The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-01-31
Has tho Government Right to Suppress
Traacnr>

NeEtu. Inc htpuolcans TAKE the afhrmatlve,
sad insist that there is no Limitation to the right
OF tae Government: 10 Csc its utmost power for
ske destruction OF tie rebollisn. The laiter-day
Deuocsats take the negative, and argue that, il
ahe Government: can crESh out, what they are
pleased to call " irregular opposition to the con-
sti.ated authorities" i, may be well enough to do
90, but in no even, must il interfere with the con-
stitational rights Of rebels to hold slaves Better
set ti.s rebellion succeed, permit the Maynard
sisters 20 depart in peace,-than thus interfere
wltk the divine Institution. Each OF these par-
Cos 1crks in the drectisn Of its belief TIE one
are ing more vigorous prosecution OF the war
ami sn assaultupon every interest that strengthens
axesssh, while the othsr seeing that, Il the wsr is
Yeoseealsd as war, Slavery must go to the wall
AAd fis existence on this continent be forever tor
xa,sted, 10, with more or lssa frankness, opposing
the war, and striving to bring abeu: miserable
compromise, q hollow truce, and sissyaceful
peace. These opponents Of the war talk fippsnt-
ay OF the constitutional rights of those who are
opposing the Government, whether North or
&suth. We invite their attention TO the eonsti-
Sueioaal rights and the rights older than the con-
s&i!1tion, Of those who uphold the GeveYnmt nt,-
and just now, and until traitors lay Down their
arms, we think those rights arc Of more conse-
quence than the righ:s of the criminals who are
working to overthrow the Consultation and de
ssroy the Republic. .-
- ~
pie, who are the Goyerpmsnt-in this civil war I?
The answer has been given over and over again.
che night 10 preserve their Institutions. To this
end, they may, by the strong power of armed
force, overvhelm and destroy their adversaries.
H.w shall they do this ? Here's the rub. The
yeace party say we mast fight as We would carry
on judicial processing In court in times Of pub
Se 4uiet, and resort to no violent measures against
sysason which may not be employed in times
of peace against ordinary criminals The war
party insist that we Nay fight treason as We may
Gsh: any othsr public enemy, limited only by
che usages Of civilized warfare.
And hare lies the logical answer to this Demo.
sYaIio cutlery about unconstitutional methods of
warfare, and one Justification for hose who are in
s4sor OF striking ,rsssen hard blows, viz If yca
Eght treason at all. you have war, and, when that
comes, yod make the usagss Of civilized warfare,
Ter The time being, a part of your constitution.
There is no escaping tkis conclason.--IAe Cos.
situation specifically coHfers ne RICH, on the Gov
srnnent to blockade Southern ports 1t gives
~e Union soldier right to shoot q rebel soldier
sn battle. II gives the Government no right TO
destroy private property by marching troops over
farms waving with harvests ready for the sickle.
It nowhere authorizes the bombardnent Of rebel
s,iongholds. Ia short, according to its letter,
and Without interpreting il, as all instruments are
Snterpreted, favorsby for the purpose for which
1t SIS made and TO the end that the Government
may have power to preserve itself, the old Public
Functionary was ugka in his imbecile mes
~aeeg, declaring tressoa to DE wrong and levy
ing war upon the Government very bad
shin. and it was great pity the rebels could MT
be persuaded not to do It, but there was ne help
Nor i except in compromise, Cancellation and the
snest iapotent kind Of self-dsfeneo. The rebels
claimed this construction OF he constitution as
cs,rec, and have always insisted that the national
authority could not be enforced, cOnstitutionay
Ay tie strSng ARMAND their construction and
Buchanan's was either right or wrong. II nght
shen. the Government has been wrong in every
step OF the war and the Union has no strength,
sxceps in the consent, frsm day to day, of the
States whcih compose it. If wrong, then the