Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-05-11

"And let me say that now is the time to Sc
/ cure these fundamental PRINCIPLES, while the
land Is rent with anarchy and upheaves with
the throes of a mighty revolution. While soci-
ETY. is IN this disordere1 state, and we are seek
ing security, let US fix the foundations of the
Government on principles of eternal justice
which Will endure for all time.
But in calling Convention TO restore The
State, who shall restore and re-establish il p
Shall the man who gave his influence and his
means TO destroy the Government Is be to
participate in the great work ofre-organizltion Of ?
Shall be who brought this misery upon the
/ State be permitted 10 control lis destines II
this be so, then all this precious blood Of our
brave soldiers and officers go freely poured out
will have been Banronly spi led. All the glo-
/ rious victories won by our noble armies will go
I tor naught, and all the battle fields which have
been sown with dead heroes during the Rebellion
will have been made memorable in vain.
why all this carnage and devastation 1t
was that treason might be put down and traitors
punished. Therefore | say that traitors should
take a back seat in the work Of restoration. If
there he but five thousand men in Tennessee
loyal to the Constitution, loysl freedom, 10y al
10 justice, these true and faithful men should
eobtrOl the work Of reorganization and reforma-
non absolutely. Loud aud prolonged ap-
plsuse ] | say that the traitor has ceased to be
citizen, and in joining the Rebellion has be-
come public enemy. He forfeited his right to
Vote with loyal men when be renounced his citi-
zenshIp and sought to destroy our Government.
We say 10 the most honest and industrious for
eigner who comes from England or Germany TO
dwell among Us, and to add to the wealth Of The
country, Before you can be a citizen, you
must stay here for five years Ii We sre so
cautious about foreigners, Who voluntarily re-
n0uuce their homes tU live with u, what should
We say 10 the traitor who. although born and
reared among u, has raised parricidal hand
against the Government which alAa,s protected
him: My judgment i that h, should be cub
l-cted 10 severe ordeal before be rs r. sior, 10
citizenship. 4 fellow Who takes the oath merely
10 save his property, and denies the validity
the oath, is perjurtd man and not TO lie trust
ed. B,iore these r-peutiug T, btls Oan be trust
ed, let them bring ioTtn the fruits Of repentance.
He who helped to make all these widows and =
phafs, who drsptd The streets Of Nashville in
mourning, should suffer for his great crime
The work Is in our hands. We can destroy this
rebellion. With Giant laundering on the Poto-
mac before Richmond. and Sherman and
Tnomas un their march toward Atlanta, the day
viii ere long be- ours. Will any madly persist
in REBEL on Supp Sc that equal numbers be
slain n every bAtte, it is plain that the result
must be the utter exterminstion Of the rebels.
An these rebel leaders have strong personal
reason for holding ont 10 save their necks from
the halter; and these leaders must feel the power
Of th, Government Treason must be made
odious and traitors must be punished and i'm
poyerished. Their great plantations must lie
seized, and divided into small farms, and sold
10 honest industrious men. The day for pro-
tectiug the lands and negroes Of these authors
Of rebellion is past It i high time it was. |
have been most deeply panied at some things
which have come under ny observation We
get men in command under the influence Of
hattery. fawning and earessing, grant protection
tc the rich traitor, while the poor Union man
stands out in the cold. often unable 10 get a re-
cipt or a voucher for his losses Cries Of
That's SO 9 from all parts Of the croUd.l