Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-10-23
GEN. Phelps ON slavery and the war.

the Legislature and citizens of Montpelier in
the Representatives Hall, at Montpelier, on
Monday evening. His subject was, Slavery
and the War. We copy from Walton's Jour
nal, the following abstract of his speech
He remarked that this was most unexpeo-
ted honor, and promised TO do his best to pro
vide an evenings entertainment He could
say much if sufficient time were allowed. He
chose TO refer TO history, He called attention to
important periods in our nation correspond
ing with similar periods in Eugland's history,
Ths first period was the close Of French and
English war, The first question occurring TO
the English at that time was what shall be
done with the great number of their slaves
In course of time the leading minds of Eng
land began a war against the despotism of
English rulers. The second period was the seven
years. contest of English minds against War
rem Hastings. We had then vindcated our
own liberty, and struggled through the Revo-
luton. Then was formed the Constitution,
and the mechanism Of its formation was de-
scribed at length. First proposed and pre-
sented TO New England by Virginia and
Maryland the Constitution had hardly been
formed, before those who presented it infrnged
it in favor of slavery. After the formation of
the Constitution, but little thought was given
to any attempt to abuse. The traitor Burr,
who attempted to set up an independent mon
archy was allowed 10 escape. The annexa-
ton of Louisiana was one and very formida-
BILE cause ofthe present rebellion.
The Missouri Compromise was another pc
Rod in our nations history. Clay used all his
talents for compromising with all moral right
1t was natural for him to take the whole Uni
ted States as the field Of operations. An an
ecdote was related ofthe scene of an act in try
ing to enforce the compromise. The meas
ure was carried by six or seven votes, and this
was the starting point of the great evil which
we are now battling, One simple law of in
interpretating the constitution, viz THE sus-
tanning of liberty, and any other Interpretation
Is wrong. ....... .-r b.
Another period was the annexation ofTexas.
We had no right to provide that Texas should
be divided into five slave states. We had no
right to guarantee slaves to any new states
This rebellion will show signs of having been
in construction for years. AT the time of the
closing of the Mexican war, a rich jew of
New Orleans bought church and the preach
or argued that the idea of hell was mis-
taken idea. The community were infatuated
with the new star and readily took to his doc
trine and when he argued that our constitu-
ton was also mistaken idea they as readily
believed, and thus was sown the seed of dis
LOYALTY. If the time has come for our separa-
ton, it remains to be seen if those who have
now undertaken it are the ones to carry it out.
All the leaders of this rebellion are closely con-
nected with the Jews, and many of them are
reported as such The southern people sup
pose that cotton cannot be raised except by
slave labrr. @ @' "
The effort of separation has long been con-
! ceived and has met with many and great OBJ
stacles, but has had most potent influence in
Slavery. Between us and the negro there is
. an entire nationality. At the South there is
despotism ruled by white chiefs, having for its
subjects the ignorant and enslaved negro. 1t
will require all our exertions to throw off this
great yoke of Slavery. There is possibility
of destroying it. The sun never looked down
upon greater evil than American slavery In
ruling this great nation of slaves we have to a
degree become enslaved ourselves. Here in
Vermont is an influence working for the exter-
mnation of this great evil. ..
The institution of slavery directly violates
the law Of our Savior, that s'Thou shalt not
steal" Every principle of the commandment
| is infringed by the cause of slavery. The war
that this rebellion has given rise TO, is an effort
| for liberty There are yet three things to be
done in putting down this rebellion LIST, the
destruction Of slavery; 3D. put down the re-
belion; 3d. to foot the bills. The war should
be short and desperate. The Americans are
slow, are not fighting nation-we are too
| free for military nation. We can fight; no
one ever doubted that The southerners are
| great fighters, and we would acknowledge it if
they had single other redeeming principle
| Our President has not seen the negro that rifles
the water The President has finally ventured
upon the great issue very timidly, and has
postponed its destruction for months longer
The rebels knew when they fired the first shot
that slavery was at stake, and must live or die.
| President Lincoln should at first have issued
| this proclamation and then we should be i'm
mediatey free nation. Let us rejoice that
| he will now dare to attempt, after space of
three months, the destruction of the institution
in the face of all nations. Nations have gone
on to abolish slavery. The West India ISL
ands now produce more cotton than ever be-
fore. Why should we fear for the consequent
ees of the abolition of slavery when we have
such examples before us. General Phelps pro-
poses to organize the slaves into military bod
les as the only means of caring for them
They should at, once be organized into regi-
ments and put in control of those estates on
which they have labored. The city of New
Orleans was not destroyed when occupied by
the federals, because there was so large body
there opposed to such rash measure. The
city is entirely commercial, living upon cotton,
and was forced to the act Of secession
The STAKEHOLDER never considers that there
is any other than slave labor that could be OBJ
tanned to do the same work The slave is idle
by nature, but by the influence of free labor
more could be done than by the lash
On the fourth cf July great numbers Of COL
ored persons came to his camp and he thought
it his duty to protect and guarantee to them
the principles Of the Declaratlop that call men
are created free and equal" When he en-
deavored to make men of them and Organize
them into regiments and make military citizen,