Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-09-14

and prosperity.
In the remaining ten States tine seeds Of
oligarchy, planted in the Constitution by its
slavery feature, have grown to be m0nstrous
power, whose recognition thus wrung from
the reluctant trainers Of that great instrument,
enables these States TO intrench themselves
behind the perverted doctrine Of State rights,
and .heltcred by a claim OF constitutional OBJ
legation 90 maintain slavery in the States, 10
present 10 the American government the al
ternatives of oligarchy with slavery or demo-
cratic republic without slavery. foroeafing
government, bowling TO a supposed constitts
tioual behest, atquiesced In he former al
teri i've The hand the government was
stage ed for eighty years 49, the principles Of
constitutional liberty laneuished for want Of
government support-oigarchy mstured its
power with subtle design its history for
eighty years is feplete with unparalleled inju-
ries and usurpatons IL developed only the
agricultural localities, geographically distinct
from the free labor localities, and less than
one-third Of the whole, with African slaves.
IL held four millions Of human beings as chat
tells, yet made them the basis OF unjust pow
er for themselves in the Federal and State
governments. To maintain their enslavement
it excluded millions Of white laborers from
the richest agricultural lands Of the world
forced them to remain inactive and unproduc-
tive in the mineral manufacturing and lum.
Der localities, comprising two-thirds Of the
whole South in square miles and real unde-
veloped wealth, simply because the localities
were agricultural4y too poor fer slave labor.
BY denying capital and slrsngling enterprise
it repealed the capital, energy, and the skill
- fI 4. ,.F o. F...s f.t. To-
ties by unmitgated violence and prescription,
thus guarding the approaches to their slave
domain against democracy. Statute books
groaned under the despouo laws against u.s.
lawful and inaurrectionary assemblies, aimed
az the constitutional guarantees of the right
to peacebly assemble and petition for redress
Of grievances. II prescribed democratic lite
nature as incendiary. 1t nulifed the consti-
tutional guarantees Of freedom and free speech
and tree press. Il deprived citizens Of 9TH
er States Of their privileges and immunites
in the siaies,-an Injury and usufpation
alike uni ust TO Northern citizens and destruc-
tive Of the best interests of the States them
selves. Alarmed at the progress Of democra-
cy in the face of every encouragement, at
last it sought immunity by secession and
war.
The heart siokens with contemplation of
the four years that fol owed. Forced loans
impressments, consumption with bloody hands
and bayonets he murder of aged union men
who ned long laid aside the implements OF
labor but had since been summoned to the
field by the c1nsciption Of their sons, TO sup
port their children and grandchildren, re.
duced from comfort to he verge Of starvation
the slaughter Of noble youth, types Of physi-
cal manhood, forced into an unholy war
against those with whom hey were ident-
fed by every interest long months Of incar-
cefauon in rebel basules; Punishment from
houses aad hoarthstones, are bat a partial re-
cital OF the long catalogue Of horrors. But
democrats North and South defeated them /;
they lost what did they lose , he curse
of oligarchy -lhey lost African slavery by
name only. Soon as the tocsin of war ceas ed
soon as the cang Of war was hushed, they
raise the cry of immediate admission, and
with that wa,chword seek to organize under
new forms a contest to perpetuale their IN
bridled sway; they rehabiliiate with their
sweeping control all local and State organize
lions, The Federal Executive, easily seduc-
ed, yields a willing obedience to his old mas
tiers. Aided by his unserupulous disregard
OF tue Constitution and laws, by his merciiess
description If true democratic opinion, and
by his appliances Of despotic power, they now
dcfAntly enter the lists 10 the loyal North,
and seek to wiring from freemen an indorse-
ment Of their wicked designs. Every foul
agency is at work TO accomplish this result.
Protesting to assent TO The abolition OF slav-
cry, they are contriying to continue its de-
teslable power by legislative acts agaios. ~
tended Migrants. They know that any toIm
of servitude will answer their unholy purpose.
J hey pronounce the four years war bril-
liant sword scene in the great revolulioLafy
drama. Prosctiptive public continent holds
high carnival, and. prcftinR by the example
of the Presidents programme, breathes the
language Of slaughter against loyalty, ignores
and denouncos all legal restraints, and as
sails with the tongue OF mahgnity. Midnight
/ CONGREGATIONS, assassinations and murders in
open day, are called to their aid. A reign OF
terror through all these ten States makes 10y
atty stand silent in the presence of treason OF
whisper in bated breath. Strong men heel
tate openly to speak for liberty and decline
to attend convention at Philadelphia for
fear of destruction.
But all Southern men are not awed into
submission to treason, and we nave assem-
bed from all these states, determined that
liberty, when endangered, shall find a molth-
, piece, and the government of the people, by
the people, for the people, shall not perish
, from the earth. We are here to consult to-
, gether how best to provide for a Union Of
truly Republican states to seek to replace
: thirty-six stars in the old flag; we are here
to see that ten of the stars, opaque bodies,
, are paling their Intellectual fires beneath the
gloom of oligarchal tyranny and oppression.
We wish them to be brilliant stare, embems
of constitutional MISUNDERSTANDING orbs
sparkling with the lile-giving principles Of
! the model republic, fitting adornments Of
the glorious banner Of freedom. Our last
and only hope is in the uuity and forttude
/ of the loyal people of America, in the sup
port and vndication Of the seth Congress,
and the election Of a controlling union major
ity in the succeeding or doth Congress.
|. While the new article amending the Con-
sdtution offers the most liberal conditions to
the fathers of the rebellion, it does not come
up to the measure of our expectations. We
believe its ratification would be the com
meneement Of complete and lasting protection
70 all our people, and therefore we accept it
as the best possible remedy, and we appeal
to our brothers and friends in the North and
West 70 make it their watchword in the com
ing elections. The tokens are suspicious Of
VNVh pluatp0 ~. 80.