insurrection,
and especially if the instruction is carried on by
the governments, as in Virginia now, such moans
must DO used as in the judgment Of Congress arc
adequate to secure a permanent peace. Nor can
Virginia say, that by the Constitution, the ques-
ton of slavery is reserved 10 the States themselves.
10 is true of the Constitution, but the difficulty Is
that the people Of Virginia have repudiated that
instrument, made open and reasonable war, and
hence II is our province 20 decide whether we will
deal with them as though they were true citizens
Of a jysl State.
Having rejected the constitution, they render
inevitable the arbitrament Of war. If by the
fortunes Of war the national troops occupy md
possess Virginia, aud this occupation is not fol
lowed by evidence Of returning loyalty on the
part Of her people, Congress must consider whetb-
er any means exist for the suppression Of treason,
for the suppression of the instruction. Or are
we to admit that the power Of the Government 20
suppress the insurrection Is exhausted when the
territory Of the rebels Is occupied by a military
force
The idea Of the rebels. high and low, seems 20
to be that the National Government is solemnly
bound 70 secure TO them all the rights and privf-
leges guaranteed by the Constitution, while thew
make WAr upon the Constitution, the Union a-d
the rlght Of the nation to exist. And I know rot
but there are some among Us who believe tha. ais
war with its vast expenditures, and gigantic ap-
pliances, Is 70 be carried on for months CT even
years, for the twO-fold but inconsistent purpose e
protecting the Government against rebel sieve
holders, and Of protecting the rebel saSeh..I-rs
against rebel slaves.
II your victories are not followed by q revolution
IN public opinion-if your authority is not re-es-
tsblished in the seeded States by the assent
thereto Of a majority Of the people-if thew still
regard themselves as aliens and beyond your Is-
gltImate jurisdiction, then, inssmuch as the enjoy
ment OF tue nation to exist is the supreme necessi-
" OF all, as the safety of the Capital is essential
10 the enjoyment of that right, as the presence
Of slavery in Maryland and Virg MIA is in. onsist-
ent with the safety Of the Capital, no alternative
remains but to provide for the extinction Of slave
~ in those States at such times and upon such
conditions, always including compensation To the
treason, as may be compatible with the welfare Of
the States themselves and the preservation Of the
Union.
By so doing we wrong no man in his right Of
property, we give safety TO the Capital Of the Ma
tion, we demonstrate TO the South that slavery no
has power to rule or to ruin the country.
and we thereby take most ample security for the
future peace Of the republic.
L am aware that the prosecution Of the war will
develop a policy. Necessity is a stern master.
and our exigencies are likely to be such that We
shall yield private opinion to the public good
- I'll ~ o. . UUu4 y uuANU OftHEfn
the struggle in which We are engaged is
for the existence Of tie government, and does not
relate to questions of administration.
Our strength is in the justice Of our cause. and
in the fact that the interests Of all sections are
in the preservation Of the Union
reason will De consulted by the Southern
leaders, we cannot foresee. Our course is plain.
There must be a vigorous prosecution Of this vsr,
the restoration Of all public property, the posses-
sion OF tho Mississippi river, and Of the principal
commercial points on the sea-board Moreover.
he loyal citizens of the several States are entitled
20 and must receive the protection Of the Nation
Government. The war on the part Of the reb-
us is for the doctrine that the Nation has TO right
70 exist II a single State, at any time or FOR any
purpose, withhoIds its assent.
The war on their part is against all government
hat which they have attempted to set up, as we'll
Is against that which they inherited from Wash
ngton and Jefferson.
We maintain the right Of the Nation to exist,
lot in the favor of any State. small or great.
florida or New York, but by the will Of the peu-
lie of the whole country acting in the light Of
,ur traditions and history and obedience 10 our
necessities. The Nation, the Union indeed. exist
d long before the constitution was formed.
The Constitution itself was framed to form a
toTc Pcfect Uai9-- This is a war for national
.Iistence.
1t is now nearly two centuries since tho weak
)lonies that then clustered around Plymouth
ock, mensced in their right to exist, carried on
war a9dlnst hlnS HuhiPJ "nO lOI MS courage
ID comprehensive policy well deserved the zane
the great ruler Of Macedon, In that contest
'ery tenth house in Massachusetts was burned.
ID every thirtieth person was slain or carried into
ptivity.
Philip captured all our remote gsrrsOns, and
stroyed our towns on a line within twenty miles
the ssacoast. Our ancestors never once thought
peace or negotiations while an enemy remained
thin their borders.
So let their example bind us to the duty Of
sintaining the right Of this nation 10 exist; TO
duty of maintaining the Constitution as the
preme law of the land. But let as with Joy
d Thanksgiving welcome the return Of men and
its to their allegiance, justly due TO a govern
mt that, for three-fourths Of a century, has pro-
ted all and injured none.