Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-08-08
THE BORDER STATES AND THE
PRESIDENT,
SENATOR HENpRRsoN's REPLY


several papers submitted in response
may also add that it my intention, when The sub
icf up practically for consideration in the Senate,
70 express fully my views In regard 10 f. This Of
would have rendered any Other RESPONSE unnecessary
but the want Of time 70 consider hr MATER deprived me
strucd, deem proper 70 say 70 you that am by
means indifferent TO the great questions earnestly,
and rs believe 80 honestly urged by you upon our con
sidrrstor.
this and the true Union Of those states have
ade the greatest sacrifices for the preservation u the
Government This fact does not proceed from misman-
aecmcnt the part N the Union authorities or want
Of regard for people butts the necessary result of
the war that is upon US. Our states arc the battle
fields Our people. divided among themselves madden
ed by the struggle and blinded BY the smoke Of battle
invited upon our soil contending arntcs-the one 10 ae
struy the Government, the other % maintain o. Inc
consequence 10 US is plain The shock Of the contest
upturns society and desolates the land We have made
sacrifces but al best they we're only the sacrifices de
maudcd hy duty and unless wiling 20 make uta.
rrs Indeed anv that the good Of the country involved
the overthrow of treason, exact at our hands, our
tnc 20 patriotism Is not complete.
When you submitted your proposition 70 Congress in
March last that the United States ough 20 cooperate
with any state which may adopt gradual abolishment
of slavery giving such pecuniary aid, TO be used
by such state in It's discretion to compensate for he in
convcuionccs, public and private produced by such
change Of system" gave it most cheerful support
ud satisfied 1t would have received the appreciation
Of large majority Of the border state delegation n both
branches Of Congress H. in the 6r-t place they had be-
Nevcd the war with its continued evilsthe most pre-
ninent u which in material point Of yeg Is it, njuri
effect the institution Of slavery In our states
could possibly have beeR prottactcd for another twelve
months and H. in the second place, they had fet assur
Oh hat The party having the ma1rtyin Congress eouid
like Yourself be equally prompt % practical action as in
be expression u sentiment While scarcely any one
doubted your own sincerity in the premises aud your
wish speedily 60 terminate the you read
M conceive tn goun d. for differences " opinion where
conclusions could only be based upon conjecture.
believing. as did, that the war not so near us
termination supposed, and feeling disposed
cord others the sincerity Of purpose thatl should
claim NJ myself under similar circumstances, voted
o. rutN That FIHaVa
uated by no sinister motives.
10 doing 50, Mr President desire to be distinctly
underslo by you and By my constituents. did not
suppose at the lime that personally making any
sscce By supporting the resolution, that the peo-
plt of my state we're called upon to make any sacrifice,
cfhcrn considering accepting the proposition they
saw 10 lgrerd with YOU IN tho renNrks contained ia
Tie Message accompanying the resolution that the
Jnon mus, be preser,e and hence all Indispensable
anA continues 10 be an indispensable means 10 this end
practical acknowledgment Of tie National suthon
~ would render the war unnecessary and it would az
once cease however. resistance continues the war
iuet also continue, and II l. Impossible ftesce all the
incidents which may attend aud all the ruin which may
Follow H. u is truly impossible TO fofcsee all the
evils -csuing from war so stupendous the present
shall bc much reiaccd i something dreadful than
t -aie OF freedom few slaves Ia the border states
thl result ftom IT, II 1t closes with the governm emit
81 athers secure, aud constitutional liberty in all s
purity guarantccdto the white man, the result will be-
tc hau that having place in the fears Of good
90 PRESENT and much better than the past history
of such revolutions can justify us in expecting
900 lHl7 ItAlnu OF lit Nalnu diNUtah KNOW OF M
i"nin Institution too sacred for discussion material
interest belonging to the citizen that he should will
iu place upon the altar Of his country. il demanded by
Doe public glud The man who cannot sacrifice par
U aud pat aside selfish considerations is than half
d.'ayd such man does not deserve the blessings u
.UuI Pride Of opinion. hasef upou acc.
NAL icai1uscs, should be pc mitted to control the
decision Of any political question. These remarks are
rcner but apply with peculiar force to the people Of the
border states at present
Let us look a our condition A desnlatnQ war is up.
ON US. We cannot escape it II we would. II the Union
armies to day Withdrawn from the border States
without first crushing the rebellion in the South,
pual man can doubt for moment that the adherents Of
The Union ansc in those States would be driven
exile from their homes by the eNultan rebels who have
long hoped TO return and take vengence upon The
people o the border States understand very we'll the UNI
friendly and selfish spirit exercised towards them by the
leaders Of this Coiton-State rebellion beginning some
time previous 20 is outbreak They will fail IN re-
member their insol Mt refusal counsel with u.s. and
tleir naughty assumption Of responsibility upon them
selves for their misguided action. Our people will NOT
soon forget that white claiming against coercion they
closed cr 7rs again the expectation Of slaves from
the or states INTO the South with the asowed purpose
of freng us into the rebellion through fears Of losing
Wat species OF property They knew very we'll the e.
feet 20 De produced on slavery by ci, war especially in
those States into which hostile armies might penetrate
and upon the soil Of which the great for the
cess q republican Government were to be decided They
wanted some intermediate ground for the conflict Of
-eruory where the population would be divided. hey
knew, So that by keeping slavery in the border States
the mere 'fico. aud abrasion to which you appro-
pnitey aHuie, would Keep no constant irritation,
sunng necessarily from tine frequent losses TO which tho
owners would be subjected. They also calculated large
l' and not without upon the epugnance Of non
t'ehnlders IN those States fee negro population
,he m,an Time, they Intended perss,enty 10 charg
he ovrhrow " slavery be the object Of the govern
meu' and hostility TO this institution the origin Of til
way fy ihls means the unavoidable incidents Of III
>ti, might easily be charged a. the settled purposes
the government Again. It we'll understood by hcs
utn that exemplary conduct the part Of every office
and soldier employed by the government could III
nature VI thugs be expected and the hope was enter
"lntd np"n we most reasonable grounds, that ever
commission Of wrong and every omission Of duty woul
produce new cause for excitement and incenty
10 rebellion.
by these means the to be kept in the horde
states regardless of our interests, until exhause
Treasury should render Necessary send the tax gait
among people take the little that might be e
them from the devastatons Of the They then
peeed caoior for peace by resulting in the nterfe
ence OF France and England, whose operatives in ia
meant ne would be driven want and whose arstocra
cy hayecver been ready to welcome dissolution OF IN
American Union.
This eanningly devised plan for securing Gulf Cor
defaoy, commanding the mouths " the great wester
nvefs, NE Gulf Of Mexico aud the Southern AhAnt
eau, with their own territory unscaihea by the hoo
OF war, and suroundedby the border States half Of who's
population would be ten In sympathy with them for yea
Co come, owing 20 ihs iitauans which have alludt
Is 80 far succeeded too we'll
In Missouri they have already caused to lose thin
~ more of he slaves owned At the time Of the last
In addition 10 this, can make no estimate Of the
amount OF property Of every character that has
u Dyed by military operations in the State The 10,
from general depreciation uf values and the utter pru
apn OF every business interest of our people is who
y beyond calcu ann The experience Of Missouri il bu
the experience q other sections Of the country similar
ly situated The question Is therefore forced upon M
How long a this to continue and II continue,
asst has been soil, aided by the treason an
folly of our own citizens acting Ia concert with m
Confodeates, how long slavery or, II YOU pieAs
any other property interest, survive In states "
A. things are, the people Of the border States We
divided. cannot expect immediate terminate Z
the struggles, except upon condition Of southern ind,
pendence, losing control Of the lower Mississippi 10
this we iu Missouri not prepared. prepa
ed 10 become Of the Confederate States should III
terrible calamity u solution occur. This presum,
the Union Of Missouri would resist 10 the death
And whether they should do 80 or not will not suppos
fr an instant that the q the United Slate
would uuon any condition submit the loss Of territory
30 essents 10 is future commercial greatness III
State Of Missouri But shonld all other fail Il
prevent such misfortune 70 or people Of Missouri
wanted US and would have US. assume therefore
that the will not cease, but will be continued unit
the Rebellion shall be overcome. Ii cannot and will ~,
far As the people Of Missouri concerned
uept upon condition Of remaining in the Union an
the whole West will demand the entire control OF IN
Mississippi river q the Gulf Our interest H. therefor,
bound up with the interests Of those States mantAinn
the Union, and especially with the great States Of M
West, that must be consulted in regard TO the tems
any peace that may be suggested BY the nations
Europe, should they al any time unfortunately depa
from their former pacific policy and determine to int
In affairs
The war, then, will have 10 be continued until II
Union shall be practically restored Ia this alone co
ssts the future safety of the Border States hemsclvs
separation Of the Union only be secured By a col
unuatoh 81 the war The consequences Of that conHl
uaton may be judged Of BY the experience Of the la
twelve months The people Of my State are as comp