Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-09-19

al; II. w. Sl0cum, major OeneeaIs OoIoon
Granger, Major General, COMMITTEES:
GENrLEMEN,-Ia am obliged to you for the
invitation you have made to me to act - CHAP
lain to the Convention of Sailors and Soldiers
about to convene at Cleveland. l cannot A.
tend it, but heartily wish it and all other CON-
ventons, of what party soever, success, whose
object is the restoration OF oil the States late IN
rebellion to their federal relations.
Our theory OF government has no place for
State except in the Union. 1t is Just taken
for granted that the duties and responsibilities
of State in Federal relations tend to it, po-
litical health, and to that of the whole nation.
Even Territories are hastily brought ia, often
before the prescribed conditions are fulfilled, -
if it we're dangerous to leave a community out
side of the great body polite.
Had the loyal Senators and Representatives
of Tennessee been admitted at once on the as
sembling of Congress, and. in moderate sue
cession, Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama, North
Carolina and Virginia, the public mind Of the
South would have been far moro healthy than
it is, and those States which fingered on pro-
baton to the last would have been under q
more sautary Influence of good conduct than
if a dozen armies wstched over them.
Every month that we delay this hsAlthful
step complicates the case. The excluded pop
ulalion, unsettled enough before, grow moro
irritable the army becomes indispensable to
I local government, and supersedes is; the Gov
eminent at Washington is called upon to inter-
fere in one and another difficulty, and this will
be done, inaptly and sometimes With great in
lustce-for our Government, wisely adapted to
its own proper functions, 10 utterly devoid Of
those habits, and unequipped with the instru-
ments which fit q centralized government to ex-
ercise authority in remote States over local a.
fairs. Every attempt to perform such duties
has resulted in mistakes which have excited the
nation. But whatever imprudence there may
oe in the method, the real criticism should be
against the requisitlon Of such duties the
General Government
The Federal Government is unfit TO exercise
minor police and local government, and will
inevitably b!under when 1t attempts Il. 10
keep MALT score of States under Federal au
thorlty, but without national ties and RESPONSE
bilities TO obIige the central authority TO gov
ern half the territory of the Union by Federal
civil officers and by the army, Is policy not
only I'm 5ongenal to our ideas and principles
but preeminently dangerous to the spirit OF our
Government However humane the ends
sought AID the motives, ii is, in fact, course
of instruction, preparing our Government to
be de-potic, and tamarlz;ng the people to a
stretch OF authority which can never be other
than danS erous to liberty
| am aware that good men are withheld from
advocating the prompt and successive admission
of the exed States by the fear, chi, fly, OF its
effect upon parties and upon freedmen.
1t is said that if admitted to Congress. the
Southern Senators and Representatives will
c0alesce with the Northern Democrats and rule
the country. Is this nation, then, TO remain
dlsmembered TO serve the ends OF parties !?
| Have We learned no wisd m by the history Of
the iast ten ye--s, in which just this course of
sscrhciug ne nation 20 the exigencies of par
| ties plunged into tsis rebellion and var?
Even admit that the power would pass into
the hands OF party made up of Southern men
and the hitherto dishonored and msled Dem
ocracy OF the North, that power could no, be
! used just they pleased. The war has chang
ed, not alone institutions, but ideas. The
whole country has advanced. Public senti-
ment Is exalted far beyond what it has been at
any former period. 4 new party would, like q
river, be obliged to seek Its channels in
the already existing slopes and forms Of the
continent.
We have entered a new era of liberty The
style OF thought is fresr aud more noble.
Inc young men OF our times are iegener-
atsd The great army has been a school, and
hundreds of thousands of men are gone home
10 preach truer and nobler view of human
rights All the Industrial interests of society
are moving with increased wisdom toward
intelligence and liberty. Every where, in
churches, in literature, in natural sciences, IL
phy steal industries, IN soclal questions, as " ell
a. IN politics, the nation feels that the winter
IS over and new spring hangs IN the horis or
and works through all the elements. In this
happily changed and advanced condition oil
things, 10 party of the retrograde can mantair
Itsel. Everything marches and parties must
march.
hear with wonder and shame and scorn the
fear of few that the South once more In ad
Ij1stment with the Federal Government viii
rule this nation! The North is rioh-nevel
so rich the South is poor-never before sc
poor. The population of the North is near !,
double that of the South. The industry oil
the North. 10 diversity. in forwardness an pro
iductiveness in ali machinery and education re-
lQuireG Tor manufacturing, is half a century II
advance OF the South. Churches in the North
crown every hill, and schools swarm ever,
neighbo rhood while the South has but scat
tered lights, at long distances, like light houses
twinkng along the edge of continent o
darkness In the presence of such contrast
how mean and craven is the fear that the Souif
will rule the policy Of the land That it will
have an influence, that it will contribute If
time, most important influences of restraints
We are glad 10 believe. But If il rises at onc'
to the control of the Government it will D.
because the North, demorahzed by prosperity
and besotted by grovelng interests, refuses L
discharge its share of political duty. In suci
a case the South not only will control the Gov
eminent but it ought to do 1t.
q 1t is feared, With more reason, that th
restoration of the South to her full independ
ence will be detrimental to freedom. Th
sooner we can dismiss from our minds the ide
that the freedmen can be classified, and Sc pa
rated from the white population, and nurset
and defended by themselves, tbs better it vii
be for them and us. The negro Is part an,
parcel of Southe. n society. lie cannot b.
, prosperous while it is unprospered. 1t evil
will rebound upon him. lis happiness and re
invigorstion cannot be kept from his p.rticipa
ton. Inc restoration OF TIE South to AMIGA
be relations with the North, the reorganization
j of It's industry, the reinspiration of its enter
S prise and thrift, will ali rebound to the freed
mems benefit. Nothing is so dangerous to tn
freedman as an unsettled state Of society 10 III
South. On him comes al. the spite and ange
and ,pr;ce and revenge. He will be made tn
: scapegoat of law less and heartess men. Un
less we turn the Government into a vast mill
tary machine there cannot be armies enough /
protect the freedmen while 50 Ithern societ
remains insurrectionary. If Southern societ
is Gained, settled, and occupied, and soo;hec
t with new hopes and prosperous industries, n
( armies will be needed. Riots will su6sids
Iawess hangers on will bs driven of or bette
t. governed, and way will gradually be openet
up to the freedmen, through education and in
dustry, to full citizenship, with all its honors an
n duties.
Civilization is growth. None can escap
that forty years n the wilderness who trav.
from the Egypt Of ignorance to the promise
, land of civilization. The freedmen must tax