Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-05-22

the fort, and they arr stll working At it.
BURNSIDE on CoFPERBEADs.-Mr. Nalian-
dighsm having made application to the cir
cult Court for a writ of Ha5eGs Corpus Gen.
Burnside sends to the court document CIV
ing his views Of the policy that should be
pursued in regard to the copperhead-. Nc
better refutation Of the peace party preten.
sions has yet appeared We make the fol-
lowing extracts
"IfI were to indulge in wholesome criticism.
Of the policy Of the Government, il would demor-
alize the army under my command, and every
friend Of his country would call me traitor. II
the officers and soldiers were TO indulge in such
criticisms, it would weaken the army to the ex-
tent Of their influence; and II this criticism were
universal in the army. it would cause IT to he
broken to pieces, the Government TO be divided.
our homes to be invaded and anarchy to reign.
Nv duty to my Government forbds me TO in-
dulge in such criticisms; officers and soldiers are
not allowed 80 to indulge, and this course viii be
sustained by al honest men
Now viii 90 further. We are in state Of
civil war One Of the States Of this department
is at this moment invaded, and three others have
been threatened command the department.
and it is my duty to my country and 10 this ar
nv 10 keep it in the best possible condition; 10
see that it is fed, clad, armed, and. IS far as
possible to see that it Is encouraged. II It l. my
duty and the duty Of the troops to avoid sayiu:
any thing that would weaken the army, by pre-
venting a single recruit from joining the ranks,
by bringing the laws Of Congress into diSrcQute,
or by causing dissatisfaction in the ranks; II Is
equally the duty Of every citizen in the depart
ment 10 avoid the same evil If II IS my duty o.
prevent the propagation Of this evil in the army,
or in portion Of my department, 1t Is equally
my duty in all portions oft; and Il Is my duty
to use all the force in my power to stopit.
"IfI we're to fnd man from the enemy :
country distributing in my camps speeches Of
their public men, that tended to demoralize the
troops, or to destroy their confidence in the con-
stitutei authorities Of the Government, | would
have him tried, and hung II found guilty, and
all the rules Of modern warfare would sustain me
Why should such speeches from our own public
men be allowed
1T IS said that the speeches which are con-
demned have been made in the presence Of large
bodies Of citizens, who if they thought them
wrong. would have then and there condemned
them. That is no argument These citizens do not
vet realize the effect upon lhe army Of our cOun-
try, who are it. defenders They have never been
in the field never faced the enemies OF their
country never underwent the privations OF our
soldiers il the feld and, besides, they have been
in the habit OF hearing their public men speak,
and, as a general thing Of approving Of what
they say; ther, fore. the greater responsibility
rests upon the public men and upon the public
press. and it behooves them to be careful as to
what they say They must not use license, and
plead that they are exercising liberty. In this
department it cannot be done shall use all the
power have TO break down such license, and
an sure will be sustained in this course BY all
honest men. Atsll events, viii have the con-
sciousncss, before God, Of having done my duty
TO nv country; and when | am sweryed from the
performance Of that duty by any pressure. pub
lie or private or by any prejudice, Will no lon
ger be a man or patriot.
There is no fear Of the people losing their
liberties we all know that to be the cry OF dem
ayogues, and none but the ignorant viii listen TO
it all intelligent men know that our people are
too far advanced in the scale Of religion, civil1a
ton. education and freedom to allow any power
on earth to interfere with their liberties but
this same advancement in these great character
istics Of our people teaches them 10 make all the
emergency requires They will support the con-
stituted authorities Of the government, whether
they agree with them or not Indeed, the army
itself IS part Of the people, and IS so thorough
" educated in the love OF civil hberty-which Is
the best guaranty for the permanence Of our re-
publican in.titutions-that il would itself he the
first to oppose any attempt to continue the e1er-
cise of military authority after the establishment
Of peace by the overthrow Of the rebellion. No
man on earth can lead our citizen scldleTE TO
the establishment Of a military despotism, and
no nan living would have the folly TO attempt IT,
To do so would he to seal his own doom On
this point there can be no ground for appreheu-
sion on the part Of the people
1T is said that we can have peace If We lay
down our arms Al sensible men know this TO
be untrue We're it so, ought we to be 50 cow
ardly as to lay them down until the authority
Of the government is acknowledged ,
Il beg to call upon the fathers, mothers,
brothers, sisters sons daughters, ,relatves friends
and neighbors of the soldiers in the field TO aid
me in stopping this license and iutemperste dis
cussion, which is discouraging our armies,
weakening the hands Of the government, and
thereby strengthening the enemy. If VIC use
our honest efforts, God will bless Us with a
glorious. peace and united country. Men Of
every shade Of opinion have the sane vital inter
est in the suppression Of this rebellion for,
should We fail in the task the dread horrors offs
ruined and distracted nation will fall slike on all
whether patriots or traitors