Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-07-27

American people. | allude to the question
whether the several States shall ratIfy or reject
the last amendment proposed b. Congress &c
the Constitution Of the United States. This j:
a grave and all important question. The issue
upon 1t cannot be avoided. Ii should be placed
fairly and squarely before the people, The
failure to take ground upon SO important and
al-absorbing a question must be attributed
either to desire TO avoid the issue or as a de-
claratlon Of belief and policy against the adop-
ton Of the amendment Being myself earnestly
and decidedly in favor OF the adoption of the
amendment by the States, cannot 90 into an
organization that would smother it by avoiding
Its discussion.
l must add that no man il mo!e desirous than
| am to attain the entire restoration Of the
American Union. with itt practical workings in
more perfect harmony and concord than ever,
and the surety, as far a. mortal affairs can be
made sure. Of endless perpetuity in the future.
/ The blessings 10 flow from such Union are
countless and inestimsble, but such a union con-
sistent within itself, maintained by the uniyer-
sal consent Of all classes AID sections and laugh
ing to scoru both the assaults Of foes internal or
/ external and the rayages Of time and change
will only be obtained by slvEny retracting every
/ departure from or compromise with the supreme
and general idea fundamental to the American
Constitution. That genera idea consists in
Oriei OF the political liberty and equality Of man
klnl under the law. Such and such only can
be the Union, the nationality, that will put in
form the magnificent and lofty dreams Of the
American continental mind and fulfill in the
future the highest efforts Of the present and
past. 1t is not tie vague dtlusion that the
rights Of the States need doctoring. TIE Amer
ican theory culmna,es properly in the sacred
ness Of the nights Of individuals Of "a n single
Ia u o
carved out with the sword anl Jefferson filter
ing it thro' his subtle anI clear mind drew up
and put on record with tie pen.
1t is well known that IN the practical and
logical history Of the United States. the only
departures or compromises Of the kind alluded
TO have been those n tie interest Of slavery and
Its manifold ucilenjs. / DO not, Of course,
pr pose to 60 over the thousand times told tale
Of the past Elk years; to-day slavery, as a con- /
fessed legality, is as We al know, no more; but /
some Of the most important Of its incidents or 4
compromises still remain, blcts and lucon-rui- /
ties upon the law. What equitable reason can
be gwen Why tlesa incidents also should not be
erascd' " Time was when , brains were out
the man would de but nov We see the Hnbs
demanding to live and move as # the nervous
centre stlll ex.sici. The persistent attempt to
Keep 10 the Constitution the rule Of an uucqual
and unfair basis Of representation Is perilous to
The future peace OF the country and will surely
cause chahug sense Of injustice as long n II
continues. Furthermore, the high mission Of
the Union party, as ayowei in the Baltimore
Convention-,o extirpate sliycry-iucluIes the
removal Of all the hateful and anti-popular ex-
creseuces eugnttei by that institution for its
own selfish aggrAndIzenent upon our Tree ua-
tional laws and policy. That high mission and
Obligation cannot be accomplished until al
which slavery has so engra;ted is cut out, for
until then slavery IS not extirpdtei. Earnestly
with the men vino look to a law Of
equal representation as the only guarantee both
for popular rights and popular acquiesence.
would ieel myself out OF place IN a party that
ay0rs tass Of representation giving peculiar
sud rnughteous advantage 10 a portion II the
body polite, to the detriment and dissatisfaction
Jf the whole.
Uniting With you aai all good men IN the
'-ul-ieit desire that peace, prosperity, aud that
imicahle brotherhood, which is more than any
1orily prosperity, may soon prevail and con-
lnue unbrokeu through cur beloved country,
vrmer camiucs die out aui be forever lot,
md that all over the broad domain Of America
qgal laws shall protect equal rights TO all man
sud.
l hase the honor 90 sIt-cdbe myself
Your ohei eut servant
jams SIZED.