The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-06
True Unionlsm.

All Governments are, or at least ought to be,
but agencies for the advancement of the welfare
and happiness Of the people. Any Government
that comes short of this. does not, according to
our ideas, answer the end of its creation. Our
fathers established our Republican Governments
tor this purpose, or, i'll the comprehensive Ian
guage of the preamble to the Constitution, " to
" establish justice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense, promote the
general welfare, and secure the blessings of
:; liberty to ourselves and our posterity." The
Union Of the thirteen States was one of the
means which was deemed of the first Importance
in securing this result, though the Constitution
made provision that if nine States only should
agree to unite for such a purpose, and adopt q
common Constitution, they should become the
Government. And it seems to us TOO plain to
need more than u statement of the proposition
to command general assent, that the Importance
of the Union is jast in proportion as it answers
the end sought, just as the value OF Govern
ment is in proportion TO its care Tor the welfare
of the people. Union for the sake Of Union, is
an unmeanlng sentiment, because that can al
ways be made sure, if those who love peace will
surrender 10 the turbulent and cIamorous all
that they demand. The South would never
have seeded from the Union if there had been
no resistance to their arbitrary and insolent de-
mands, and if the Government would allow JEFF.
Davis to name the terms on which he and his
Confederates would lay down their arms and
become once more members Of the family of
States, "a Union might be possible without fur
Their bloodshed, or waste of treasure. If Union
is all that is desired, no matter upon what
terms or to what end, why fight for what can
be purchased by proper genuaections and hu-
initiation? Why send 600 600 soldiers into the
field to conquer what can be reached with in
hntely less pain by compromise and concession.
Why did the South rebel? Why are they
attempting to break up the Union, and separate
themselves from the old Government? For no
other reason than because they could not, 10
spite of ma orites rule the Union, and make 1t
the agent and handmade of slavery. While
they had the po"ev in Congress, and plant tools
IN the Executive, and in the Supreme Court
they were Tho loudest of all in til cir praises and
glorifcation of the Union. They were then
par excellence Union men, and every man who
dared 10 intimate that our Government was es-
tablishcd, and ought to be administered in tho
interest OF freedom, was stigmatized and branded
by their voIuble and selfish patrioti,m as dis
unionist. But time has proved these boosted
professions Of Southern shareholders, and has
also tried the patriotism Of those Northern men,
who, for years have been compelled to bear the
accusations of these insolent Southerners.
Whose patriotism has best stood the trial?-
Where to-day are the selfrighteous Southern
Unionists, Stephens and Bell, Mason and Hun
ter, breckenridge and Benjamin? And where
are tae. Northcrnsrs who have been denounced
by these same rebels as disunioniSts, Sumner, and