Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-07-03

tionists and negro. thieves And III spite OF
our disclaimers and our soldiers observations
to the contrary--of our words and our acts,
they have insisted that our object is to lOerate
and steal their slaves.
"And if we fail to restore the Union, 'the
everlasting nigger' will be the cause OF the fail
urc. They know what they say is false, yet
they never cease repeating it. Behind and be-
fore us this has been the cry Of the enemies OF
the government Now, the army OF Gen. Hal
lack is eminenty conservative. believe there
is neither an aboltionist nor secessionlst IN
| it. If there is one OF either fashion, 10 hot
know it, So orderly so patriotic, and so con-
servative q body of men believe never before
assembled together. That army in its inter-
course with the sccessionists has pleaded ana is
still pleading for peace nnder the ola govern,
ment offering to our southern Ore'hfen aIl
they ever had and claiming nothing except IN
common with them. They want TO take NOM
ing from any one, but desire that their southern
brethren shall enjoy all their rights unimpared
But the negro is in the way in spite OF all that
can be done or said. Standing before the eye
of the secessonst, the negro hides all the ules-
sings of our government, throwing black
shadow OH the sun itself. If it had been any
other species of property that stood in the way
the army, provoked as it has been, would vii
lingly have seen its quick destruction. But the
negro they did not wish TO interfere with in any
way. Yet with all its conservatism and pa
triotism, the army has grown weary of this in
sane GRAY of 'abolitionism' us a cause for break
ing up the government.
81 have warned our southern friends of the
danger of continuing it much longer; and |
tell YOU tonight that, if this war continues
wear from to-day, there will not be a slave on
this continent. The great revolution will take
care of itsef-the dead will bury its dead-and
those who are causing all the bloodshed and
desoaton around us under the false preence
that we desire to free their negroes will, if they
persist one day find slavery snulIed out as
they snuff out a candle Slavery is not worth
our government 1t is not worth our liberty.
1t is not worth all the precious blood now being
poured out for freedom 1t is not worth the
free navigation of the Mississippi river. No,
we must still have our government-if not as
it now is, with slavery in it, still we must have
our government. We cannot be slaves TO jeff.
| Davis, & Co. We must and will be free. We
must have the free navigation of the MsSs-
sppi and if slavery gets in the way OF any of
these rights, why slavery must go out of the
.. way That would be the last resort, and
should be sorry to have recourse to it; but
! am for the government of our fathers against
all things and everybody. Whilst the liberties
of the people are secure under it, as they have
$ been, would let nothing but death prevent
= my upholding it. And, 10th as you may be tc
decide, you will soon as | believe be called up
4 on to do so. In spite Of your entreaties, thu
!. issue will be cruelty thrust upon you, and yor
, will be forced to decide between slavery ant
: your wives and children.
"As for me, am ready for the responsibility
II A southern man as | am, born aud brought W
], in the south, with all my sympathies with th
r. south, | could not hesitate one moment wher
s the issue is presented between the nigger anC
the government of our fathers. | am for tn
q government of the United States against all it
= enemies. hope and pray that our norther
re friends will not force US to extremes on thi
= sensitive point. We deprecate such a result
y for we want our rights under the constitution
70 and we are ready to fight for theirs under tn
il good old government | would to-day mo;
% willingly grid on my sword and fight for an
= right belonging to them, sldUery inciUdcd bu
:. they must not put slavery hetween me and tn
n government and laws of the United States.
n will not consent to become a slave that IL
negro may be kept slave. ! will not sacrifC
90 the happiness of my wife, children and friend
,r the welfare of my beloved state, and the glor
10 of my country on an altar dedicated to IL
Ia Ebony Idol.' When | see placed on one sit
, government formed by the noblest men Il
o. world has produced, the legacy of Washingto
m to the human race, glorious country file
al with happy and enlightened people, and az
A. mired or feared on every spot that is troddt
I'd by the foot of civilized man, and on the other
j. country rent into significant fragments, engage
4 in continual wars with each other, each on h
% knees begging assistance from some foreg
so monarch or other, against rival fragment, {
lis object of contempt to him who uses it fox h
w. own purposes, then | shall not be long in COZ
III ng to q decision, though negro slavery may
I'M on one side and not on the other.