Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-04-26
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and
House Of Representatives. .

OF an ex ETsordlnary and very alarming chaI-
acter The element of disunion which. in
a potion of the United States, for many
ye Ers, vented itself III threats and menaces,
las eliminated in open rebellion and an
unnatural and caascless civil war has been
precipitated against the General Government.
Unprincipled and ambitious men have or
ganized despotism, and an armed force, Tor
the purpose of overthrowing that government
which the American people have formed
for themselves, and OF destroying that con-
stItutional framework under which We have
enjoyed peace and prosperity, and, from
small and feeble people, grown and expanded
to a rank among the first nations of the
earth.
The cnormity Of this rebellion is heighten-
ed by the consideration that no valid cause
exists for it, The history of the civilized
world does not furnish an instance Whcrea re
volution was attempted for such slight caus-
es. No act Of oppression, no attempted or
threatened invasion OF the rights OF the re
Voting states has existed, either on the part
of the General Government, or OF the loyal
States but the principle has been recognlz-
ed and observed, that the right of each and
every State to regulate Its domestic lnst.Ju
tons, should remain InylOlate.
The inception and progress Of this rebel
lion have been remarkable and character
lied at every stage by q total absence OF any
high honorable principle or motive IN Us
leaders. Its master spirits are composed, es-
sentiall7. of men who have been IN high on
cial position in the General Government
and it has transpired that members OF the
late Cabinet at Washington, while II the
exercise Of their official functions, We're en-
gagged in reasonable plots for Selling the
public property, aud subyerting the United
States Government.
Conventions of delegates IN the revolving
States. chosen, in some instances, By min
ority of the legal voters in those States have,
with indecent haste, adopted ordinances Of
secession, which ordinances have IN no IN
stance been submitted TO the people Tor their
ratification These proceedings have been
followed by a convention Of delegates from
the several revolving States, which conven-
ton has organized a Confederate Govern
mcnt, adopted a Constitution, elected It's
Executive officers aad subordinate function
aries. constituted itself into a Legislative
BODY. and enacted code OF laws-au OF
which proceedings have been independent
Of any action Of the people Of those States.
The authorities of the revolving Statcs,au
subsequently that of their Confede1acy, have
proceeded u acts Of robbery and theft upon
the property Of the United State, within
their limits Forts, arsenals, arms, military
stores, and other public property, have been
seized and appropriated Tor use against the
power Of the General Government and Gus
tom houses and minis in Southern cities, with
I7~re amounts Of treasure. have been ftlon-
icusly robbed
These acts have been followed by military
demonstrations and strategctical operations
against the United States forts at Pensacola
and Charleston. the latter Of which, under
lts gallant commander, Major Anderson
after b0mbaTdment Of thIrty-tour hours
from the beleaguerIng batteries Of the lnsurg-
ents was evacuated on the 18th inst, and
the Flag Of the [ Mon withdrawn.
But the browning act Of perfdy On the
mart Of the consuirat0rs is the proclamation
Of jefferson Davis styling himself the Presl-
dent Of the Southern Confederacv, " inviting
al those who NAV desire, by service IN phi
vatc armed vessels on the high seas, 10 ard
his Government, 10 make applications for
comm ssi1ns, or letters OF marque orrepusal,
thus institutiuE grand scheme Of piracy on
the high seas, against the lives and private
property Of our peaceful citizens.
These acts OF outrage and daring rebellion
have been equalled only hy the fcrbearancs OF
the General Government. Unwilling to pre-
cipitatc q conflict which must involve the
country in all the cliamitIes Of Civil War,
the present Government Of the United States
has exhaus ted every effort fer peace, and every
measure for bringing back TO their allegiance
81 .t--s r.-rr.f au3 roi1~ufipf S-ltar
The duty of protecting the Forts ....l trJy-
ernmcnt property not possessed by the lnsur-
gents. was imperative upon the Admlnistr4-
ti3u blt further than this, 10 measures Tor
c)erein- the revolving States into obedience
L the Constitution en- the Laws were
ad0ptei. and ID the matter OF the beleagured
Forts the Government acted only on the
defensive. until the conflict was commenced
by the insurgents
Such i1rbcIrance on the part OF the Gov
ornmcnt, while 1t has served & place the
conspirators in "a moral wrong, Is DO longer
iustifahle and the country halls with entire
unauimity, and with ardent enthusiasm, the
decision Of the President to call into requIsl-
tI0n tie whole power of the nation for sup
pressing the rebellion and repellinG threat
ened aggressions.
From every part Of the country, II all the
l0val States, there Il one united voice for
sustaining the Union. the Constitution, and
the integrity of the United States Govern
ment Al partizan differences are ignored
and los, IN the higher principle Of patriot
ism.
In this patriotic enthusiasm, Vermont en-
inently participates. Her citizens, always
loyal 70 the Union, viii, in this hour OF
peril, nobly rally for the protection OF the
Government and the Constitution.
On the 10Th inst, the President of the
United States issued his Proclamation, call
ing forth the Militia of the several States of
the [ Mon TO the aggregate number Of = coo,
IN order to suppress treas9nable combiua-
tons. aud cause the laws 70 be duly execu-
ted
The quota required Of Vermont, for I'M
mediate service, is one Regiment Of 80 Off
GERS and privates
On receiving the requisiti0n from tho Sec
rotary of War, for this regiment, ordered
the Adiutant and Inspector General to adopt
the proper measures for calling into service
such Of the volunteer companies a. are nee
assary to make up the complement: and the
Quarter Master General was directed to rro-
NANAA w ASANa kOECAiJAC Otlttl llt
site outfit Of knapsacks, overcoats, blankets
md other equipments, which duty he has
Having adopted the foregoing preliminary
measures for responding to the call Of the +.
President, awaited myself Of the constitu- /
ional provision for converting the General /
Assembly IN an extra session, not doubling /
hat you, gentlemen, representing the uni I
ersally expressed patriotism of the citizens 1
+ this State, will make the necessary appro-
'riation and provisions for defraving the ex-
lenses already incurred, and CARRYING into
xecutlon further measures for plIcinc our ]
Military quota at the service Of the general
Government
Conceiving It imminently probable that.
an early day, further calls will be made
pom tins State for troops, | respectfully call
our attention u the Importance Of adort-
% Immediate measures Tor a more efficient
rganlzation Of the military arm of the
tate Daring the long interval of peace
Inch we have enjoyed, while our citizens
ave been uninterrupted in their lawful indus
'ial pursuits, the importance of military
rGanizati0u and discipline has been lost