The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-10-14
GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN OCT. IA 1862

dark and gloomy region of this globe. Then
they were the home OF Slavery. That was the
condition of the West Indies so long agp az |
can remember from the knowledge gained OF
them by reading. But Denmark, France, Eng
land aud other Powers have gone on liheratng
slavas there, and with what result? | believe
that in the aggregate those islands produce
more now than ever before This is, doubt
not, the truth. And there is another point
the people there are nearly as moral and Care
full regard to matters OF their social life as IN
the Northern United States. They are certainly
infinitely in advance of the Southern States in
these particulars. There lie those Islands in
those hot regions of the tropics, where the eli
mate favors slavery if it favOrs it anywhe:e,-
where certainly it seems more properly to find
it's home than in The Southern States. There
they lie reclaimed, while the Southern portion
of our United States is still In comparative
state of barbarism Why then should We doubt
about the practicabity and wisdom of Emanci-
patton, when we have such an example before
us?
HIS POSITION.
| may be permitted, in conclusion, to make
some remarks in regard to my own position -
my position with regard to this question. From
Newport News, where most OF you may be
aware that was for awhile stationed, it became
my fortune as soldier to open out the question
territorlally, into little wider sphere. thought
1t was high time that movement should be
made, for [ thought could sec where energetic
influences should be set at work. | was not then
unwilling to 90. was to take part in a great
military combination, vast strategetlc move
ment Combined with other movements, it was
to throw troops upon the right flank OF the en-
envy, and to attack one of the weakest, yet most
important points Of the entire rebel territory,
New Orleans. 1t Was a point where | knew
that the rebellion was least respected, because
there its origin WAS known better than else
where. When | mad reached that position, |
found myself in The rear Of this great strate-
eetc movement TO which | have referred.
supposed that 1t was my duty and that Of those
associated with me, to do our bes: to gain ad-
vantage after advantage over the enemy | sup
posed that if We did not capture him, we were
at least to prevent him from making face
against our troops in The North. We were to
make our presence felt in some way. 1t ap-
peared to me- that they we've uph0ldlng There,
an old institution, one 80 drcayeG that 1t was
ready to fall ot lis own weight. The slaves
We're constantly running away from their mas
ters. There seemed TO be no certainty or safety
| for the institution. On the +th Of july re-
member that the cannon that Doomed from our
camp, the report OF The thlrty-tour guns that
| gave to our dag the national salute, brought
many slaves to my quarters. They came, they
said, to see the 4th OF July Many Of tho ne
groes that thus came to uo ut different times,
had little or almost no clothing, they had need
! of the barest nccessarlcs OF life. All that had
It In my power to give them was food. They
were human beings, nevertheless, and subjects
! Of the United Stajes
They came TO ask protection at least, OF the
ilag OF my country, which proclalns freedom to
men They came to me under such crcumstan-
ces and | deemed it my duty to protect them
as part cf the great human family, with that
generosity and care, that becomes great, a hui
name, \ Christian Government. however, sooI
found obstacles in the way, in some instances
Of even keeping and caring for them as poorl
as then could. They were returned 10 slavery
after they had come and CLAIMED The protection
of that flag. And when | made an effort to
RAISE regiment Of slaves to cOns Ter The negro
y lnau, and not Il chalJel, man who has a righ
to support our free institutions Instead of con
rrtenng him a mere element of aristocrA il
power, d mere mud sill to aid the arstocrat tt
maintain his pre-einloence, when | endeavoreC
to make him feel that he had rights as either
and Il soldier, was checked and ,olI that
must CONSIDER him II man Of very low order,
mere hover of wood and drawer Of water.
was stopped and told to consider him a mere
element Of ariStocyAt!c power.
At the conclusion of Gen. Phelps Address
Ex-Governor Fletcher offered resolution tina
the members Of the Vermont Legislature an
citizens assembled, tender to Gen Phelps thei
warmest gratitude and sincere thanks for tn
faithful, Efficient, and noble service be has rem
dered to lis country, and for this interesting an
able address. The resolution was unanimousl
adopted.
LEGISLATURE OF VERMONT.