The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-26
From the Christian Mcsse niger.
The Great Question.

VlQualS GueTc Is eflueHtly eoiuo uo0ioiFo ~
Rod that has more than ordinary influence
upon their destiny, and upon the decisions OF
an hour may hang the destines of eternity
These decisive and emphatic periods come in
the course OF national existence-and the fate
of empires are apparently balanced upon the
point of the sword. Az one has appropriate.
ly said in reference to the great conflict upon
the field of Waterloo, that there the dcstinles
of Europe hung trembling in the balance
1t may be said in reference to our national
struggle that the contending interests of
slavery and freedom are poised upon the
present conflict. Many appear TO overlook
the vast magnitude of the question involved
in this struggle. This irrepressable conflict
cannot be confined to the mere tight or cxpe'
podiency Of tie enslavcmcnt of the African
race We have already learned that it is i'm
possible to limit slavery to the mere color o
the skin. The principle involved in the
right to make man slave--invades the in
alicnablc rights of humanity, and subjugates
to its debasing influences the whiic and the
black. In every age CT our sinful world,
some form Of oppression has existed to gal
the limbs CT its manacled victims. 1t ha
been the struggle of ages to surmount these
barriers TO human happiness and progress.
The question before the nation to-day is:
(Which shall prevail. the idea and fact of
freedom or the idea and fact OF slavery p
Freedom exclusive and universal, or slavery
exclusive and universal The question is rot
merely, Shall the African be bond or free
but, Shall America be democracy or des-
potsm A measure il nothing without its
princi pie. The idea which allows slavery in
South Carolina will establish it also in New
England. The principle which recognizes
slavery iu the Constitution of the United
States would make ali America dcspotism.;
while the principle which made John Quincy
Adams free man would extirpate slavery
from Louisiana and Texas. 1t is plain that
America cannot long hold these two contra
dictons in the national consciousness Equi-
llbrium must come.
1t is appalling to contemplate what must
be the painful results if the slave power should
triumph in our country. We should be oblg-
ed then to submit 10 the worst forms of des.
potism. 1t involves, of course, the destruc.
tive revolution of all our liberal institutions
state as well as national. Democracy must
60 down; the free press 60 down; the free
Church 80 down; the free school 60 down. -
There must be an industrial dcspotism, which
will soon become military despotism. Pop.
ular legislation must end the Federal Con.
gress will be club eff officials, like Neros
senate. The state Legislature viii be a knot
Of commissioners, tide-waiters, post-masters,
district attorneys, deputy marshals. The
town meeting will be gang of government
officers. like the " Marshal's Guard" revolv-
crs in their pockets, soldiers at their back
The HabeaS Corpus will be at an end, trial
by jury never heard of, and open courts as
uncommon in America as in Spain or Rome.
1t must crush to great extent the hopeful
aspirations Of humanity and foster ignorance
among the masses, and hateful arrogance and
pride among u bloated and oppressive aristoc-
racy. Such a night of despotism as must fol-
low would not only darkcn our own land, but
it must throw its gloomy shadows over the
world, obscuring the light Of hope and giving
a fiendish triumph to the enemies of human
progress.
IF, on the other hand, the Government tri.
umphs and this rebellion is suppressed, and
our national banner floats again over the Sc.
ccding States, it must inevitably be the death
blow of slavery iu America. IL is true We
do not wage this war to liberate the slaves,
but the rebelous influence of slavery has
forced it upon US. We have been obliged 10
take arms in self defence. This we must do,
or submit in slavish plight to the behests Of
tho Southern oligarchy. AS slavery has
urged on this rebellion and has given it all
its vitality, if the rebellion is crushed slavery
must be shorn of its strength. The conduct
Of the rebels in their present attitude of hos.