Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-06-27
GEN. ROUSSEAU on SLAVERY.

a report of tie speeches at a public dinner
given to Gen. Rousseau, of Kentucky, by the
Unionsts of Louisville, on the 9sh inst. Gen.
Rousseau was prominent in his resistance to
the secessionst spirit which broke out in
louisville soon after the election of President
Lincoln, and distinguished himself with his
brigade at the battle of Shiloh. In response
to a commendatory toast, and the remarks Of |
Hon. James Guthrie thereon, Gen. Rousseau
made a reply. Coming as his speech does,
from a southern man, born and brought up |
at the South, with all his sympathies, as he
says, that way, his remarks are very notice
able.
After alluding to his labors in behalf Of
Kentucky, and complimenting the heroisn
of his brigade, Gen. Rousseau said
wish to ~ E word Of the situation. as it is
called by the reporters Of the day. / propose to
advise nobody. 1 pretend to no extraordinary
foresight. But desire to state that this rebel-
lion is lie from the beginning. There never
was any cause for it, To begin and keep it up a
system of wholesale lying WIS adopted, and is
stock in trade they have. They could teach the
devil himself much he never inew before about
lying. Wherever the army has gone it has met
this fell spirit of falsehood. We have taken none
Of their property we have excluded their slaves
from OR lines; when needed we have placed
Yards of our soldiers around their houses to pro-
tect them, and yet they persist IN calling US abo-
litionists and negro thieves. And in spite of our
disclaimers ami our soldiers reservations to the
contrary--of our words AID our acts-they have
insisted that object is to hberste their slaves
And if We fail to restore the Union, " the ever
lasting niger will be the cause Of the failure
They know what they say is false, yet they never
cease repeating It. Behind and before US this has
been the cry Of the enemies Of the government Now
the army Of Ger. Halleck is eminently cJnserva-
tive / believe there Is neither an abolitionist
nor a secessionist in it. If there is Of either
! faction, do not know it. SO orderly, patriot
| ic and so conservative a body Of men l bclicge
| never before assembled together. That army, III
its intercourse with the secesonists, has pleaded,
! is still pleading for peace under tho old govern
! meut, offering TO our southern brethren all they
! ever had, and claiming nothing except in common
with them. They want 10 take nothing from any
one but desire that their southern brethren shall
enjoy all their rights unimpaired. But the negro
is IN the way, ia spite Of all that can be done II
| said. Standing before the eye Of the secesssionht
tie nero hides all the blessings Of our govern
| inent, throwing black shadow on the sun itseli
II It had been any other species Of property that
! stood in the way, the Ariry, provoked as II has
been would willingly have seen its quick destruc-
tiou. But the negro they did not wish 10 interfere
/ with in any Way. Yet, with all it, conservatism
| and patriotism, the army has gown weary Of this
| insane cry Of sbalit0nisn' as cause for break
ing up the government
I have warned our southern friends Of the dan
| ger Of continuing It much longer; an / tell you
I toni gut, that il this var continues year from
this day, there will not be slave tAIs c0utin-
! eut Tie great Revelation Will take care % itself
/ the dead will buoy its dead-anl those who arc
causing al the bioodsael ana desolatou arouud Us
| under the false pretense that we desire 20 free
their negroes will if they persist, one day dua
slavery suuied cut you would suuf out a candle.
/ slavery j. not worth our Government. 1t is not
worth all the precious blood now being poured out
I f5r freedom IL is not worth the free nayI-
gation Of the Mississippi River. Mo- We must
! still have our Government. We cannot be slaves
10 Jtd Davis Co. We must and will be free
I We must have the free navigation oi the Mlssls-
sippi river and if slavery gets IN the way II any
Of these rights, why slavery must get OUT % the
way. That would be the last resort, and l should
be sorry TO have recourse 70 It; but am for the
l Government Of our fathers against all things and
every body. lille tue liberties Of the people are
secure under it as they ever have been, would
allow nothing but death to prevent my UNFOLDING
II. And, 10th a. you may be 70 decide you viii
soon. a. l believe, be called upon 70 do go. In
spite Of your enueat.es, the issue will be
cruelty thrust upon you, ami you will be forced
% decide between slavery and your wiyes and chill
dren. Al for me, am ready for the responsibility
southern man as ! an, born and brought up 10
The South, with all uy sympathies with the South
l could not hesitate one moment when the issue i
I presented between the Niger and tie Government
u our fathers. ! am for the Government u the
United States against all its enemies. / hope and
pray that our northern friends will not force g
she "a
/ such result, for we want our rights under The
Constitution, and we are al ready 20 fight foi
theirs under the good old Government. l would
to-day, most willingly giri On my sword and fgdi
for any right belonging O. them, si1rs-g In-.r1.l
! but tuey must not put not slavery between ne
aud tue Government ali laws u the nited states.
l will not consent 10 become slave that the Negro
may be kept a Save. l will not sacrifice the Ia p.
piness Of my wife, children and friends, the vel
fare Of my beloved State, and the glory OF my
country On an altar dedicated 70 the Ebony Idol.
When I see placed on one side government form
ed by the modest men the world has ever produced
the legacy Of Washington TO the human race,
glorious country fllcd With happy and enlightened
people, and admired or feared on ever spot that
Is troiien by the foot Of civilized man, and the
other country rent into Insignificant fragUents
engaged in continual wars with each ether. each
on it, knees begging assistince from some foreigl
monarch OF other sgains' a rival fragment, an oo
iect Of contempt 10 him who uses it for his OWE
purpose, then l shall not be long in coming I,
decision, though negro slavery may be on one side
and not On the other.
VIII the FREE Pass please tell Us when and
whore it has said and done such things - SsHi-
q,l 'aHs 20b.
We refer the Senir7e'. for an article con-
demning the howiers against our military
authorities in general. to the DAILY FREE
Pass OF Oc; 10, lS6l for one defending
Gen. Mcclellan from the special bowls Of
the y Y Tribune, to our Daily of Feb. .,
lsG2. for editorial paragraphs favorable to
the General to that Of May 10Th, and for a
statement that We should not with oar pres
ent knowledge withhold confidence from Gen.
Mcclellan while he Is sustained by the Pres
ident, to our Daily OF May 5th, lS62 Ii Is
quite true, however, that We have failed to
dlfy McClellan-and we believe in general.
that the best praise for General Is the re-
cord OF his achievements. That we are at
all times ready to give to every commander
in the service.
CONFINEMENT AT IHE UNIvERsIIY OF
VERMONT occurs tins year on the 9th Of
August. The principal addresses will be as
! follows
Before the Secretly Of Religious Inquiry,
| by Rev, c. L. GooDELL. of New Britain,
! Conn.
Before the Associate Alumni by Hon. a.
o. AIDS, Of St. Adams, Judge Of the Su-
preme Court Of the State of Vermont
Before the Literary Societies by JONI ".
MAY, ESQ, Of Boston, Mass