Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-09-21
The Question.

very clearly, and ably, defines the real
and only question at issue in our ma
tional politics, between the President
and Congress. He says:
"Ifyot ask us what you can do for |
your relief, | point, as your Governor
mas pointed, to the example of Yer
mont. Ipoint to the example ofMaine,
and say, "Go you and do likewise.
L Applause.) Ny countrymen, as l
look upon upon the present condition
of affairs, see that the issue OF the
time is not, as has been stated by
many people, whether we are to have
\ Union of26 or of 36 States. That
question has long since been settled,
and been made matter OF record by
the glorious arms of our soldiers
Loud appIause.) They bore the flag
through more than 900 fights, with
}6 stars emblazoned upon the blue
union, and they bore it on to victory.
(Applau8e.) No star has been oblit-
Grated; no lost Pleiad, thank God,
has escaped from her imperial con-
stellation. Loud applause,) That
is not the question. Nor is it the
question whether ten Of these States
are out Of the Union or in the Union.
Not at all. The question is simply
this: who shall administer the affairs
Of the country? Shall the men who
have saved it admisiSter its affairs, or
shall they be turned. away or control
led by a combination Of Southern
rebels and their Northern allies, sym
pathizers a. d associates 3? ("NO,"
NO" "Never.") That is the ques-
ton you have to determine. Elimi
nate it from every collateral matter,
from every side issue. That question
you will decide; you cannot help it,
because upon the elections that are
now pending will result the one or the
other consequence. Either free gov
ernnent will be in the hands OF It's
friends or it will be turned oyer anC
transferred to the keeping OF its enc
mics. ("Never.") One or the Ccthei
of these results will necessarily follow
You cannot avoid it, the responsibility
is upon you, and at your peril
charge you to decide it so that when
your children shall rise up they shall
not denounce you as having been un.
true to that great trust which was
handed down to you by your fathers
| (Applause.) Do not suffer your minds
to be led of, | beg Of you, by questions
of the policy of this or the other
functionary, by measures of legisla.
ton, or matters of detail, with which
you may or may not happen to coin,
eide. All these things can be adjust.
ed, provided the friends of the Gov.
ernment continue to manage its al
fairs but if you lose the control, il
YOU let the administration of the ma.
tion pass out Of your hands, those 9th
er matters will be of very small con
Germ. The question of reconstruction
we are told, is the great question OF
the time. Well, that is an important
question, | admit; and it is inpor-
tant just in this way. Here are ten
States in a condition that is supposed
to require what is termed reconstruc-
ton; and the question is, whether
you will reconstruct them, or whether
they shall reconstruct you. Vo-
citerous and prolonged applause. y
Whether you who conquered in this
fight shall give the law to the South
or whether you will accept it at the
hands Of those whom you conquered
| Ono, sir-ee.") To us, the loyal mel
of the South, many of US living in those
States that have been thrown into this
condition of distress and disaster
your position is a matter of great
moment. If you decide-you, the
; American people--that loyal men, the
friends Of the government, are to keel
the government in their hands, thel
our situation will be well; loyalt,
will be respected; treason will b,
made odious, aud its author will b,
l punished. (Applause.) If, on tn,
: other hand, you suffer a combination
l composed, in main, Of the men VIII
y had control of the Government 70
eight weary years before this wal
again to obtain control of public a
fairs, then so far as we are concerned
0 it would have been better for us ha,
/ the Southern Confederacy been estat
@ lished, for then we could have fled be
You'd its reach; but on the supposit
y ion that have made, to get beyon
Il the reach of its power we should hay
j. to leave the country and the proteC
J, ton of the flag. Ny countrymen,
!. am not here, my associates are nc
). here, to appeal to your fancies t
amuse an idle hour. We have no
left our homes, so sterrhy demadin
Z, our presence, on any such purpose
We have come here because we hav
a great cause to lay before you. w
have an appeal to make to you t
give us relief, and to give it in the OF
: ly way it is possible for you to do i
= to give it to us at the ballot-box.-
e awe will do it.") We will carr
J your answer back. "We.wil dogit,
e say you. We will carry your answe
+ back, and repeat it until it shall re
i vertebrate over the mountain tops an
J. through the valleys of our land, unit
, every dweller in the bosom of GU
/ mountains shall know that there
!" still power in the mighty and popr
y Ions North that will again as before
L come to their relief, and protect ther
! from the domination and the despotisr
i of treason.
Up ANT'c OpTNIo>- or, No. I'll