Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-04-18
REV. w. H.LORn,S SERMON.


sumed as the basis on which our national diff
fculties must be settled. One assumes il to
be an attack upon the Republican party the
Republican platform and the Republican Ad.
ministration whereas, as we understand it,
no such inference can be legitimately drawn
from it. The speaker distintly stated that he
made no allusion to any political party as
such, but advocated return by all parties to
the "old ways to the principles Of the
constitution as it was expoundcd by the
founders Of our government. Republicans
and Democrats as such, we're alike ignored,
and he besought all men, of all parties and
all sections, to reckon their points Of COM
pass, if perchance they have deviated from
the true course marked out by the constitu-
ton, which all are bound to adopt as their
chart to guide them on the perilous sea on
which the nation has been cast lie distinct
ly endorsed the Administration Of President
Lincoln, and the wisdom with which he was
guiding the ship Of state among the breakers
Of rebellion and treason. II this be repu-
diation of the principles Of the Republican
party, then just as much do those who find
fault with the sermon on this ground repudi-
ate the same principles. President Lincoln
is the chosen leader Of the party, and while
adhering strictly to the principles Of the plat
form on which he was nominated, he is so
administering the affairs Of the nation as to
win the admiration Of loyal men Of all par
ties. He is bringing comparative order out
Of chaos, and is proving to the country and
the world that Republican institutions can
outride the storm Of ianaticism and treason
on all sides, and this too in strict accordance
with the principles Of the Republican party.
But to President Lincoln there is law high
er than mere party platforms aud though
elected by party,--and that too a sectional
one. in so far as its adhereDts were found
alone in the Northern States he has taken
an oath to support the Constitution Of the
United States, which guarantees protection
to loyal men alike in all the States. He &C
knowedges no right Of the Federal Govern
the institutions Of any State, either of South
Carolina or Vermont. He is the President
Of the people, and none the less so because
part Of the people did not aid to place him
in power He is bound by his oa,h to ad-
minister the government according to the
Constitution, which is the fundamental law Of
the land and as understood and expounded
by those who framed it. This he is doing ;
he is seeking to bring it back to the q" old
paths and we would that the people we're
more willing to walk therein. In his wise
and patriotic administration, Mr.. Lord, as we
understand him, has confidence and trusts for a
safe solution Of the problem Of Republican
liberty The people Of the country, also, Of
all parties are looking confidently to Presi-
dent Lincoln to guide the ship Of state safely
out Of the breakers amid which she now lies,
beaten by the storm of treason and rebellion
And in this respect there can be no just
ground for complaint with Mr.. Lords SER
mon
Another finds fault with his allusion to the
suspension Of the writ of habsas corpus and
with such we acknowledge we sympathize.-
There is, in our mind, no doubt that, under
the Constitution, the Administration had the
power to do it. The language of the Con-
stitution is:
"he privilege Of the writ Of habe1s corpus shall not
be suspended. unless when 10 cases OF rebellion or nya
sion the public safety may require Il "
Because Mr. Lord does not favor the exer-
else Of the power therein contained, some try
to argue that he is in favor of slavery, and
opposes the suspension Of the writ because it
would tell against the interests Of slavery and
the Shareholders But there is that other
provision Of the Constitution which says:
"ln all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy
The right TO speedy and public trial, by an impartial
jury Of the State and district wherein the crime shall
have been committed, which district shall have been pre-
vonsly asccrtained by law and 20 informed Of the
nature aud cause u the accusation, 90 be fsonted
with the witnesses sgaiust him have compulsory pro-
cess or obtaining witnesses in bis vor and to have the
assistance u counsel for his defence"
Now we ask, land we trust we shall not
be accused Of opposing the suspension Of the
writ by so doing have the accused enjoyed
" the right Of a speedy and public trial :"
hhfN fuf1 pNNu lhlUllhNA 'l tut nhNult anu
cause Of the accusation p Rather have not
persons suspected of civil oiIeuses been ar
ragned and confined for long time on mere
suspicion, without being informed Of even the
suspected crime Have not many, too, suf-
fered long deprivation Of liberty, without tri-
al, and the government found for themselves
that they we're entirely innocenti 1t is a
grave question for the people of this country
to consider, and because a man, as has Mr.
Lord in his sermon, deprecates the action of
the government in this respect, can it be just
ly said that he is therefore pro-slayery man;
No man will assert that Henry Ward Beech
er is a pro-slavery man, and yet in his ser
mon on Sunday last he takes the same view
Of this question as does Mr.. Lord. In speak
ing Of the rights of citizens and the freedom
Of the press he said:
- In abiding such ave confined in our military
prisons, unconscious Of what is charged against them
deprecated IN unmeasurcd terms the action Of Gov
eminent, and particularly Of this Government which
should take away without trial and without verdict the
dearest rights and liberties Of the people II did
believe that IL well, la any way usfabe. 10
fine for weeks and months in the dark depths Of a dun
gcon, men who might, IL opportunity was offered, prove
themselves absolutely guitess Of the crime charged up
them He considered such trifng with the rights Of