Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-03-08


cause of this war, and deeply resolved so to deal
wi.h lt that the places which knew 1t shall
know it no more Az one belonging to the
body Of tie people TO whom conviction has been
brought by the logic OF events which forced
ther consideration upon every man, and with
the object Of aiding our guest to realize the
unauimty with which the nation is moving to
| the accomplishment Of it's object am honored
with a request to preside here IBIS evening.
10 our guest 1t must be more agreeable to re-
aze the present than to remember the past.
/ He comes row among US to witness the triumph
u the prime pies ior which be laborcd, and va
are glad to have an occasion which we can use
TO express our obligations 10 him and bis friends
on the other side oi the water tor the services
they have rendered Us 10 Lnank him ndlvldu-
ally, and as on 0f class which IN England
represents the pIt!lc cJnsclence, ioVi0g justice,
aud intoerant Of oppression, and to whom we
are indebted ioi tenacious adherence TO our
cause from the beginning VI this war. Their
sympathles Tor us reached from the starving
| Manchester operative refusing 10 petition Parlia-
ment to our injury, 10 to tbo throne Itself which
10 touched and influenced. Indications during
The past year have led us " infer disposition
toward friendIoesa on the part OF England.
This may come IN part from an opposition TO
French policy, and more recently rom lhat ne
cesslLy Tor al ally winch Eaglaud begins to feel.
4 Bot we believe It mainly due 10 tue efforts OF
this class that she Is still 10 position to render
an alliance between us possible. We recognize
this influence in the check lJ has gwen to South
ern sympathizers among them, and We take
rI-asure 10 believing that 1t has been under
pressure Of the same influence that England
withdrew from al alliance with tho attempt to
place an Austrian throne upon the ruins OF
wiser Republican attempt which shocks the
public sentiment Of this country, and 10 emiLenl-
ly hostile to tho stability oil It'd institutions.
And while we are making this recognition OF
the generous and consistent support we have
received from tho liberal party abroad, whose
labor tor Us is a part only Of their great works
10 the general interests OF humanity, we cannot
silently pass over the services rendered by their
lellow-laborers on our own soIl-sefvlces which
have been only indirectly recognized, and in
most scanty measure. What to-day IS the posi-
ton Of the men who for the past thirty years
have worked to bring our practice into contormi.
ty with The principles Of the Government? And
who, in the struggle against established and
powerful interests have accepted political disa-
bilty and Inundated llyes2 Have any OF these
been put 10 governing PLACES where there proved
fidelity would guarantee the direct execution Of
what is to-day the nearly unanimous viii OF the
peope2 Certainly not yet. So Tar, the virtue
Of the Rel9rmers IL it's own reward. While
they are yet living, their manlles have fallen
upon the shoulders OF Others to whom you have
gwen high position, but they are still aborinP
IN narrow paths broadening, 10 be sure, and
brghtenlng-lOr the rough ground is passed,
and their sun Of victory Is already rising We
give deep sympathy and honor to the men who,
IN the interests Of civilization, separated them
selves from mankind 10 pcnelrato the chill sOli-
tudes OF the Arctic regions. Their names re-
main dn added constellation in POLAR skies But,
We know that bi.ter skies and winter winds are
not so unklnd as mans ngrautude Add why
then, do We withhold sympathy and honor from
these men who have 81 uufl nchlnRly trod their
ISOLATED paths Of scli-app0inled duty, accepting
political aud s.clal excommunicatlOn-thes
heroes Of the moral sOtudes But, even Us it
ls, our R,lyrmers have better lot than history
usually records for such, they have the satisiac-
tion not only 10 see but to enier with the people
whom they led into the promised land Aud
perhaps they are well sa lsiied to repose, and to
rest upon their finished work, feeling surely that
,untry will yet say to them, we'll done
Sometimes in unfamiliar countries, the tray
eIer finds himself shrouded IN fog, and the way
so hidden, the features Of the country so siugu.
larly changed from she reality, that he cannot
safely move But il some friendly mounttile
side lets him ascend a few hunired feet above,
he finds himself suddenly IN clear atmosphere
with blue sky and a shining sun Belo him,
"a, f,ut Iii ~
him le hidden before him stand out, sale 4
and clear, the leading ridges and great outlines
Of the country which point out 10 him the
right way, and show hin where he may reacn
place Of security and repos9 'or the night,
and he goes on his journey confidently. And
50 It is with thoss men who devote their lives.
unlllnchingly aud slogly, to the public good
to the maintenance Of principles and advo-
cdcy OF great reforms fncy live in pure at
mosphere. Aud such ought alsl to be the
char cter OF the men whom we elevate to our
high places. Raised into that upper air, and
charged with the gedera safety, they are ex-
pectei to be imp rsoaal they are expected to
see over and beyond shs p'rsjull ambitions aud
individual interests which Of necessity influence
men acting individually their horizJn is
universal, aud they see Bro. IDLY defined the
great principles whlun ieA1 nAsiOn contn-
uously on to a settled prosperity and sure
glory Aud rs a condition OF our material
safety We should see % i that only such men
are put in such places. Men capable of re-
ce,yng a conviction and realizing necessity
men able to compreh,pd tie spirt Of the age
and he country IN which we live and fearless
working up To IT, have made these few re-
marks, partly to sugges, such ideas as may be
an introduction to wnat our guest will lave to
say. did not dwell upon acts that are nee
essarily iamllar to you, hot desired merely to
revive io your minds reccoilect,ons of the char
acter and services oi the men whom he repre-
seuts, aud with permission will now present
him to you. Ladi,s and gentlemen, have the
honor 70 introduce a representative OF the hb-
eral Democracy of England, and IA tried lrieod
of America, Mr.. George Thompson.