Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-30
PRESIDENT LINcoLN's POLICY

We think it must be evident by this time
that Mr., Lincoln regards the Southern States
to be in the Union. and subject to all the pro-
visions Of the Constitution. They are both
{. amenable to the laws Of the land, and can
I claim all the privileges and franchises Of tho
Government. lie wages war against rebel
lion ~ the States, and not against the prop
erty or institutions Of the States. lie fights
with traitors, aud not with the Constitution.
In his Judgment. whenever the rebels lay down
their arms, the Constitution is in force again
over those States which have seeded and
even traitors can claim to be tried and pun
ishcd by the Constitution, while all who are
not proued to be traitors will fare equally with
all the other citizens Of the Government in
the protection Of the laws and the blessings
Of Republican liberty Evidently Mr.. Lin
coin does not mean to extermina.e the South,
to sweep from existence all ss9to rights, to
subvert all Southern social distinctions aud
privileges, and then say that he has restored
them to 'ho Union and vindicated the Con-
stitution. Mo- Even now he insists that
the only Constitutional way to reach the ques-
ton Of slavery is by emancipation, compen-
sated by the United States, and instituted at
the pleasure Of the several States He has
said this from the beginning lie has been
consistent with his policy. As often civil
OF military zealots have tried to ioist another
policy on the Government, he has snubbed
. - Io hot
military or civil, shall assume his prerogative
and deal with the questions at issue trbitra-
rily and uncons;itutionally. lie says, in his
recent proclamation, that his course is not
} Pharsaic. He does not say one thing and
mean another. He has not put anything in
70 his proclamations or policy " unbeknown
to the people lie means what he says, and
will do wnat he has marked out SO we un-
derstand him. He will deal with slavery
- fairly and according to his well-scttled poll
oy. He will leave it to the States. He will
not war against it. He will compensate all
States for the nconveuiences and losses Of
) " self-initated emancipation He will con-
tend with rebellion and suppress it if it takes
million Of men, and will maintain and pre-
serve the Union OF Federal and OF State au-
thor'ty unimpaired, according to the princi-
d pies of the fundamental law We like this
e policy. 1t is sound, constitutional, republi-
can, Just, conservative, and emnently moral
aud righteous There is no Pharisaism in it,.
Z And if anything can do it, it will save tho
; country and immorlaize the name of the pres
, ent President
We have no sympathy with the course TAX
D en- by many Of the extreme Republicans, who
6 seem to be more anxious to kill slavery than
q to save the country, and who even miscon-
strue the President, and try TO make the peo-
! Pile believe that though Mr.. Lincoln now
, squenches all their impoitic theories, he means
@ bye-and-bye to turn big summersault, and
overthrow the very policy he is at present
pursuing We believe him to be sincere and
e honest, and that he does not carry the ulte-
: ror purpose Of destroying States and their
5 rights in his heart, while with his mouth he
has, one at er another condemned Fremont
, and Phelps and Hunter for their unauthorized
4 proclamations Are we to believe that the
n President is going to adopt their policy at
I last: He might as well do it at the begin
ming. Are we to believe that he is going to
p cheat the whole country, as some would have
t us suppose, into subscribing to his wise poll
e cy, and then turn about and upset it all :
e Not at all The President is honest, is sin
cere, is right. " He plays not the Pharisee." "
IIo Il all nd tha
e sustain him. They will stand by his policy.
G Mr.. Cbeever may denounce his recent pro-
+ clamation as madness and wickedness con-
centrated," but the people Of this country can
+ see the difference between higher law hy-
T. pocrsy and a straightforward constitutional
y sincerity They would like to be rid of slav-
cry, but they do not mean to be rid of it by
q trampling upon the vested rights fthe States.
= They do not wish for any radical changes,
o Z" rending aud wrecking everything" but for
d mild aud bene6cent changes, initiated at the
e pleasure Of the several States, coming " like
- the dews of heaven" Every day we find
- more and more occasion of satisfaction in the
Il election of President Lincoln. It's a sublime
b thing to see the strong pilot Of our republican
!, ship, knowing well his duty, keeping his eye
and his heart fixed upon his PEAT, determined
II to bring the vessel and cargo home safely,
n while the crew and passengers all around him
u are distracted, or mutinous, or at their wits
= end Tho people may well pray that God
: would give the President wisdom and cour-
d age to 90 forward as he has begun, neither
It DETECTED to the right hand or the left, and
&c never pursuing a double or tortuous pol
\ icy. Would that Congress might catch the
= Presidents spirit
o u. S. MUsTgRING AND DisBuRsisG OFPIoR,
n Burlington, W. May 9th, 1862. s
"a In obedience tclegraphic orders from Washington
have assumed command Of all the recrsts belonging
u the Nermnnl HnnAde In this SlAin 1 shall a