Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-01-13


the evil intrinsic to the institution, but main
ly on the ground of its incompaibility with
the free institutions of the country. The
famous opening sentences Of his speech at
Springfield, H., on the 18th of June, 1858,
contain the gist of his doctrine on the SUBJ
ject. "'A house divided against itself can
not stand believe this government cannot
permanently endure half slave aud half free.
| do not expect the Union to be dissolved
| do not expect the house to ll,-but ! do
expect that it will cease to be divided. 1t will
become all one thing. or all the other" The
speech that contained these words was deliev-
cred, it should be remembered, some time
before Mr.. Seward, by his speech at Roch-
ester, made the doctrine OF the irrepressi-
BILE conflict familiar to the people of the
country.
In speech at Independence Hall on the
2lst Of February, 1861, on his journey to
Washington, Mr. Lincoln said, speaking Of
the Colonies during the Revolution al
have often inquired Of myself what great
principle or idea it was that kept this con-
federacy so long together. 1t was not the
mere matter of the separation OF the Colonies
from the mother land, but that sentiment in
the Declaration Of Independence which gave
try, but, hope, to the world, for all future
time. 1t was that which gave promise that
in due time the weight would be lifted from
the shoulders Of all men" The Declaration
of Independence, thus interpreted, is the in
spiration of MIR. Lincon's political faith. 1t
is impossible for him to dissociate from his
confidence in the people as the source Of all
authority, and as competent to rule them
selves, his equal confidence that nothing
stamped with the Divine image and likeness
was sent into the world to be trodden on and
degraded and imbruted by its fellows In
declaring the truths with which the Declara-
zion Of Independence opens to be seii-eyident,
the signers OF that charter but gave express
tion, to use Mr. Lincoln's own words, to
a. their lofty and wise and noble understand
ing of the justice Of the Creator to his crea-
lures" Ana it is his strong sense of the
fact that it is by these principles that the re-
public lives, and that by ts existence 1t keeps
them alive for the benefit of the world, which
has directed his policy, and marked his utter
hnces in regard to the Rebellion whose OBJ
i-ct was to overthrow this government,
which was built on the foundation Of human
rights, and to substitute .or it one which
should rest exclusively on the basis Of human
slavery"
In his letter to the workingmen Of Lon
don, on the - OF February, 1868, Mr.. Lin
coin said The resources, advantages, and
powers of the American people are very great
and they have consequently succeeded to
equally great responsible tiles. 1t seems to
have devolvcd on them to test whether gov
eminent established on the principles Of hui
man freedom can be maintained against an
effort 20 build one upon the exclusive fJunda-
ton of human bondage" And 10 an ad-
dress made to an Ohio regiment on its return
home through Washington at the expiration
Of its term vf service, on the 18Th OF Aug.
last, be said. giving brief but excellent de-
fnition of political equality: " wish it
might be more generally understood what the
1untry is now engaged in We have, all
ill agree, free government, where every
An has right to be equal ao'h every other
an 10 this great struggle this form Of
vernment and every form Of human right
endangered, if our enemies succeed. There
more involved IN tue contest than is ieahz-
by every enc there Is involved IN this
irugge the question whether your children
d my children shall enjoy the privileges We
ave enjoyed
No man IS seen more clearly or felt
ore deeply than Mr.. Lincoln, that, what
Ter were the pretexts and motives of the
ebelliun, and however we may name the
,use in which we are contending, whether
call it a struggle Tor tue integrity OF the
MON and the maintenance OF the Lonsutu-
on, or give it some other name, It's essence
the defence of human rights against the at
cks Of tnose who pr ctlcally deny them /;
d the issue is most distinctly joined on the
I lint OF the rights OF labor IL isa strug-
| g for the rights of labor, and for the form
{ government by which alone those rights
n be securely maintained. Il is on the pre-
rvation Of these rights that the progress Of
world in civilization depends. The free
m, the dignity, the intelligence Of labor,
| o the tests Of the true clvilIz alton Of com
unity. Great refinement, great moral eleva-
N, may be attained by individuals, even by
, ,sses, in a society where these rights are
q MED and Withheld. But society ia which
eh a c. nditiJn exists rests upon fuunda-
ms that will assuredly prove insufficient,
will in time crumble away, to the dcs-
uction Of whatever supecstructure rests
ION them"
1.-The results of the policy pursued py Mr..
J ncoln during his administration thus far
,ie its own best justification. The verdict
a. the future is not to be foreshown. But
4 ere can be little doubt that history will re-
I'd the name Of Abraham Lincoln as that
~ pure and disinterested patriot. She may
II I'd in his course many errors ; she may point
sat in his character many defects she will
eak Of him as man who had to contend
ainst the disadvantages of imperfect oul-
re, Of self-education, and of little inter-
urse with men of high breeding. But she
III speak also Of the virtues which the hard
experience of early life had strengthened in
TN Of his homely sincerity and simplicity;
his manly frankness and self-respect Of
j large, humane, and tender sympathies !;
a. his self-control and good temper of his
lthfulness and sturdy honesty.
She will represent him as actuated by an
lding sense Of duty, as striving to be faith
in his service of God and Of man. as pos
ssed with deep moral earnestness, and as
widowed with vigorous common-sense and
Guilty for dealing with affairs. She will tell
his confidence in the people, and she will
? count with approval their confidence in him.
nd when she has told all this may she con