Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-03-13
Letter frsn Bss, PesIsney.

Nh. EpIToR:-Having been constant
vet silent reader Of the Herald since the
commencement Of the present struggle,
thought ii would not seem egotism in me,
freeman Of that loyal old town, Poultney.
10 cay few words through its columns,
on the topic which, now above all others,
engrosses the minds Of our countrymen.
However different my views may be from
ether correspondents, shall still guaran-
Tee to them the highest regard and esteem;
yet claiming to myself the privilege OF
thinking and saying what reason and con-
scinoe shall direct, n right | rs freely Ill
Nv 70 them.
The success which has Of late attended
De movements of the Federal army, has
naturally turned all eyes toward that
miehty array Of freeman who have so no.
BY responded to the call of their country.
Our victories have filled many with hi
hrity, amounting almost TO blind fren.
", exhibiting itself in foolish pomp and
sncalled display.
1t il, indeed, well to feel and exhibit a
due and guarded respect, amounting even
20 admiration, for those noble men who
have 20 gloriously won that respondent
crown Of never fading laurels; yet it is
becoming in US as American citizens. to
= look well TO the fruits of such sacrifice
Of blood and treasure, the final result Of
these victories.
What are We to gain by this most un-
Just and dabolical Of all wars? are we
to expend untold millions of our wealth,
and sacrifice on the altar of our country
Atty thousand of our noblest freemen, our
fathers, brothers and sons, merely to sat
iefy the wicked and unnatural experiment
Of secession, and after the experiment
shall have proven a delusion and a sham !?
are we to be, as heretofore, eternally goa
ded by the gudgeons OF human bondage |?
are we TO be csjoled by the spasmodic
enunciaticn of " the Urion?'
Are WE still to foster and nurse, even
in the deep recesses of our bosom, that
arch demon Of misery and degradation!
are we to return again TO that s fond and
loving embrace which had so long held
us in her enchanted regions? are we to
bow the knee again in humble submission
% the dictates OF arrogant slavery are
w snU to present to the soorld The shameful
spectacle Of a republic tpithom moral or
physical courage enough to eradicate from
Its AaLloUed ground an institution rhich
Is. of Itself. the ,corst of all evils, tie tanc
Of az pollution, Let Us not be deceived
by the oily words of him who loves +" the
Union because be loves slavery" more.
I. Neither let US be frightened by the
predictions Of ruin which perchance some
wealthy rs=ser may for selfish ends profess
b 5elieve. But rather let our course be
ever onward and upward" and true to
the line" gkT
That it is the duty Of every individual
- stand by and defend the government
under which he lives, is a fact that no one
viii attempt to refute, unless it should be
one Of those characters whom we some
eannes Gee, appropriately called fsnatics.-
Yet It h the absolute and imperative duty
e all to make that government worth liv-
ing for. The injunction should be I" first
pnrc, then peaceable." This is condi-
4sn every American citizen has right to
demand,
It is even moro; it is a duty that none
are At liberty to neglect; and he who
~inks at . national Sin is not worthy the
respect Of his fellow men. He is guilty
Of breach Of faith towards himself, hi,
country and his Creator. While all art
bound to sustain the policy of the govern
ment, they are each Individually response
BE for that policy. President Lincoln il
only the agent Of the twenty million
whose efforts called him TO the Presiden
tial chair. He is to execute the LWs, no
% mako them; it is not for him 10 say