Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-02-24
WHOLE NUMBER ATT.
IRASBURGH. VERMONT FRIDAY, FEBRUARY "a, 1865.

you have already lived TO see great
work done. The news has gone forth
over the land on the wings Of lightning.
As / stated the other day had got a
dispatch from Gov. Fletcher, announcing
that Missouri was free, so sent back
yesterday message TO him that in my
own State over five hundred delegates
bad unanimously abolished slavery. !
also sent message 10 Abraham that the
death>knell of slavery had been sounded
in Tennessee. II we elect a legislature,
redstrct the State, and elect Senator'S
and Congressmen, they win certainly be
received at Washington, aud the whole
trouble of reconstruction will be at an
end. Our State will be as much State
as ever, having only lost its dislracting
element of slavery, and therefore the
stronger for the loss.
TIE FUTURE.
This government was created to live
in perpetuity. 1t was sent on a great
mission to the nations of the earth, which
is not yet fulfilled. II is destined 10 pass
through great trials, 10 give evidence
that it is Git for its work. Its constitution
can be modified, reformed aud adapted
to the progress Of the people. There is
40 provision for its destruction, bu, for
its perfection. These are changing times
and changing world, and mind and
matter are undergoing continual changes.
Two things only change not, human rea.
son and the sovereignty of the people
the light Of intellect and the principles OF
free government. These are the great
beacons to mark out the road, along which
the nations of the earth must travel.
Go home, not as riyaIs, but az friends,
resolved to save the State and wipe out
slavery. To do this is enough for one
man to live for. A life spent in accom-
plishiug a result ike this is well spent
Though some for a while may sneer, the
time will come when the nation will be
utterly astonished that lhis great monopo
ly has been submitted to SO long. Let
10 man, then, delude himself with the
dream, the vague hope, that he still holds
on to slavery; let him cut the cord at
once, and he will feel a great deal
easier
Nor let any man suppose that | think
that any portion Of the populace should
be turned forth as loafsrs without work.
The sooner we get out Of this transition
statc-which is always the worst--he
better for US, the better for the negroes
In five years from now the labor of the
black maa will be more productive than
ever for freedom simply means liberty
to work and enjoy the products Of ones
labor. Let us try TO comprehend the
times in which we live, and the great
principles which are st work. There is !
breaking up Of old combinations, and
men are coming together by their natural
affinites. Old parties are disintegrating.
and new ideas thrown ont among men OF
mind form the basis Of new pariies.-
Here is the great contest Of philanthropy, I
Of sound reason, Of humanity, whose
foundation is the Christian religion
bow of promise, whose span arches the
universe.
la the midst Of the darkness which has
been resting on the land for three years,
a darkness deeper than that Of the dark /
ages from you, sitting in the midst Of
carnage, and Of death, has gone forth
light to illuminate the world and teach
mankind that you can be free. feel
that God smiles on what you have done,
and that it meets the appreciation Of the
hosts that surround Him. o how it con
trasts with the shrieks, and cries, and
wailings which the institution of slavery
has brought on the land
Look along the battle-Gelds Of Tennes-
see--at the new~made graves--wiIness
your country-men perishing in battle /;
see even the Goddess Of Liberty, strug-
Cling through desolation. carnage, and
blood and almost driven from our borders?
Nj igbt not say with the poet
80 bloodicst picture in the book of time"
And yet out of all this gloomy scene,
beams a light TO illuminate the world
in future years. As your feIlow.e citizen,
who expect in some ofyour valleys to de-
posit his bones, thank you again for the
noble work which you have done.
If man who has lost a leg might
not make a very good miller, be might
do well for hopper.