Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-07-11
SPEECH OF
Hon. II. ". StOuohton-


MIR. PREspENT ;--Nothing has bee
said as to whether this convention approx
or disapprove Of the policy of the admins
tration, in the prosecution Of the war.
desire to know whether the committee, VIII,
have returned from the performance of ihei
duty, to report resolutions for the consider
alton of this convention, have studiously
avoided bringing this question before thu
convention. 1t was on this point, Mr.. Pres
dent, ] thought might differ from the com
mittee, and perhaps With a majority of the
convention, when | declined serving on the
committee. For the purpose Of enabling
this convention to express an opinion upon
the question whether they approve or dis
approve of the policy of the government in
the prosecution Of the war, as thus far de-
veloped, | move an amendment of the sec
ond resolution, ly striking out all after the
word "Reso!ved,' and inserting the follow
ing -
" That we approve of the policy ofthe adj
ministration in its ayowed determination to
prosecute the war for the restoration of the
Union under The constitution, and that We
viii lend our utmost aid in the attainment
of thlt object"
l move this amendment because the orig
inal simply resolves 10 sustain the govern
ment in all constitutional efforts to put down
the rebellion, without any expression OF
opinion as to whether efforts thus far made,
are, or or not, constitutional. / want the
opinion of this convention on the subject.
Does the policy of the government, as thus
far developed, commend itself to cur favor,
and are we willing to speak out on this sub
ject, and say whether we will sustain or
condemn its policy? Can we adept the Ian
guage of The amendment? II not, why
not! Am right or wrong in presenting
this iest2
Nearly one million of men have volun-
teered their services TO put down this re-
belhon. They are men Of all grades OF
politics. They are not coerced they vol
unteered to 90 forth and fight the battles Of
this country under the call of govern
ment whose avowed object is the restoration
OF The Union under the constitution and |
desire to know whether you and |, standing
here as the representatives Of the democra-
cy OF Vermont, in state convention, will say
TO those men: The call to which you have
responded was demanded by the crisis; the
government was right in making it and
you shall be sustained in your efforts to re-
spond 10 it." My proposed amendment goes
thus far, and no farther: 1t is not propo-
sition to convert democrats into republicans.
1t is simply proposition to remain Union
men tn apr in co,,cart v,ttb Of c.la- f,,.n.,
men in the preservation of our government.
Mr.. President, feel deeply on this SUBJ
subject; ] am, and have been, since the
commencement of the rebellion, Union
man to the core. | have felt that it was the
duty Of democrats and republicans to shake
oil party shackles-io cease to be influenced
by party prejudices, or party considerations,
and throw them all to the four winds OF
heaven. Is democratic organization par
amount to the great question OF thepreser-
vHtiurI or the Unons answer graphically,
NO! IS the Union not worth preserving
unless it can be done and still keep up The
democratic, the republican, and abolition
organizations / answer: Sacrifice them
all al the shrine of the Union, if necessary.
Let US have one great organization, which
shall represent the Union sentiment of the
country-which shallaid the government in
resisting the attempts OF northern and south
ern secessionists TO destroy the Union, and
the fanatical efforts OF aboitionists TO con-
vert this war into a war for emancipation.
hold party in utter contempt when COM
pared with tue questions now agitating the
country.
The Union has been the boosted heritage
OF the democratic party. We have claimed
to be its benefactors. We have said that the
unparalleled prosperity of this government
and people was attributable to the admins
trallon OF the government upon democratic
principles; we have said that it could and
should be preserved against the machine
tons OF fire-eaters at the south, and the fam
atical efforts OF abolitionists at the north
and that the preservation ,f the American
Union was paramount TO all othe consider
atoms. The test has now come A rebel
hon unparalleled in history is now upon us.
II must be put down under the supervision
OF the government. The administration of
the government is net one selected BY the
democracy. Still, if the Union be saved
under the constitution, il must be done
through the instrumeniality of that admin
istration. Our only means of sustaining the
government in crushing the rebellion. is TO
sustain It's policy. This we should DO unless
ITS policy is in conflict with the constitution.
and do not believe any man will sustain
the assertion that it is, unless he is prepared
10 adopt the original theory of the New
York Irr6ane-that secession finds its apol-
ogy IN the constitution itself; theory
which, | believe, is now abandoned even by
Mr.. Greeley himself
1t has been suggested several times in the
course of the day, and the Hon. President
10 his remarks asserted it, that abolitionisn
was the cause OF this rebellion. Concede il,
II you please Is the gentleman opposed to
the war aud to the government because the
rebellion is attributable TO the conduct Of
abolitionists? If so, why? Does he find
sufficient cause for the rebellion. and Justify
it on that ground? Is this the opinion he
fears TO express on account Of " Fort War
rem y do not think that the conduct of
the abolitioniss is ajustifcation for the re-
bellion. Nor do l believe that secession
can be justified as a constitutional right.
The cause of the rebellion, is, therefore. IN
my Judgment, an improbable Question 70
discuss, and nnotjustify any action this
convention may take touching The amend
ment under consideration, whether we at
tribute the cause of democracy, republican
Ism, aboiiiionism, or the action of Great