Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-07-13

head and wept great tears of Joy, while
he thanked God that he had lived TO see
this day and hour of the regeneration Of
the nation ! do not wonder that the
Chief Justice Of the United States, fresh
10 the robes of office, laid them aside to
Join in the spectacle Of free America,
! do not wonder that the representatives
of the monarchies and despotisms of the
old world fastened to witness the finish
ing of the great problem then and there
being wrought out in the grandeur and
sublimity OF the declaration that all
men are created free and equal, and en-
dowed with the inalienable right to
liberty and the pursuit of happiness
do not wonder that the childless ia
Their and mother in the darkest weeds
of bereavement, and made childless by
relentless foe, striking at the life blood
of the nation should In that presence
thank the All Father that they had
given the young life Of all their offspring
TO seal the doom OF the nations curse,
and water the tree of universal liberty.
Here at last we have the realization of
the hopes Of our patrioti fathers for
America. In her growth and develop
ment she has at last broken the chains
which slavery would fasten TO her arms,
-trampled upon the manaees cast at
her feet She has endured the wounds
and stripes OF a bloated aristocracy
but to-day she spurns them ALL and in
the beautiful symmetry and perfection
of freedom-the admiration and fear of
monarchies-the hope OF the down-t rod-
den and oppressed Of every clime,-she
stands up the holy child of Him who
holds in His hands alike the destlnies of
nations and men While we scrutinize
with pride ana satisfaction the declara-
ton OF independence, l can but feel that
posterity will turn with equal admira-
tion TO the records of the 38th Congress
to read the names of those who achiev-
ed for US the last and browning act in
the drama of American freedom. All
honor TO our Representatives, who, from
the first hour of the Commemorative
being, have struggled to crush the mon
ster slavery, and bind in chains never
to be broken this arch enemy OF liberty
and the race of man. Their children
will indeed have proud ancestral rec
ord.
But as bright and beautiful as this record
is, it has its dark side and its forbidding as
pect. From the bottom of my heart pity
the child of him who, when the illustrious
record shall be unrolled emblazOned and ad-
mired, shall be obliged to hide his head in
shame and modification while his comrades
shall point their fingers with emphasis and
say" Your father was copperhead and q
traitor to liberty I" The father who has left
such a legacy to his children has gathered
them in and indelibly marked upon his of
spring curse as infinite as that which was
stamped by the Almighty on the murderer
of his brother.
1t is proud recollection that solitary
and alone" the sons of our upacknowledged
state fought in the battles 81 the Revolution
and covered themselves With imperlshaole
glory It is at once arecord and reeogni-
ton of their manhood that with nothing to
recommend them but their stability and
persistence, they battled away at the doors
of an unwilling Union until the iron bars
which beat them back crumbled before their
herculean couch, and the sealed gates were
flung wide to receive them into the arms
of the Union. 1t is a prouder recollection
to-day, historic and true, that no man ever
breathed our mountain air slave. What
ever his condition out of our state, the mo-
ment his foot pressed our soil his shackles
fell, and in the presence of God and man he
stood up q freeman. Many years ago Judge
Harrington of our county declared that
nothing less than bill of sale from the Al
mighty could establish property of man in
man. s-- ....
Fellow citizens, :" the mills of the Gods
grind slowly indeed, but they do grind ex-
ceeding fine" for the amendment of the
constitution abolishing the last vestige of
slavery is but the unconditional affirmation
of the judgment of him who, years ago,
when the nation was welded to its idols and
defiant in its sins, would appeal only to God
for an authority and recognition of the en-
slavement of his creatures.
Out of the deepest atfiietion the nation at
last comes forth o giant in the right bows
in humility to the memorable higher law
and with an irresistible fiat breaks the
chains Of every slave and stands in the
presence of God and the nations regenerated
and free. Fearful and terrible as the Strug-
gle has been, it is indeed glorious through
much tribulation, even TO wipe out our great
national sin and purify the republic. The
price we pay has agoniZed the heart of the
nation, and wrung from us the earnings of
industry and providence, but it has its COM
pensation in the fact that in all time the
flag of liberty will never float over single
human being in bondage.
II 10 lIuS liaJ ltl6 Sldtesfileu OF the QaV
sealed the doom of slavery when they pro-
nounced it unconstitutional, but can but be
impressed with the grander truth, that all
legislative action on this subject is the result
of the bravery and determination of our pa
triotic army OF citizen soldiery, who by the
valor of their arms have saved the life of
the nation. The statesmen of to day saw
in the fullness of time the hour had come,
and in the magma ehartar of our liberty and
law, they incorporate the verdict of the SOL
der, that the work he was called to do,
should be well done and done forever. The
victorious march of Sherman from Atlanta
to the seaboard, is but the announcement of
his Scared veterans that slavery shall die.
The crushing blows of Thomas on the de- |
army of Hood, speak in stronger |
language than words, that the institution Of |
slavery is doomed. The laundering cannon
at the front door of Wilmington,
speak the unmistakable language Of eman-
,ipation. The discounted rebel hosts
whirling through Winchester" in terror |
1t the name of Sheridan, make the valley |
Of the Shenandoah vocal with the glad |
,idings of liberty. We look with wonder
md admiration at the man who drives the
vii spirits of the rebellion to their hiding
places in the dens of beleagured capital and
ieclare that the end is nigh. With the full
less ofioy we behold once more the banner |
If free people floating over the hot-bed |
If treason and above the ruins of Sumter |