Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-03-10
gaa:r!mnn & state Journal.
BY E.P. WALTON.
MONTPELIER. MARCH 10, 1865.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
QUESTION

The FREEMAN's ATTACH ON Gov. SMITH.
With singular lack of political prudence.
the Green Mountain Freeman this week re-
news its complaint that the calling Of the
extra session will entail upon the State use
less and unnecessary expenditure. 1t was
not improper to present this view Of the case
before the Governor issued his proclamation
and it was right for the Governor carefully to
consider it, as be did but when he had done
so, and issued his proclamation. we think il
would have been no more than courtesy and
prudence require, (of press of his own pc
litical party at least to give him credit for 4
good intention, and to excuse his error Of
judgment, il really he did err, by the beat
reasons that truth and candor would admit.
Otherwise the Freeman can only stir up strife
among political brethren, and furnish the
enemy with laid and comfort" and munitions
Of war. Politically, we venture to say. these
are contraband. If the next Argus does not
show utilization with the Freeman on this
subject, we are not good at guessing.
But to the Freemsn's argument it is that
since Delaware, Kentucky and Neo Jersey have
voted against the amendment, only twenty
FIVE votes can be had. when all the other loyal
States shall be added and as twenty-seven
States are required to adopt, it cannot be
done before Octpber so the extra session is
useless. OF course the Freeman rejects Sen
ator Summers notion that smaller number
can adopt. Now New Jersey had not voted
when Gov. Smith issued his proclamation.
and it was expected, not only that the vote Of
New Jersey would be secured, but that the
new Legislature of Kentucky ,OiH adopt the
amendment before October, and thus the requi-
site twenty-seven votes would be secured
Gov. Smith acted on these assurances, and we
submit that it is utterly unjust for tho Free
man to assail him noD, on grounds which
did not exist when the proclamation was
issued and on which he did not act, but quite
the reverse. We do not give up the grand
idea Of Matchmaking Freedom ere the war is
ended, so easily as the Freeman does-we do
not postpone it so long, but rather we are
for pushing it to the earliest possible con-
summation, at the expense, il need be, OF cx-
ira sessions of State Legislatures, and Of Con-
gress into the bargain There never was, in
ordinary times, session Of Congress or Of
State Legislature, whose business all com
bined is worthy to be compared with a vote
Of State on the great Garter of Freedom to
this nation.
We do not, therefore, grudge piece OF
postal currency for our share of the expen-
SEES nor do we wish to stir up a penny's
worth of wrath in anybody else on this &C.
count.
We are not without suspicion that the ed
itor Of the Freeman has deceived himself in
this matter that ne is not so penurious as he
seems bu, rather, that while be thinks econ
omy is his motive, the real spur s personal
hostility TO Gov. Smith IL we are wrong,
we assure the editor of the Freeman that be
is certainly to blame for it, because he has
himself created the suspicion. We refer now
to another article in the last Freeman in which
its editor recites the anti slavery resolution Of
the Republican State Convention Of 1862,
and then adds
" Among the gentlemen who opposed this
resolution was J. Gregory Smith Of St. AL
bans The Governor has
made some progress in anti-slavery views,
evidently. since the summer of 1852"
Is this the friendly, cordial, hearty greeting
of an enthusiastic an,i-slavery man to new
born convert-.or is it peevish sneer OF SPLEEN
etc sarcasm 1t strikes us that Governor
Smith might well retort -" The editor Of
tie Freeman has evidently relaxed his anti
slavery views since the summer of 1862"
Then, said Mr.. Willard lin the resolution re.
;erred toy ave nope at some future and ,.9f
jar distant day, to see this country delivered
forever from the curse OF slavery :" whereas,
now he is not only for postponing that gori-
Gus day until October, but actually arguing
for an indefinite postponement of it by affirm.
ing that the amendment cannot be adopted by
the votes of all the remaining loyal States
Wevery respectfully renew to the editor Of
the Freeman the suggestion that he may be
mistaken on that point, and therefore that it is
best to try and see il the glorious day cannot
be fastened.
" Fly swiiter round, ye wheels Of time,
And bring the welcome day"
The FREEMAN ATTAcKs TuY PpparnvNr