Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-11-21

the same black leat The wing oil 49, tee
Democrat Of 1912 and the Union party of 1851
will occupy the silver leaf; but the golden page
will be- reserved for him who will be sung In the
froedman's sing-embalmed in the nation s
heart--the standard bearer in Freedoms might
ios' grapple with slavery-the admired and VEN
erated-the friend of humanity, and the emanci-
pltor Of man-ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
REMARKS OF Mr.. oLAzIER or sTsATToN.
Mr.. SPEAKER Il had not purposed to speak
upon this resolution but after hearing the dis
oussion thus far and after carefully considering
the resolution offered by the gentleman from
Lyndon, also tho amendment proposed as substi-
ute by the gentleman from Chelsea, can hardly
refrain cir, from presenting my opinion upon the
relative merits Of these resolutions.
In the original resolution there is want of
scope, one-,ided view Of the policy Of Andrew
Johnson. 1t seems to breathe spirit of eager
ness, an undue haste, to approve almost any act
of hls which tends to restore as early as possible
The rebel States to the exercise Of their rights
under the organic law Of the land, free from mil
tiry dictation." II these States can be restored
il, in the language Of the resolution, 'the SOW
eregn right OF each State to determine for itself
who shall be electors" can be maintained ed-and
mark, the resolution 10 silent upon the conditions
even though it be through the action of An
drew johnson, upon whom, few months ago,
was heaped all the opprobrous epithets OF the
language at the hands of some men who now
seem to do him honor ! say il this can be ef
fected, such men, with upfted hands, with up
turned eye, with look Of JOY mingled with rev.
erence, can devoutly say, Amen; Not that they
{ k,,tt tha d,
w hen the gentleman from Lyndon seeks to
endorse the policy of Andrew johnson because
- maintaining as the resolution says, "the SOW
ereign right OF each State to determine for itself
who hail be electors, as an Inherent right which
has Justly been exercised by each State ever
since tho foundation Of the government" does
he mean that this right which he claims has
Justly been exercised by each State ever since
the foundation Of the government was Justly
exercised by States while in rebellion? Did the
electors determined upon by States in rebellion,
possess tie functions and rights Of true and legt-
innate eectorsP such States had elections but
we're they valid Does the constitutional law Of
the land recognize them as such 1t is the duty
OF an eector to exercise the power conferred
upon him IN the defense OF government, in seek
ing redress for real grievances, in making and
sustaining good and wholesome laws but to COM
init treason, never.
But, sir does Andrew Johnson recognize this
" inherent right at having been Justly exercised
by each State ever since the foundation of the
government? II SO, why his recognition Of the
necessity Of 30 much military rule? Why his
appointments OF Provisional GovernonP Why
his refusing rebels, who have not taken the oath
of allegiance, the right to vote, if he recognizes
this inherent right Of each State to have been
Justly exercised ever since the foundation of the
government Referring to these States, the res
olulion speaks Of the sovereign right" Of the
" inherent right of the rights under the or
ganc law Of the land, free from military dica-
tlon but there is no approval OF the great
grand doctrine OF Andrew Johnson, that treason
IS crime anu must be punished. | thought the
omission suggestive, especially as so much is said
about State rights, and that more particularly
with reference to rebel States. Sir, no man can
be more earnest, Jealous supporter Of the law
lul, constitutional rights of States than |. No
man honors tbs history Of hi, native State more.
No mau can be more Jealous Of her interest No
man feels greater pilde in her glory. No man
loves his State with a more passionate devotion
than love the Green Hills Of Vermont. But |
the United States is the supreme civil law of the
land. 1t extends to loyal States security and
protection; but when State dlssyows allegiance
to 1t, whtn it attempts to destroy the nation, it
is the duty OF the government, as means OF its
own preservation, in res oring TO its original rights
aud privileges the disatIecled State, to demand
sufficient guarantees for ts own security The
government should be careful how it restores
these States
The otner day was looking over the Adju-
tant Generals Report, aud in running over the
names Of soldiers and Of comrades, opposite the
name Of one, | find the remark, "died from
voundsi" Of another, /" lied in rebel hospital "
o. another, "kiled, stating the place. Of another,
" died at Andersonyille" These remarks, so
brief, to me speak volumes. Why all this
Treason did il. These men went down into
death that the Republic might spring ilustr-
ously into life. Traitors had struck at the vitals
OF the mother that nourished them. For four
long years the nation appealed to the arbitrA-
ment Of the sword. The government was vndi-
Gated aud treason oyerlhrown. God forbid that
traitors shall accomplish by the ballot what they
filled to do by the bullet. | am for the restora.
tion OF these States to their privileges, but
would let ihsr blood-ltalned hands bleach awhile
before they should touch tho ballot | would
give them space for repentance would demand
Of them sufficient guarantees To ensure the safety
OF the Republic.
hope this resolution 90 narrow so careful to
avoid any aIuson TO treason, so anxious to restore
as soon as possible these rebel States to the
Union, will not pass.
But, sir, we have something better. Tn
mo kn
case. 1t commences by speaking Of the noble, pat
rotc, ssli-sacrlhcug Lincoln. What could be
more appropriate what more fitting than to hon
his or memory lie was man whom the people
of Vermont loved, whom they trusted and coufded
in as father, for whom the State coat Of rms
above you is drped in mourning, who exiled
slavery from the soil OF America and drove it
back to the darkness Of b,rbarsm, whom we
loved for bis chiIdlike simplicity, his staunch and
sterling integrity, his forgivinS temper, his IN
dustry, his patience, his devotion to duty, his
readiness to hear the cause Of the poor aud the
suffering his charity, bis enlarged phi anthropy
that knew no distinction of color or race, his
abiding confidence in God and hope Of the fnal
triumph of the right, who fell the nobest martyr
to the cause of liberty. 40, what fall was
there my countrymen l" Well may we honor
| him. When he died we all felt we had lost
friend. The nation staggered. It came to his
burial and saw him marked by traitors. The
Republic put on the cypre" wreath but it could
not call him back it could only lay upon his
breast the sprig OF acacia as the most fitting en-
bem Of his immortality. The States gathered to
the burial Of their best friend Living, we loved
| him, IN dtatl honor and reverence mngle with
our love. Let the patriot hero sleep The seal
of his mirtyrdom will crown an earthly glory.
Millions Of pilgrims will weep over his grave.
servant Of God, we'll donel
Thy glorious WslfAre'. passed,