Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1866-09-14


to the spirit of our government. However
humane the ends sought and the motives, it
Is in fact a course of instruction, preparing
our government to be despotc, and familiar
izing the people to a stretch of authority
which can never be other than dangerous TO
liberty.
am aware that good men are withheld
| from advocating the prompt and successive
admission of the eXiled States by the fear,
chiefly of its effect upon parties and upon
the freedmen.
1t is said that if admitted to Congress,
the Southern Senators and Representatives
will coalese with Northern Democrats, and |
rule the country. Is this nation, then, to
remain dsmembered to serve the end of
parties? Have we learned no wisdom by |
the history of the last ten years, in which |
just this course of sacrificing the nation to !
the exigencies of parties plunged us into re-
bellion and war?
Even admit that the power would pass in
to the hands of party made up of South |
ern men, and the hitherto dishonored and
misled Democracy of the North, that power
could not be used just as they pleased. The
war has changed, not alone institutions, but
ideas. The whole country has advanced.
Public sentiment is exalted far beyond what
it has been at any former period. A new
party would, like river, be obliged to seek
out its channels in the already existing
slopes and forms of the continent
We have entered new era of liberty.
The style of thought is freer and more noble
The young men of our times are regenerat-
ed. The great army has been a school. and
hundreds of thousands of men, are gone
home to preach a newer, nobler view of hui
, man rights All the industrial interests of
, society are moving with increasing wisdom
toward intelligence and liberty Every
xvho i,,o ob Ia, Etorot,,ro IN,
science, in physical industries, in social
= questions, as well as in politics, the nation
feels that the winter is over, and a new
spring hangs in the horizon. and works
? through all the elements. In this happily
changed and advanced condition of things,
= no party of the retrogradc can maintain it,
y self. Everything marches and parties must
= march.
, i hear with wonder and shame and scorn,
y the fear of a few that the South once
: more in adjustment with the Federal Gov
y ernment. will rule this nation. The North
y is rch-never so rich the South is poor
- never so poor. The population of the North
: is nearly double that of the South. The in
= dustry of the North in diversity in forward
y ness. and productiveness, in all the machine
= ry and education required for manufacture
u ing, is half century in advance of the
: South. Churches in the North crown every
10 hill. and schools swarm in every neighbor-
, hood: while the South has but scattered
=, lights at long distances. like lighthouses
y twinkling along the edge of II continent OF
II darkness. In the presence of such con-
e trast, how mean and craven is the fear that
-. the South will rule the policy of the land.
,, That it will have an influence, that it will
IL contribute in time most important influences
or restraints, we are glad to believe. But
~ if it rises at once to the control of the Gov
y, ernment. it will be because the North, de-
lS moralized by prosperity, and besotted by
20 grovelIng interests, refuses to discharge Its
70 share of political duty. In such case the
, South will not only control the Government
II but it ought to do it!
~, 2. 1t is feared with more reason, that the
q restoration of the South to her full indepen'
., dence. will be detrimental to the freedmen
- - The sooner we dismiss from our minds the
= idea that the freedmen can be classified ant
~ separated from the white population, an6
20 20 nursed and defended by themselves, the
~ ~ better it will be for them and us. The
' 80 negro is part and parcel of Southern society
,o He cannot be prosperous while 1t is unpros
nr pered Its evils will rebound upon him.
W W Its happiness and re-nvigoration cannot be
80 kept from his participation. The restora
~ ton of the South to amicable relations Will
" the North, the reorganization of its indus
- try the rc-inspiratiOn of its enterprise ant
thrift will all rebound to the freedmen'
-, benefit. Nothing is so dangerous to thu
~ ~ freedmen as an unsettled state of society il
Of the South. On him comes all the spite, ant
,d anger, and caprice and revenge. lie viii
Nv be made the scape-goat of lawless and heart
M less men. Unless we turn the Government
~, ~ into Il vast military machine, there canno
II be armies enough to protect the freedmen
while Southern society remains insurrection
ary If Southern society is calmed, settled
and occupied and soothed with new hope
and prosperous industries, no armies will b
Is. needed. Riots will subsde lawlcss hanger
nm on will be driven off or better governed, an
nd Il way will be gradually opened up to III
''' freedmen, through education and industr.
'e- to full citizenship, with all its honors an
)n, duties.
mo- Civilization is a growth. None can c,
cape that forty years in the wilderness VIII
travel from the Egypt of ignorance to IL
promised land of civilization. The freeC
en- men must take their march. / have fu
lon faith in the results. If they have the STAN
ma to undergo the hardships which ever
uncivilized people has undergone in the
the upward progress, they will, in due tin
to take their place among MS That plgce cal
ol- not be bought or bequeathed, nor gained b
ve- sleiaht of hand. Ii will come TO sobriet.
md virtue, industry, and frugality. As the M
er, ton cannot be sound until the South
of prosperous. so. on the other extreme,
raj healthy condition of civil society, in Il
South, is Indispensable TO the welfare of Il
ace freedmen.
tly Refusing TO admit loyal Senators al
re- Representatives from the South to Congre
ons viii not help the freedmen. 1t will not pr
Of tect them. 1t will not secure any amen
AS ment of our Constitution, however inst M
bed wise. 1t will only incrcas? the dangers n
,cr- compcate the difficulties. Whether we +
the gard the whole nation, or any section of
or class of it. the first demand of our tin
lta- is entire reunion.
nee Once united, we can, by schools, churc
od- es, free press, and increasing free speeC
Ila- attack each evil and secure every good.
the Meanwhile the great chasm which reb'
cen lion made is not filled up. 1t grows deep
ltcs and stretches wider! Out of il rise DIRE
uld spectres and threatening sounds. Let tn
nee gulf be closed, and bury in it slavery, SC
lies tiona animosity, and all strifes and hatred
1t is fit that the brave men, who, on 5
ltes and on land, faced death to save the matte
ugh should now by their voice and vote, consul
the mate what their swords rendered possible
,ov- For the sake of the freedmen for the sa
1rn- of the South and its millions of our iellC
G in countrymen, for our own sake, and for {
be great cause of freedom and civilization,
in urge the immediate reunion of all the pal
,ted which rebellion and war have shattered.
Ioid am truly yours.
, N IIENRN w ARn RrEgurp