Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-03-21

The rebels have found, through tbs actual e1-
perencs OF treason, that the doctrine Of State
flights is not Just the thing in cOniederacy which
has gigantic war on its hands. II was exceed
ngy beautiful in theory, and while ia only use
was to bolster up the institution Of slavery and
aid the Shareholders in their conspiracy against
the government, the traitors, from Calhoun to
DAVIS, could not say too much in its praise.
According to Calhoun, the federal govern nent
could not bind South Carolina BY any congresion-
a enactment Which that soveregn State chose TO
declare unconstitutional, and South Carolina was
to be her own Judge Of the constitutionality OF the
law. This was State Rights and while it was
very comfortable doctrine for the Palmetto State,
/. took from the federal authority the attribute of
sovereignty. When the traitors found that they
could not impose this heresy upon the majority
Of the people Of the nation, they attempted to
nut in practice their theory and, seeding from
what they called the old confederation, to form
new confederacy in which slavery and State Rights
should be the corner stone and fundamental
principle. They have tried their little expert
ment, and in the rough experience which rebellion
has made them acquainted with, most Of their pet
theories have been severely handed. They
thought the "peddllng Yankees the " Northern
mudsls," the greasy mechanics" would MT
fight, bu! they got rid Of that deluson long ago
They believed cotton was king, and that, as soon
as they refused to send it abroad, the nation, OF
Europe would fight to serve it but four years Of
foreign neutrality, while their ambassadors have
sought in win for admhtanc3 to, and recognition
by the courts Of Europe has dspossd King Cotton.
They pretended 10 believe that the negro was an
inferior being, tt only, and destined by bis Creator,
to be slave and now in their extremity they are
besescbng thi, lower order Of creation to be free
man and fight for their liberty and his own. And
having thrown all there's Of the cargo Of their
piratical craft overheard, and fading their vessel
still sinking every hour, they are preparing to give
up State sovereignty. The Richmond Examiner
says:
Has not State sovereignty been the weakness
OF our c4use2 Has II no, continually obtrudsd
/ Itself delayed and prevented the legislation ntces-
sary to the common defence, impaired the author
y nrusted to the general government, and i'm.
pedsd the execution of tho laws necessary to our
success |, il to be supposed that when peace
comes this principle will permit the Confederacy
to exist one year? How long will Governor
Brown permit the people Of Georgia to be taxed
to pay tbs debt Of the country. The conduct Of
certain States, in tbs,r opposition TO laws passed
for the organization Of the army and preservation
Of discipline, mas caused many persons to recon-
slider their long cherished doctrine Of State
sovereignty, and 10 come TO the conclusion that
while trus and beautiful in theory, it is utterly
defective in fact aud practice.
This ulterance Of the Examiner no doubt ex.
prs.e, the conviction Of oil intelligent rebels
who now understand the weakness Of any natiOna
authority which is obliged 10 depend upon tn
good will or agreement in opinion Of the sevvTs
States for its national resources and strength
Slavery has hitherto been the common bond o
sympathy uniting all the rebel States, and inducing
them to voluntarily make the sacrifices and con
tribute the resources required by the exigencs
Of the Richmond consprator', and As soon as thi
/, assasd by the rebel leaders, il becomes nece,
cary, at the some moment, to attack the doctrin
of State Rights. Slavery gave the South its Ger
sequence aud State sovereignty was used a. il
bulwark. Not exactly beautiful in life, it is y,
e,iden, that in death they are not to be divided