Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-04-21
Speech Of Gen. Fremont at the Sumter Meat
ing IN New York

FElI0W-CIrzENs IL had the honor Of being
asked 10 NEE, you here to-day, and TO adore"
9ol. .oe-H cd ,aa invitation 0r the pleasure
Il gave me TO NEE, yoa and ior the further salts
fiction v1u have % Using tn9 occasion s0 say
how iuiiy and how cordially | synpa,h.zs with
you Ia lhe objects o ibis meeting. Two years
ago you MT aete and accepted the war uaugu.
rated on this memorable day II Fort Sumter,
To-day. again, the noise of battle rolls around
that monumental l.u, and We are hourly waiting
to hear Tie tAaneer q Tie guns which sha.l an
nouucs thai at length our outraged lag hl' been
slar.ously avenged. Bat whatever may BE- the
fortune Of tee day, no anpiyernry could have
been iuuEl more fitting to renew your pledges
thst th,re shall lie no wayerns in ysur support
Of the Government, no altering in the purpose Of
the North % restore and maintain, undivided and
iree 10 all, the whole territory Of the URted
States Of America. The public aasmblsge', Of
sh.ck this Is The frat, are intended 20 draw ts-
ee,hsr and q give effect and voice 10 the opinion,
4ad feeling, ol the people on the great quistsn
Of the dAy. W welcome these Manifestations
a, the evidence 81 healthy activity IN the public
mind They iu4 ate unmstaAably that the ma
ton IS not drifting but moving with fixed ans
re,e.u,e parpose-lhsi feeling Of unconditional
LOYALTY israpidly absorbing all varieties ofopuion,
and ilsng all party distinctions into tAe single
resolve 10 preserve our national unity, al every
cost.
But while permitting myself the pea'urs Of
meeting you here, and Of taking part 10 thi, COM
memorat3n have declined To avail myself OF
the invitation with vhi,h | had been honoured,
10 address YOU. The subjects on which had
been asked 10 speak required scope Of comment
and suggestion, in which do not feel at liberty to
indulge decline to do SO in Difference 10 the
commonly received opinion that certain ohelal
nropyitN prohibits officers Of the army snd navy
rom speaking in popular assemblies. But more
especially decline to do 20, because was IN
formed, not very long since, that officers per
milting themselves to take part 10 public Affairs
outside Of their professional duties had besn
characterized by high authority as political
Generals But in giving way to this usage,
am not at ali satisfied that il is the correct view
Of the scope Of an officers duty in this country
aad amidst the disorders ef civil war. Under
other forms Of Government, where the head o.
the nation shapes and directs its policy, ane
where tie agents and the people thsmsslves SIN
ply conform this suppressed freedom OF speech
where il must have expression, necessarily takei
the iorm Of revolt, aud il consequently more
incompatible with the public tranquility. But it
this country where there is really such thinG
as public affairs upon which the nation delberatei
and where the vitality Of the system depend
upon the fact that every man is expected to TAXI
living interest in them, the case is widely
different Here the Government simply execute
the will Of the people, to which It ls expected
.nI nh
ought, consequently, to be well informed. Ih'
mi i,ary power IS only an executive arm OF iht
sovereign in this eountry-,he people and in
stead Of forming that military power into dis
,inc, and separate class, and creating barriers be
tween the army and the people, everything eugh
to DO done to keep the soldier one Of them, hay
ing common interests and common opinions. Il
isolate them and their sentiments would be, o
might be, highly dangerous to our free Govern
msn, and in this country there should be no sue
thing as military party
We have lately seen with what satisfaction lh
country received the resolutions OF our troops |
the fed--how timely and important wa. their il
naence-not the less because it was evident thi
ltey had no idea Of merging into the soldier th
sympathes aud privileges Of the citizen. And
il absurd to say that 10 war Of idea4, a conil,
of principles, IN a revolution which /, taking N
shape ola reformalion-a revolution which it
Wolves the civilization Of the age, and to the n
suits Of which the friends Of liberty are l5okin
with the deepest anxiety and interest in ever
mart Of the world--in all thi. momantous suugg
ina, the men mo.t actively concerned, taxing tt
mo.t active part, and making the co.tiest saer
ees should have ne opinion. IL /, idle TO tell
that the opinions of officers in important plac
have no ianueuce on the conduct and the resnl
: Of the var. Nor doe. II always happen that
General has the choice 10 render his ssryies to Il