Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-10-07
Political Aid to the Rebellion.

There are but two parties now in the country
the Pro-Slayery, and the Anti Slavery party
The Presidents Emancipation Proclamation ha
80 lar separated the political elements that nc
general classification will SO surely distinguish
the real difference between Northern men. a,
this. The pro slavery politicians, however
Rave the wit to disguise their real sympathy
with slavery, and their with to preserve 1t. BIZ
the pleasant fiction Of devotion TO the Union
and the Constitution. Before the proclamation
was issued, they also claimed for Themselves the
especial championship of the President, but
ihcy have since dropped him as too radical, and
now 90 for the government, not as 1t is, but
DE they wish 1t was And on this point they
are becoming exceedingly nice in their dstInc-
tons. The administration is nothing the gov.
eminent is everything. They oppose the ad-
ministratlon, but they are 10 favor of the gov-
eminent. They denounce the Cabinet denounce
Congress, denounee the Executive, but are vet
in favor of the government.
We eau understand that the administration is
not, theoretically =" the Government because
she government REMAINS however often By con-
stitutional methods, the administration NAV be
changed. Yet the government is but form,
and has no life except it is vitalized by the adj
ministraton oc ,upying it for the time being
In the abstract, a court is no particular set OF
Judges, yet for the time being it cannot be sepa-
rated from the Judges who constitute il and
We should consider lawyer slightly transcend
entail who should denounce every decision OF the
judges, and yet claim to be a supporter Of the
court.
Still, we agree that one may be friend of
the government, and not necessarily approve
every measure which the administration may
adopt. Freedom Of opinion and freedom OF
speech, are quite too important elements of free
institutions to be submerged at the first treason
able disturbance and freeman is not necessa.
rlly traitor or dsloyal in his sentiments. be.
cause he does not agree with every inca sure
adopted by those in power Tor SURPRISING trea-
son. But the partizauship OF this opposition.
the way in, and the subject upon which one
chooses to exhibit it, may, after all. disclose
the real sympathes Of The man, and serve toI
characterze the opposition as ana md comfort
TO the rebels. This can easily be illustrated
Take for example the las, call for 300 600 nlne
months men, and can 1t be said that any oneI
might have Cpl osed the raising of those troops
Tor any reason, and yet have warmly supported
the cause OF the government? Very clearly not,
We think. And yet the calling out of those
troops was only one of the methods which tho
administration determined upon for supuressing
treason. The blockade, the appointment, of lro.
yisonal governors for nsurgent states, the tax.
ing OF rebel property, are also but me ,ns which
have been, aud are being employed to the same
end, and we can hardly conceive of any body. |
opposing these measures without, at leasi. being
in sympathy with the South And in some
degree, the same must be true Of the partisan
opposition to the President Emancipation Proc.
lamation. Before twas issued, The policy oft
was u fair and Legitimate subject of discussion.
But building up political parties upon it now,
when the nation stands as irreyoeably commit
ted to il a, 1t is possible to be, is quite a dill.
'erent thing, and can proceed bat from two mo-
tives-the desire to defeat Republicans il the
coming elections, or the desire to aid che rebels. /
We know twas said beforehand that it would
no; 90 to emancipate the slaves, because it would
divide 'he North, multiply the rebels in the
border States, and make the cotton States unan.