The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-07-07
Union State Convention.
For Resolutions see first page.
MIR. MORRILL'S SPEECH.

L
MR.. MoRR1LLs SPEECH.
In response to hearty and continued
calls from the Convention, Mr.. Morrill,
took the stand.-Premising that his re-
spected colleague in his interesting and
eloquent remarks had, as it seemed to him,
rather skipped the hard places" and that
if he spoke at all himself, he must speak
upon the vital topics of the day, he
went on to say, that having triumphed in
the war for the Uuion, we are now to see
TO it that we do not lose our victory after
we have gained it, by allowing ourselves
to be outgeneraled in craftsmanship or di-
plomacy. We must see to it that 10y no
craft or fraud the burden of Slavery is
again fastened on us, or load worse if
possible, than slavery. Here in Vermont,
we believe in universal suffrage, in true
fraternity and equality of human rights
for all before the law. This equality of
rights does not require that every one shall
vote. In Vermont, we deny the elective
franchise to women, to minors, to unnat-
uralized foreigners. In other States the
privilege is accorded to colored men in a
qualified degree; in others black men are
wholly excluded. And this is a question
which properly belongs to the States to
settle. President johnson is trying to do
right in this matter, and | accord to him
my confidence. He is sounding his way
like a careful mariner. If the measures
he has tried do not succeed, he will try
others. But the final determination of
this great question rests with Congress.
We would not have State constitution
forced on any southern State, as Pierce
endeavored to force the Lecompton con-
stitution on Kansas. Congress may, how
ever, properly require that in order to
readmission, the late rebel States must
satisfy us that they are ready to sustain
free government. Ii they choose to impose
restrictions on the elective franchise, ire
spective of color, let them do it but if
they insist on making white skin the
test, |, for one, would exclude their rep
resentatives from Congress till doomsday.
If the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives will stand firm, we are secure.
But the danger is that we shall he so anx-
ious for the complete return of all the reb-
ell States, that we shall admit them before
they are truly converted. What is the
temper of the Southern men? In my re-
cent visit South, saw no southern man
who believed that slavery was actually
gone. They are willing to relinquish the
name but expect to put such conditions
as they choose on the freedom OF the ne
groes. They expect to hire their black
laborers at rate which will cost them no
more than their support as slaves did be-
fore. They expect to gam by the change
in some respects-to gain in representa-
ton in Congress. by including all the
negroes in the basis of representation in
stead of three-tiilhs As heretofore, they ex-
poet to secure twelve additional represent
tatives in the House Any one can cal
culate how much more will be needed to
give the control of the House to the enc
mics of Freedom and of the Government.
Are we willing to Weld this believe
not.
Again, what are we to do Individually
with these conquered rebels am not
bloody minded, but think that security
for the future requires that some of them
should suffer the extreme penalty of the
law. | believe it would have been better
for the country had the punishment of
treason as crime been more strictly en-
forced believe it would have been for
the welfare of the country if Aaron Burr
had been hung. and if Old Hickory had
hung John c. Calhoun As traitor. Gen
Nyc, the witty Senator from Nevada, tells
a story of once on his travels, coming
across Il man who, with a huge cud gel,
was Justify bclaboring the carcass of dead
dog. "Why do you do that he asked;
don't you see the dog is dead ," YES"
was the answer, 81 know he is dead and
why he died. and am bound to convince
some of these sheep stealing dogs that
there is punishment for them after death,
as well as in life SO, said Mr.. Nor
rill. l would have traitors know that their
crime must find sure rctribution, in this
world and the next, too.
To settle all these issues, is going to re-
quire all our tirmness and sagacity. We
have still to meet not only the subdued
and sullen southerners, but the northern
men who, thus far in this crisis, have
shirked all their dutics-who have re-
manned in their calm retreats, while others
have borne the labor and heat of the fray,
and have there stored up much sound adj
vice for the voters. They will now
doubtless try to convince us that, as moth
ing is made in since they were good for
nothing in war, they must be good for
peace They are the men who are SO
gloomy over our debt; who find it so
hard to be taxed for the support of the
Union they care so little for. 1t is
narrow margin that divides these men
from the rebels. We must still beware of
them.
MIR. Morrill, went on to eulogize the
bravery and constancy of our soldiers, IL
Illustrating it by a story of one-leggged
soldier, who said to him, cit is hard for
me, a working man, to lose a limb and go
a cripple through life, but let me tell you,
I ,couM not exchange the fact that 1 fought
at Gettysburg, for ny hy." To every such
hero. said the speaker. I would that a