Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-08-25
MIR, Redfield's Speech.

MIR. Redfeld's Speech
Mr.. Redfeld, in the printed report, prepared
by himself OF his speech at the Sham Democratic
County Convention held here, thus arraigns the
party which now unfnchingly supports the Gov
eminent lie says;
II propose, therefore, to examine with you, for
a moment, whether this party-whateyer name it
may assume-is emnently Union party.-wheth
or loue Of the Constitution, and the Union, as
the great cardinal controlling principle, permea-
ties, and inspires, all its acts"
by their deeds you shall know them" and by
their avowed principles we will judge them.
IL Is geographical party, such as Washington
denounced, and admonished you to avoid
1t is organized of material, and nstigated by
motives, peculiar to one section, and in antagon-
ism to another section, Of the Union. Its watch
words are denunciaiion Its inspiration is hate.
1t has moved Sovereign States by their enact
ments to annul Constitutional laws OF Congress
laws made in execution of Constitutional provisions
for the benefit Of that other section Of the Union
1t has defed, and resisted unto blood, the au.
thority and officers, Of the National Government
in the execution Of the laws Of the land, and shot
them down in the streets while in the discharge of
official duty.
1t has nstigated State Courts to override the
adjudications OF the Supreme Court Of the Union,
in matters OF constitutional law, and thus defed
the process of the Federal Courts, by placing the
officers of the State in direct conflict with the
officers Of the general Government and when it
has done this, its press has extoed the acts as
the contamination Of patriotism.
1t has, by its press and public teachings attempt
ed to educate the people that its party dogmas
were paramount TO the Constitution, and unless
they could prevail to "l,t the Union slide"
II has, 10 the name Of "higher law" installed
the caprices and passions Of men above the laws
of Congress and the adjudications Of the National
Courts, and instigated citizens to trsmpe the Con-
stitution, and laws Of the land, under their feet.
al, lisa geographical party" Well-what was
the Free Soil party in which Mr.. Il. was once a
conspicuous lghtP Did that have any strength
SOUTH And had not Washington denounced y
such parties, and admonishsd Mr.. Redfeld
to avoid them prior to 1851 Or has Mr..
X. learned Washingtons opinion since thenP
1t is organized Of material "pecular to one
section u" of the Union" How was it about the
Free Soil partyP Isn't Mr.. Redfeld Of 1868,
rather hard upon Mr.. Redfeld of 1852
4" 1t has moved Sovereign States by their en-
actments to annul constitutional laws of Con-
gress." Does Mr. Redfeld remember who
moved the Sovereign State Of Vermont to
pass the Habeas Corpus law in 1850 Does he
remember tnat Mr.. Peck declined the nomina.
ton for Governor in 1851, expressly because the
platform upon which he was asked to stand ap-
proved that Habeas Corpus law and does he not
remember that he (Mr. r. stepped on that plat
form when Mr.. Peck stepped off In view of
this not remote fact, ought not Mr.. Redfeld Of
this year to be little more tender in his charges
against the Mr.. Redfeld of 1852
al, has defed and resisted unto blood the au-
thority and officers Of the National Government,
in the execution OF the laws Of the land, and shot
them down in the street in the discharge Of Off
cal duty" Is Mr.. r. denouncing the Sims riot
in Boston in 1851, or the Draft riot in New York
in 1862 Is it the Free Soil party Of twelve
years ago, of which Mr.. r. was the candidate for
Governor, whose portrait he is sketchpg, or is /,
the Neutrality-suspicious. party of
to-day, whose candidate he now is, who is sitting
Tor lkenessP Have care Mr.. Redfeld, not to
make target Of your new, as well as your old
allies
The next charge-too long to repeat-refers to
the Booth case in Wisconsin, we suppose, in
which Mr.. II. charges the State Cour, with over
riding the decisions Of the Supreme Court. Blu,
MIR. r. knows that the conflict Of jurisdiction
there was adjusted by the Courts themselves, and
the decision Of the U, $. Cour. finally settled down
upon as law. He knows also that the State Court
Of Wisconsin then only for a moment took up the
southern doctrine Of State Rights, as weapon in
behalf of freedom, following precedent set by
Georgia years before, when Georgia bullied the
Court and set at nought its law. lie knows that
the Republican party never approved Of the course
taken by the State Court and Is no more respon-
sible for it than is the Free Soil party. lie knows
that the Administration, which he 10 sharply con-
dennis, is now making Judge Tauey's opinion in
the Booth case the law upon which ii rest. It's au.
thorily for refusing to obey writs Of Habeas Cor
pus issued by State Courts, while the party to
which MIR. X. now belongs repudia,ss tina. law and
denounees the Administration as despotism be-
cause il takes advantage Of it against traitors.
And he knows that Governor Seymour, the cham
pion of the Sham-Democracy of this year, dis.
tinctly told the rio,ers-whom he called afrends"
in New York, that the laws OF the State Of New
York, and the decisions Of its Courts, should be
enforced by him with the whole power Of the
State, against the Federal Government il neces-
sary. Let Mr.. h. purge his own party before be
attempts to arraign another.
T" II has by its press" SO. II this charge means
anything more than that the Republican party
has ever held that the Constitution according to
the Fathers was infinitely preferable to the Con-
stitution according to Buchanan fancy and Da.
Wis, Mr.. r. knows as we'll as any one that /. has
no foundation whatever. The Republicans have
ever, in their presses and in their public teach.
lngs, insisted on bringing the Government, back
to the pure administration Of early TINES, and to
the atmosphere Of Liberty which then surrounded
II and which was iu breath Of life and they |
have always insisted that the Sham Democracy
Of modern days was striving with all its energies
to ale. the Union slide /" into the undispu,ed