The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-07-02
The Duty Of Citizens.

The Hon, James Brooks, who was brought all
the way from New York to enlighten the Democ-
racy of Vermont, at their late Convention, as to
their duty in the present state of the country,
dwelt, 10 bis warm efforts on that occasion, with
great fervor and JUNCTION upon the assertion that
he owed no allegiance to Abraham an and
he mentioned, as a conclusive argument to stab.
lish his proposition, that Mr.. Lincoln's name was
not found in any authorized print of the ConSti'
tuition of the United States At this point in his
speech, whether approaching the felicity of the
orators diaectics, the keenness of his wit, or the
pungency of his sarcasm, the Democracy "opened
their mouths wide, TO quote lively gentleman
quite conspicuous during the convention and in
dulged in laughter and cheers.
New it doubtless ntver occurred to the Hon
James that allthe' force of his logic or his wit or
whatever other name his sharpness may be called
by, consisted in sorry bubble 1t is true
enough that no man owes allegiance to Abraham
Lincoln, and that his name is not found in the
Constitution of the United States and we do not
know anybody so particularly ignorant as to at
tempt to maintain the contrary of these selfevdent
proportions. But it does not follow, therefore
that Abraham Lincoln, constitutionally choser
President of the United States and legally in
duct q into that office, is not thereby clothed with
authority as President, and, as the Chief Execu-
tive of the Nation, has not right to demand and
expect, from all good citizens, aid and support in
the discharge of the functions of his office. As
Abraham, Lincoln he is entitled to no more res.
pect now than before his election, and 80, if il
we're mere question about the excellence of one
Of bis jokes, or the pertinence of bis anecdotes
there is no doubt that Hon. Mr.. Brooks woulC
be under no obligation to praise the wit or the
narratives of Mr. Lincoln.
But the unfairness Of Hon. James logic con
sisted in arguing from this undenable proposition
10 the conclusion, that he owed, as citizen, ne
duty to Abraham Lincoln, as President of thu
United States. This is not true. Every goot
citizen should obey the laws and the Constitution
and the President of the United States. HI
owes allegiance to these, for they are for the TIM
being the Government of the United States land h.
cannot disobey them without being alse to his al
legil nee to the Government under which he lives
Resistance to them is criminal Just as much as re
sistance to sheriff is crime against the law
whose executor for the time the sheriff is. An
any attempt to distinguish betw the Govern
ment and the Administration for the time, to sa
that we should obey the one and not the other,
DOT only attempting to make distinction wher
there is no difference, but disseminating in thes
times of great public peril, a most pernicious an
dangerous political heresy. &% 81. e..
And it by no means follows from this TIL
people have nothing TO do in the present eme
gence but to obey orders, that they are not re
sponsible for disaster to our arms or for the SUI
cess Of treason, that they cannot advise the A
ministrstiOn respecting its course, criticise
shortcomings, urge it to greater and bst.erdire,
cd energy, and even rally unsolicited to the d
fence Of the Republic. On the contrary, we
lieve under our form Of Government, these a
the peculiar duties Of the good citizen. Bot
should act in doing this, conscsntously, SEEK
to strengthen and not weaken the Gove1nme
Governor Morton, Of Indiana, recently said
The criticism OF one who 10 friendly to