Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-01-22

The Democratic State Convention Of New
Hampshire, which met at Concord on the
Sth and nominated Edward W. Harrington.
for Governor, adopted platform Of resolu-
tons which the Manchester Mirror Il Amer
i'an htly calls 81 atrocious." Says the Mr.
ror:
1t charges the principal guilt of the
troubles and dangers in which the country
Is involved, not upon the democratic leaders
OF the South, who seeded from the Charles
ton Convention because the democracy of
the North would not agree that it was the
duty Of Congress to protect slavery in the
territories; not upon those Southern Sena-
tors whose vote might have adopted the com
promise measures Of the winter of 1851. but
which they withheld not upon those men
who desired 10 fire the Southern heart and
plunge the Cotton States into revolution:
not upon the men who encouragingly wrote
70 Southern conspirators, " have never be-
lieved that actual disruption of the Union
can occur without blood and if that dire
calamity must come the fighting will not be
along Mason and Dixon's line merely. twill
be within our own borders in our own streets.
between the classes Of citizens TO whom
have referred Not upon these and such
as these, do the copperheads charge our ca
lamitles nor do they attribute them to men
Of the North who declared the South had
the constitutional right to secede: nor
to Buchanan, who permitted the re-
hellion 10 gather head, TO organize and 10
become strong, nor TO those Of his officials
who scattered the army and navy and stole
the money and the guns of the Union
None OF these, in their estimation. are gull
ty. But who is? Not even the men that
fired on Fort Sumter and trailed the broad
banner of the Union in the dust who have
dehed our laws. repudiated allegiance to the
Constitution and sought to Law waste the
soil of free and loyal States On none of
these Is the primary and principal guilt of
these disasters charged. but all upon the
Abolitionists 1t is but another version of
their position of last year. Radical Abo-
huonlsm must put down at all hazards 50
no matter whether the rebellion triumphs
or not.
After specifying particularly some Of the
" atrocities Of the resolutions. the Mirror
and AD'er7oan concludes pertinently. as fol-
lows
The nation for nearly three long weary
years has been fighting for its existence =
engaged IN a lie or death struggle with ma
llgnant and determined traitors this con-
test Is not over; all the resources Of the +.
Government are required To meet and subdue I
the armed power of the rcbelliun-to sub .
due rebellion. not caused by the oppression .
Of the Government, but one brought about .
nv
mildest and most bcnefccnt government thar
was ever framed without cause and almost I
without pretext. The duty. IN such state
of affairs, of men reared under the protection
and amid the blessings Of such a government.
and in a State whose greatest prosperity de-
ponds upon the Union, Is too apparent To
require statement even In this crisis the
representatives Of great political party
meet in convention and adopt a platform Of
principles declaration of what they be-
lieve TO be the duty of American citizens in
view of the present condition OF the country.
That platform nowhere contains an omen
and unqualified Remuneration of this rebel
lion, or Its Leaders and instigators 1t has
plenty of words of condemnation and abuse
Of our own Government; it lacks not for the
severest epithets the language affords, appli-
ed 70 all the means taken by the administra-
ton to subdue the rebellion and restore the
MON; 1t shows no lack of hostility to our
own rulers but for rebels in arms against
themselves even, no words Of condemnation, !
no epithets of abuse, no spirit Of hostility.
Men possessed of spirit of true patriotism
md love of country could not write such a
platform. The truly loyal hate this rebellion. q
md cannot, if they would, restrain them Z
elves when speaking Of it. From these reso-
utions IT could not he told that a rebellion
xlsted, were it not for the tender Of the r
live branch and terms of forgiveness to all
be partakers in this d" hell-bOrn and hell a
ound rebellion" Even when remembering =,
ur soldiers they are careful, while com
lending their conduct in camp and field, u
OF to express commentator Of the cause in n
Inch they are engaged. q
We say again, that no man standing on !,
ich platform ought to hope even for sue
,ss. Its principles carried ont would array
IT State in hostility to the general Govern tc
ent; would withdraw, if possible, our sol W
ers from the field; and would reconstruct -
le Union upon such terms as traitors to the :,
d Union, worshippers of slavery as the III
net cornerstone and support of govern nj
ents, might approve and dictate. ii,