Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-07-29
Letter from VIM. M. Evarts of New York.

WINDSOR, w., July l5 1862
" DEAR SIR The invitation ol your Commit
tee 10 address the great meeting u be held to-
day in the City Ui New York reached me too
late for This answer even to be- in time tor the
occasion.
The enthusiastic rally at Union Square on
the 20lh day of April Of last year demonstrated
the wisdom aud courage Of )ur people, in in
stantly meeting the war which had been opened
against the Government by the armed Rebellion,
with all the strength aud energy which thor
ough and united purpose and abundant material
resources could supply. From that moment the
people have taken no step backward, and there
has been more occasion Tor solicitude that they
would run over the Government, than that they
would not keep up with its movements and de-
nands have no fears now that the Response
Ot the people 10 the new call for troops will b.
either sluggish or inadequate.
" w neither 10 the past the Governments has
fully understood the stern simplicity ol this con
test-;o which only two issues, the destruction
OF its enemy or OF itself, we're ever possible
whether 1t has recognized It's true enemy--the
Rebel arlstocracy, ana appreciated the depth
and force Of the passions aud interests winch
have stimulated tner hatred and support cir
hOstillties whether 1t has wise and etisc lively
employed the Immense power which the de1o
ton OF the people has laid at It's lcet-tbese are
question, unsulJed to the situation Of our affairs
Forgetting the things that ure behind, we
musi push forward. and be satisfied with know
ing aud Insisting that, IA the future, the >rutl-
ments aud action VI the Government will be,
and shall be- clear, decisive and concentrated
seeking, what thus seeking It i sure 10 accom-
pllsh, The rapid and complete reduction. By mi
ltary power, Of the reyolted territory and popu
la ION to allegiance to their aud our C0nstItu-
ton
80 know tina; there are loyal, intelligent and
earnest lovers Of their country, who conceive
that they have no part or heart IN this war IL
it be not so directed that The social institution
OF Slavery shall not survive it, aud others who
imagine that they will not help put down the
rebellion II Slavery is to hall With IT, But
these opinions goUern no considerable number of
the loyal population and, indeed, il those who
profess the one or the other of them were put tu
tho test, am persuaded that the Flag and the
Constitution would lose .sw oI them AZ defend
| crs.
4" And now it is proclaimed, as with trum-
J pee, shroashoui tho land. Rsbsls and 10 loyal
men alike, that the burden and the heat nj rms
!
birthrght are 10 the issue and that the sun
which sets upon this day ol our trial will look
upon us proud, happy, free, a powerful
nation, or rent distracted crushed, desplsed
people
% llo~ ooli,h aud feeble 4 conception 3f the
tat"' thai thls war carries have thuy who regard
it as contest involving only thu extent Of ter.
t'org aud oi population which our Government
shall tuanIa,n dominion over mutlIated
territory and dismemhered people are results
sufficiently ln'olerahe to our pride aud our in
,ercsts. But tGe disastrous event II the war
stops a. no such measure Of calamity The Fed
eral Constitution isselI will have been rent in
twain, aud the fabric OF our national liberties
VIII have passed away as a scroll The noble
heritage which the wisdom and courage OF he
roic ancestors gained for us will have been wrrs.
sd from our feeble and iathlesS hands. For this
pul 4eii abl,ement tIere will he no cure, n9af-
'"r health. no pardon
" bs!rys That ~. people unierstAu! this
moGcn1us ies2e and that Their hearts thrI,l
win he intensity OF the emotions is conem-
platlon hesets Have We, by Divine favor. the
power 70 avert this ruin and maintain the life
Of The nation This power can be no other
than military and financial resources, and the
WISDOM aud courage TO apply them
'' Tue maSs OF tue population supporting the
GOyeTnment, and counting, As the supply OF its
military ana financial strength, numbers about
% 900 UDh, OF which something like 600 900
are slaves The mass OF the population arrayed
in revolt IS over : 900 900. OF which , 900 900
are slaves We thus stand toer 10 ons oil the
Tree population OF thu country for the Govern.
ment Are these 5000 900 Of free whites,
mounted on the shoulders OF 5000 900 black
81 ves abo to predominate over our ~ 900 900
OF free whites IN battle aud in war, rs they have
done in politics and in peace? II they are, they
had better be dismOunled
d" But the question carries its own answer.
IT, on our part the battles are still political and
the war peaceful, his treason will overthrow
our Government II we are to save the liyes,
the property, the feelings ana the pride OF the
Rebels, and waste only the lives, the property.
the courage and the strength of the loyal peo-
pie we are the allies OF the Rebels, not their
enemies, and undermine from within the citadel |
which they assault frOm without.
" If. on the other hand. we will dismiss poll |
tics and peace from our minds and from our
bearts 1t our advancing armies shall treat The
population IN revolt, whether black Or white, |
slave OF free, as udr groups them-as rebel or |
as loyal as hostile or as submissive; II the Gov
ernment will execute the simple policy, pdrcere
subjecfis, deb,lore Suprbos, root out the haugh- /
ty a;istocracy that urges on the rebellion, and
spare the ahiect followers it has cheated and |
o,ccd into support, the hand of the Gov
ernment will be on the neck OF lts enemies. -
We shall see this treason crouch and lower un-
der the thundcrbllts OF war, and the leaders OF |
the revolt stranglej III the cru rage with which |
the terrified and suffering masses will seek for |
victims. to save themselves and make peace with
| Al IL D...a