Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-04-19
gaatrbman & stair Journal.
ny Is. p. WALTON.
MONTPELIER. APRIL 10, 1861.
MINORS OLE WAR

For two days the telegraph has teemed
with contradictory and therefore very dubious
reports Of war at Charleston closing with
report Of the surrender Of Fort Sumter. Both
the tolegraphc lines and tho mails, it must be
remembered arc Uadcr the control Of the trail
tors at Charleston. and throughout the seeding
States. All accounts dating from the soced-
ing States must be taken with great deal
Of allowance. In fact, no reliance can be safe
ly placed upon them. The Government at
Washington can hardly receive reliable infor-
nation short Of two days, and possibly long
er time will be required so that nothing en-
titled to credence can be received here until
sometime to-day or tomorrow. President
Lincoln will adhere firmly to the policy avow-
ed in thcinaugural. He will attempt to main
tain the Constitution and the laws. So far
as be is concerned, there will be a Govern
mcnt Of the United States. and traitors and
tories will meet their deserts. The trial will
be made. The time is at hand when the line
is to be drawn. and the frcomcn Of the North
will find their patriotism and their manhood
tested. We are to be for the government or
against it--patriots or tories The contest
may have been commenced at Charleston al
ready it is probable but whatever the pres
cnt result, it is but the beginning and not the
end. Whenever anything reliable comes to
hand, we shall promptly publish.
THE PURPOSE OFTHE GOVERNMENT.
The proclamation Of the President and his
reply to the Virginia commissioners plainly
SHOW the purpose of the government. 1t is
not war upon the people Of the seeding states;
it is not an invasion Of their privileges, pro-
porty or rights; it is not to punish their re-
bolion by fire and sword but it is purely
defensive. Il is ito suppress unlawful,
combinations and cause the laws to be exc
cuted. ." 1t is TO maintain the honor, the in
tegrity and the existence Of our national
union and the perpetuity Of popular govern
ment and to redress The wrongs already long
enough endured" Redress, 10y "repossoss-
ing the forts, places and property which have
been seized from the Union" That is the
Presidents Interpretation Of the word redress.
In the heat Of patriotic indignation, multi
tudes may look and long for war Of exter-
minaGon, and a tempest Of FIRE and iron hail
from the lannon's mouth to sweep every
tratorous state: but such will be entirely
wrong, while the government is entirely right.
The government does not presume TO exercise
the power Of making war, which is granted
by the Constitution, for that is power to be
used in respect to foreign nations only. True,
it is using the army and the navy, and is call
ing out the militia of the states but this is
done under constitutional provisions distinct
from tho war-making power, and for distinct
purposes. 1t is to enforce the civil power
and execute the laws, against combinations
too powerful to be repressed by judicial
thority. In few words, shall we have a Con-
stitution, free Government, Order Peace,
Prosperity or shall we have Disunion, De-
spotism, Anarchy, War, and Ruin; That is
the real question. The President would be
false to his oath, to the Constitution, to the
People, and to posterity, had he decided this
question in any other way. He is true to all,
and to his patriotic integrity he has added
prudence and justice. 1t was prudent to
wait until the crime of treason had been per-
feeted by an act of war. 1t was both prudent
and just to attempt only to reassert the law
full authority of the United States over its
own property, and to enforce the execution
of its laws. Under these laws, and at the
hands Of the civil power, traitors will at last
find their punishment; while through de-
vastating war, the innocent and the guilty
must be involved in a common fate. Therein
lies the injustice Of civil war. No, no, no.
this is not a war upon the innocent, but
against the guilty alone. If the Government
can but possess the forts that command the
gulf of Mexico and the harbors of the Sc
ceding states, and enforce the collection Of
the revenue, or shut up their ports by statute
or blockade, we believe the traitors will soon
find bootless task, and the Southern people,
who have been defrauded Of their highest po-
litical rights and crushed in all their material
interests, gladly hail the re-estahishment OF
the beningn authority Of the old National
Government. This is the purpose of the gov
eminent. 1t must not fail for that would
be failure Of the government itself 1t will
not fail unless all time-honored patriotism
has died out Of the hearts of the people
Then indeed they may fall into anarchy, and
from anarchy seek relief in despotism, aud
ont of despotism their children's lot may be
to fight their way once more to Constitutional
Liberty.
EXTRA SESSION OF THE VERMONT
LEGISLATURE.
Governor Fairbanks has called a special