The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-30
Speech of General Fremont.

j
the volunteers required, has already been al
tanned The events of the last few weeks have
made so apparent the necessity for immediate
reinl0rcements that | hope nothing else has
been needed Gu procure prompt response L"
The call of the Government, and to that mute
but strong appeal of your friends IN the held,
who to-day constitute our bulwark against the
surges of rebellion.
The chances of war do not admit of delays.
The enemy is pushing it forward with renewed
vgOr, and the loss of few weeks, OF even a
few days, may involve disasters shameful to
record and impossible to retrieve. In this
condition it will never do to let differences OF
opinion as 20 how the war should be carried on,
interfere with its vi orous prosecution First
till the ranks, and leave to those who stay at
home the obligation Of shaping the struggle to
its proper ends.
But Massachusetts needs no other Indictment
to her duty than the certainty that she has one
to perform. Under this impulse her people
will come forward promptly and nobly, as they
always have done. (Cheer8.) She Will be al
ways true, as III this contest she has been poet
ically true, to her historic record. The infant
that here in the :. Cradle OF Liberty stranged
the serpent, is ready in its manhood to destroy
| the hydra and when see, as lately have had
| y
are, each one filling place III society, instruct
i ed, intelligent men, neads and supporters Of
| families, contributing by steady labor to the
wealth OF the State--whcn sec Such men 90
| INC by thousands and hundreds OF thousands to
tic field, my anxiety IS not Ill regard To the
number who 90 there. but it is that ticlr ready
obedience anu affecting confidence Ii, tnc GOV
crnncnt viii be met by corresponding care
| iOr them il the field, ana That JJeoc COnctntIa-
I ted energies viii De directed t. rea0i,s worthy
OK the sacrifices they ave making, (AppIa06e)
Therefore, indulge myself in the pcaN"rc
Of feeling that shc object OF this meeting If not
So much 10 arg the necessity ior further troops,
as to {urn;e, I'll occasion I0r enpprT22y cement
! and sympathy 10 thoee now leaving for the field
tine aSSenlbagc of friends ON STORE to greet
the parting ehlp;,nd 80, VITA God-6pccd TO
them, | turn, with your PERMISSION, fora mo-
ment to the duties resting upon those or us
WAC, iot the time being, are icil at ho.ne.
| had just now expressed my anxiety that we
should obtain from this war rea'uts worthy OF
the sacrifices We are making. How this shall
be done, and in the spcediest way, is the ques-
ton which threatens, still more to conyulse the
country, and is making OF Che nation one great
council OF wlr. And it is right that the peo-
pie sh0uld III this way .jeaious.y debate their
Vital interests Not only is this their inherited
right, bought by the first revolution, but it is
also their sacred duty to keep themselves we'll
anu ctrrentiy informed concerning the progress
OF This rel0l,yion and to make known tner
wishes concerning the manner in which it snail
be CONTROLLED. 81 rs best 10 secure domestic
peace, and restore it upon unpcr!shablc tOunda-
sjons. C.yud cAecrS.) It is in THIS way taat
the vitality Of our institutions man!iests and
maintains Itself lApplausc.)
In ordinary wars soldier is limited to the
silent execution Of his military duties. But
we are in the midst Of a revolution where every
citizen is soldier Rome had her laws special
to civil war. Here the nation is stirred TO the
heart by a struggle for existence, and not only
the lite Of the country but the life Of Repre-
sentative Liberty throughout the world is at
stake. 1t is not safe to believe that we shall
be able easily to govern this revolution. And
in the midst Of such events it is not only the
right but the duty Of every man to express his
opinions, and, however slight his influence may
be, to employ it in labormg for the common
cause.
Lord Herbert t, when envoy at the Court of
France, sent, think, by Eliza beth-at all
events ac Il time when on the personal relations
of ambassadors depended peace or war for their
purposely provoked him. that " although am
bassador he was nos the less gentleman He
resel we'd the right, when occasion called for it.
to act in his broader capacity. So, therefore, a
soldier, but not the less citizen, will in the
little have to say to you speak my opinion
freely (crics of . Good 8. good and ap.
/ plause) but at the same time | will endeavol
to do so with the reserve belonging to the first
character. | will ask your indulgence if speak
upon subject about which you are not al
equally united, but the proper treatment Of
, which think equally important with the prop
er treatment of our forces in the field, and if
speak of myself in connection, it is because il
the suggestions presume to make to you
speak upon my individual experience. (Crics o
d" Good and applause.)
Six years ago, when had the honor to rep
, resent your views upon national affairs, held
in common with yourselves, the opinion tha
slavery should not be disturbed within its exist
I ing limits. When the Confederate States an
e nounced their existence, their executive pro
claimed slavery to be the corner stone of TIN
new power. In Missouri, year ago, as wa
measure, declared the slaves of rebels free
: (immcnse applause, cries of - Good an,
j great checrng,) believing this to be the mos
+ incisvc, searching and deadly blow that coul,
:, be aimed at the heart of the rebellion. Can
plausc and Good, good Bully for YOU, ant
5 cheers.) Judged it to be the quickest mod
e to damage and discomfort the enemy, and t.
gain great advantages with the least cost Of lii
to the good citizens who were acting with III
in maintaining the laws. A general in the iel
in distant and rcbclious district, investe
with pro-consular powers, did this in the OK