Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-10-10
COY. ROrTMELL,S SPEECH.

E1-Gov. Boutwell, made speech at Wash
iDgton at public meeting called to express
the satisfaction Of those present at the nomi-
natl n Of Gen. Wadsworth for Governor by
the Republican Union Contention Of New
York. There are admirable passages in the
report Of IT. Take the following
This is a time. gen,lem, n, when neither in
civil life nor in the conduct Of armies in the
field is it safe 70 trust to men whose opinions
lack earnestness in the discharge Of the du.
ties to which they are called. (Cues Of
- That's so.'O
And 1t is the duty Of all men who partici-
pate at all in the administration OF public
affairs, in justice to themselves, u their
country, and TO Heaven, to abandon the p)-
sitions they hold if they do not believe earn
estly. fully. and without wavering, in the
great cause to which the people Of this coun-
try all are called, as the maintenance on this
soil Of the principles Of Freedom, not bound
ed by color or race, but acknowledging 10
the Government which we set up, and in the
rights which we recognize in all men, that
be who has been created by his Maker in the
image OF his Maker is entitled TO equal rig Is
with any other man in the country OF upon
earth. (Applause.) Now, then, j. is the
denial Of this great right OF human equality
before the law, that has compelled Us to taste
this cup Of humiliation. Yes, il is the de-
nial which forces us 20 drink that bitter cup
Of humiliation to the very dregs. But it Is
only through this humiliation that We can
pass to that triumphant glory as people,
when it shall be declared in the face OF all
despOts on this continent, or on the other,
that he whom God has created IS iree-is
equal before the law. (Great applause
The despots of Europe are elatel with the
idea and the hope, that which they have pio-
fessed, viz the failure OF republican Insti-
tutions, is 10 be fulfilled. Gentlemen, re-
publican institutions have not Jailed. They
are put to a severe trial IN these days, but
republican institutions have not failed
What has failed on this continent in our ai-
iaIs, is simply this The attempt, not made
by the trainers of the Government, out made
by men thirty or forty years ago, who had
then already abandoned the principles OF the
Government, and attempted to set up and
perpetuate Government half slave and half
free. That attempt has failed. Washing
ton, Jefferson, Madison, and their associates,
had no belief IN such a Government the Gov
ernment which they set up was not Of th1t
character.
They knew that Slavery existed, but they
did not believe that Government founded
on Slavery and Freedom could stand. They
made no attempt to found such a Govern
ment What was their belief 1t was this
That Slavery was an evil, that 1t was pass
ing away. (Applause.) They believed that
Ere dom was permanent, that it was aggres-
siye, that it was to continue, and If their
belief had contnued in the heatt and mind
Of the South, Slavery would rave passed
away. the rebellion would not have come,
and tbs war and its scenes would have been
omitted IN the history of this Republic. But
thirty or forty years ago there appeared a
class of men in the South who attempted to
set up the opposite doctrine, that Freedom
was temporary, that it was limited, that 1t
was to disappear, that it was Slavery that
was a good, that it was Slavery that was to
be aggressive, and which finally on this con-
tinent and IN this Government would b. su-
preme.
| say it is this attempt made by Calhoun,
jefferson Davis, and the supporters VI this
rebellion, which has failed, and not republi
can institutions. They are strong to-day,
and shall be strengthened by this war and
out of this bitter humiliation, this terrible
experieuce in the life Of the nation, they
shall come forth regenerated and purif d, so
that generations yet to come shall believe IN
this as the revolution Of Freedom-freedom
for the human race. as the revolution Of
l776 was the revolution for the freedom OF
the nation-and inasmuch as the life Of the
men, inasmuch as the life of the race is wor
thier of preservation than the life of a mere
all this rsvnlufInO ShIna