The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-02-12

guardians of the public welfare On ex
animation We find them the same men
substantially, who, two years ago, were the sup
porters of the rebel Breckenridge. Breckenridge
is now exemplifying his devotion to popala
rights and constitutional liberty, by welding his
sword to ensave his fellow men, not blacks mere
", but whites. He is the popular oracls of that
class o. men South who claim, and unblushingly
argue, difference of blood, not only between
different classes North and South, but between
the North and South generally. He tells Us We
are of plebeian origin, that the chivary of the
Normans of the Mother Country are represented
by the Southern population, md that our Pilgrim
ancestry, who landed on Plymouth Rock and en-,
dured hardships incident to their condition to es-
tabIish freedom and independence, and spread civil
and religious liberty over half continent, were
snobs second sons and of corrupt blood And what
evidence do these men give us that they are less
devoted to this Southern atistocrat than hereto.
foEe Is it the fact that they find so much to
complain Of in the course of the true friends Of
the Union Is it their laudatons Of the exploits
OF the Southern managers Or may it be their
occasional open and avowed sympathy with trea.
son Do they or their journals find aught to
complain Of in jeff Davis indecent and nbuman
proclamation, by which our fellow officers are to
be retained and treated as criminals rather than
prisoners of war ? Not they; but when the man
whose conduct has at least been such as to throw
suspicion on him Of being disloya to the Govern
ment and in open rebellion against it, they set up
howl such as would do credi; to Davis most
pampered hounds Suppose the Government
makes the mistake and makes an arbitrary arrest
that Is IN fact wrong, and suppose some loyal men
LIS II one of our prisons, for a short time. If
he IS really friend 10 the Government he will
endure it with becoming foritude until such time
as bis innocence is vindicated ard he freed. But
this Is not where the shoe pinches. 1t is an en-
tjrely different class of individuals that how.
Those who are cut short in their scheming in
behalf Of treason thereby are the sore heads
Z" NO rogue ere felt the halter draw with good
opinion OF the law, is an old and true saving and
very applicable in this case, But all governments
to maintain their supremacy and subdue treason
against themselves, have bad to adopt the rules
OF arbitrary arrests Our forefathers we'll under
stood this, and provided a suspension of the writ
of hd6eds corpus in OF rebellion, to meet the
very case. The time for the exercise of this right
is upon us, and our Chief Magistrate is no doubt
very properly exercising il.
regard it the duty of every citizen who enjoys
the blessings secured under this Government, 10
lend hearty support to the Administration 10
sustain IL. Errors there may be, but they should
be paliiated rather than aggravated. The army
have as much right to find fault as anybody. but
il is significant fact that they are not the fault
finders. They are hopeful and trust in their
might and in the providence of God. They NAV
have their favorite Generals, bat they are willing
and ready to fight under and support such as are
appointed over them. The Army of Virginia
vas strongly attached to Mcclellan, but are ready
o follow where Burnside Hooker, or any other
nan, who is likely to be appointed to command
hall lead The men of the Army feel that the
'ause Is that OF each and every one of their, and
hey intend to yindcate their blood and their
lonor. Truly, r.