Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-07-03

conscrption act was an unconstitutional act OF
despotism and that its execution aud would
be despotic.
lie said we had bearded the British lion, and
driven the British soldiers from our soil, with no
conscrpton. Never before had conscription been
attempted. When war strikes the popular heart
there was no need Of conscription. SO long as
the war was for the Union, there was no need Of
conscrpton but when Congress changed the OBJ
ject Of the war 20 that Of freeing negroes 'ben 10
was that it became necessary. Let the President
once more return and carry on the war for the
Union, and then there would be no need OF con-
scription.
21 This conscription did away with the pro-
visions for the State militia. He dwelt upon the
intention OF our Fathers in providing for the
militia and that it should be under the government
Of the State, and showing the whole object Of the
conscnpuon law was to take the power out Of the
bands Of the State authorities and give the Presi-
dent the unlimited power. There was no such a
despOtic cOnscriptiOn so far as he knew in Europe
The devil himself must have framed the $500 act
No despotic government had such provision. 49,
10 was the pride Of the European peasent that II
Hdraftcd for the war, he was lust as likely 10 stand
side by side IN the ranks with a prince Of the
blood. Here the rich man could pay his money
and stay at home, the poor man could not pay the
$500, and had got TO GO He then read from the
Congressional Globe, the arguments opposed to
the $500 act and endorsed them lie named
other objections to the law. He said il was our
duty TO obey law, even unconsttution laws till
they had been tested and declared to be uncon-
stitutional and void. lie did not counsel resis-
lance to law, but II be were a conscript, he would
employ the best legal counsel he could get and
test its constitutionality But he spoke OF this
because there were three members of Congress-
and Vermont he'd right to know whether her
members Of Congress were going to vote for
or against this law.
This act vests the whole military power Of the
country (4.000,O00 Of soldiers) in one man.
The ballot box IN New York and New Jersey
was free, thank God. In Missouri Tennessee
Kentucky and Maryland it was mockery
We were in the midst Of q civil revolution. Il
might not be attempted in republican Vermont to
control or suspend the free use Of the ballot box
If it ever was be would seize the musket and never
yield it till the enemies of our free country were
driven from the soil
But the indemnity act was worse than the con-
scrption act ii possible
Il denied security TO person or property. He
compared it with the rights of citizens in France
Prussia and other European government.
He spoke al great length, and it would be i'm
possible to give anything like full report of his
speech.
There were frequent interruptions of applause
during the speech and at the close three times
three cheers were given for the Orator, three
II. Seymour of Connecticut, for Gen Geo b.
Mcclellan, for Gen. Fitz John Porter and three
cheers for Hon. T. p Redfeld and the other
nominees Of the Convention.
The Convention then adjourned. to meet at
Village Hall this evening at o'clock.
EVENING.
Convention met pursuant TO adjournment in the
the evening at Village Hall
Mr. Atkins announced for the speakers of the
evening II. O. Wiley, Esq, Of Massachusetts,
Erasmus Plympton, Esq, Of Wardsboro.
Mr. Wiley, said singular as IL may appear
stand before YOU regular Cupperhead, Zap
plause) He proposed to speek what he consid-
cred and believed to be true. He knew not
whether his remarks would be pleasant or unpleas-
ant. lie spoke Of the war and enquired for what
are we lighting? II for liberty, union and law,
then 1t good and we should press It forward,
if not then it should not be encouraged. He be
lieyed in the irrepressbe conflict between liberty
and slavery. He thought the democratic party
was laboring for liberty and equality in opposition
90 those who were talking liberty, and only want
liberty for themselves, and power TO oppress
everybody else.
He referred to the opinions Of the fathers Of the
republic that IN England they had been governed
too much and determined TO establish a different
government, and that the principle object Of gov
crnment was to protect one man against the vio-
ence of another man He then referred to the
democratic parties showing that the old whig
party desired to govern too much, regulating
banking, government of canals railroads &c
while the democratic party had said let these
things be taken care OF by the people Interested
In later times the republican party had adopted
ali the theories of the old wing party and great
deal more, and attempted TO make government
moral reform society and legslate all sin out Of
the world.
They were the exponents of arbitrary ideas, and
claimed to dictate conduct and language 10 their
neghbors. To-day the democratic party stands
forth the advocate OF liberal ideas, liberal princi-
plies, giving the people ,he opportunity TO manage
for themselves. If there was anything that pc
culiarly distinguished the administration Of Abra-
ham Lincoln, It the lack Of confidence in the
people. They thought to carry on the by
proclnnations and arbitrary enrolments.
Was the war being carried on 10 return the un-
ion as il was or was il for union with such a con
stitution as Charles Sumner and Henry Wilson
could patch up When the war commenced and
5000, 900 men left their homes to fight for the
union and 10 suppress the rebellion. There was
no division then at home, we were all supporting
the administration. But when party who crying
party, was all the time trying to force on the
administration their peculiar ideas, obnoxious to
the great majority OF the north, and those ideas
became the settled policy of the administration,
then the president become committed to the abo-
llluulalh anu NlNicl0us NJ tlit Npftl htHuN
believed in the American Union, he believed that
eventually the union would be established, but
not by war. Ii might be necessary to fight more
battles for certain purposes, but sooner or later
these difficulties must be settled by peaceable ar
raugement. He favored peace. This war was
got up by bad men, il was the duty Of wise men
to bring about a settlement and he believed they
would in the end
Lying had been the chief cause Of the war. For
thirty years there had been a class of men heap
ing all manner of abuse on the South, and they
had become mad We must have a new order Of
things. He might be charged with preaching, but
when great majority of the clergy were speaking
politics. il was not impossible for LAWYERS TO turn
preachers. We mus, satisfy the South that we do
not wish to trespass on their rights. We must
forget our passions outlive prejudices, have
less bigotry and more charity for our Southern
brethren. We may hope for union, for peace
30. ponder what it means,
o, turn the rapturous though, IN every way,
O, give the unseen fancy play,
And paint ;he coming scenes,
Peace in our quiet dales,
Made richly fertile by the blood Of men
Peace in the woodland and the lonely glen,
Peace in the peopled wales,
Peace in the whrrng marts,
Peace when the sehoAr thinks
Peace when the hunter rOsms,
Peace, God OF Peace;
Peace in all our homes
Aud peace in all our hearts"
(Applause.)
Three cheers were then given for Mr.. Wiley,