Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-04-11
Mastery Inactivity.

lcderacy, one people
Ihiaisa very quoting, peaceful, and, on tho
whole comforting view of cur political eood
ton But is ii a safe view? Does it not in
yolse those who hold it in continual contradie.
tons Is not plain matter Of fact ignored
entirely IN this aspect Of the case? Is it not
much nearer the truth to say, that seven States
have re5elled against the authority Of the Gen.
eral Government despised, spit upon, outraged
and driven from their borders nearly every evil
dence Of national authority, overwhelmed every
remaining trace Of union sentiment. and es;ab-
Iished separate and independent Government?
This view may be hamiiiating to oar national
PRIDE and power, and insulting to our nat,onal
honor, but IS It not nevertheless, true? These
are plain, practical questions, and it is better to
deal with them at once, and in straight for
ward manner, than to eyAde responsibility I'M
der strict legal definition. OF course there
can be no such thing as secession theoretically.
ina.much as j. isnot provided .ar in the crgauic
law Bat there can be- o revolution. as our
struggle for independence, from the mother
country has abuullnly Shown; and The fact
cannot be changed because the rebels are fsLt.
ing to establish dospotsm. ltw;ll I've battor
IN every respect ~ treat this Southern rebellion
as a revolution, and Thus lar a success, al one
And, not cheating ourselves By denying that
there IS any Serious disease in The body polite,
the next practical question is, what Is the rem.
ody We don't purpose to answer this ques
ton Still, we think any one can safely 20 So
far as to say that SOMETHING ougltio Be done. #
this wasa mere transient discomfort exhibit
ing itself in Conventions, flaming speeches
and yaporng resolutions only, it might be
the wisest policy to let it alone till the clIerycs
cencc subsidized, and the clements became calm
again Of themselves. But the disturbance now
arises from source deeper than the sur
iace, and instead Of subsiding, is gathering
strength every day. 1t has armed and is arming
itself. 1t has definite aims 1t has policy Of
It's own. 1t has not lost moment in hesitation
or yaclllation since it commenced il. career. II
has raised money 1t has equipped armies In
short, it has taken the very course and almost
the only one it could have adopted, to make its
rebellion a success. 1t has seemed M d, TO be
sure, in its fiery haste, bu! there ha, been most
evident method in its madness
And while rebellion has thus boon making
head in the Gulf States the Government at
Washington has done little or nothing in any
way to countcract tho movement, or 10 assert
ITS authority where it was overthrow or in
danger OF being su6ycrtcd spolicy, thus far,
has been mastery inactivity. Let It alone.
It will all come right Jy-rnd.by.' has been the
inyarm0le response from those in autbority.-
Tine time time, las been invoked as :ho great
raciiieator' and rcgencntor, and reconstructor.
" iley are our brethren, ana we must nor Ggh.
them, has been continually in ourcars. q" rhey
are oar brethren therefore the laws which
q. arr called uron to obey and do obey. must
not be enforced against Hsa Thcy tear the
national ensign spit upon the federal laws. and
steal 'he federal treasure but the majesty and
authority of the Goycraman, mast not he vim.
dicated, Tor " they ar, cur brcthron'
LAW authority, government, know, ana can
safely recognize, no such plea, however aeeess,.
y may find it convenient to shelter it, weakness,
and Impotence behind such prctcacc.
The Government than lets rebellion alone.
that suffers it to deycIopand ortfyand strength
On itself without interposing any obstacle to its
progress except sweet phrases and gentle speech
does rot deserve the name Of Government Il
ema''oIate' itself and becomes among nations
what eunuch IL among mon, an object Of pity
or contempt,
Already the United States have sunk below
the station of Mexico as a powor on the earth
Spain, despised and insultcd Spain, in thi. mo.
ment oil our weakness raises again the FAC If
her Empire of our Southern coast. Tn, Twin,
ass puts is heels in the face OF the diving lion
Franco and England send fe.ts of observation
to watch our dssolyng States and rrey upop
the wreck OF our dismembered Union. Even
poor, weak Mexico reaches out her arm to re.
claim the territory that in the day Of our
strength we wrenched from her.
All this is only the natural and inevitable
consequence Of the lct-aonc policy which ha.
thus lar been so persistenty followed by the
Government. lr our flag is not respected at
home why should foreigners respect it? five
do nothing to help ourselves, how can we look
Tor anything but swift Distraction
We have no desire to SEQ civil war. We wish
the shedding Of blood to be avoided if it can
be safely. But there may worse thing hoppen
to our country than the shedding Of a little