Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-10-03
The Real Question j..

The He0D QUeot1OO.
Horace Maynard, the most able and eloquent
Representatives of Tennessee in Congress. we'll
stated the real question now at issue, IN his
late speech 1T Boston. He said.
If you ask Us what you can do for your
relief, point, as your Governor has pointed
to the example of Vermont. l point to the
example of Maine, and say, Z" Go you and do
likewise" (Applause). My oountrymen, as
l look upon the present condition OF affalre,
see that the issue of the time is not, as has
been stated by many people, whether we are
to have Union OF 26 or SO States. That
question has long since been settled, and been
made matter of record by the glorious arms
of uur soldiers. loud applause They
bore the flag through more than 600 fights
with 80 stars emblazoned upon the blue union,
and they bore it on to victory. (Applause.)
No star has been obliterated no lost Pleaid,
thank God, has escaped from her imperial con-
stellation. loud appause.) 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. Tue question is
simply this: who shall administer the affairs
OF the country? Shall the men who have
saved it administer it's affairs, or shall they
be turned away or controlled by combina-
ton of Southern rebels and their Northern
allies, sympathizers and associates? e. No."
No, "Never.'') That is the question you
have to determine Eliminate 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 pend
lng will result the one or the other const-
Quence. Either free government will be in
tue hands of its friends or 1t will be turned
over and transferred to the keeping of it's enc
/ ha oth er IF
these results will necessarily follow. You
cannot avoid 1t, the responsibility 10 upon
you, and at your peril l charge you to decide
! it SO that when your children shall rise up
they shall not denounce you as having been
untrue to that great trust which was handed
down to you by your fathers. (Applause.)
/ Do not suffer your minds to be led OH, beg
of you, by gu stions of the policy of this or
the other functIonsry, by measures of legis-
/ letion, or matters OF detail, with which you
may Of may not happen to coincide. Ali
these things can be adjusted, provided the
friends of the government continue to manage
! It's affairs but If you lose the control, If you
! let the administration OF the nation pass out
! of your hands, those other N alters will be of
I very small concern. The question of recon
s;ructlon, we are told, is the great question
of the time. Well, that is an important
question, admit and it is important just
IN this way. Here are ten STATES in con-
dition that is supposed to require what is
termed reconstruction and the question lie,
whether you will reconstruct them, or whether
they shall reconstruct you (Vuclferous and
prolonged applause.) Whether you who
conquered in this fight shall give the law to
the South, or whether you will accept 1t at
/ the hands of those whom you conquered.
Ono, sir-ee.") To us, the loyal men of the
South, many of US living in those States tina,
have been thrown into this condition of dis
tress and disaster, your position Is a matter
of great moment. II you decide-you, the
American people--that loyal men, the frlenos
of the government, are TO keep the govern
ment In their hands then our situation will
be we'll loyalty will be respected; treason
will be made odIoUs and its author will be
punished. (Applause) Ii, ON the other
maud, YOU sutsr COMBINATION composed, IN
the main, of the men who had control OF the
/ Government for eight weary years before this
War, again TO obtain control OF public airs.
/ then, 80 far as We are conce rned, IL would
! have been better tor Us had the Southern Con
federacy been established, for then we could
have q 81 beyond It's reach but on the 81 D.
position that | have made, to get beyond the
reach of It's power We should have TO leave
the country and the protection OF the fAg
Ny countrymen, | am not here, my assOcIa Is
are not here, to appeal 10 your iancies TO
amuse Idle hour. We have not left our
romes, 50 sternly demanding our presence
on any such purpose. We have come here
because have a great cause to lay before
you. We have an appeal to make TO you to
give US relief, and to give 1t IN the only way
! 1t is possible for you to do Ito give it TO
US at the blllot-box. G. We Will do it. }
We viii carry your answer back. We WIN
do it" say you. We Will carry your answer
back, and repeat 1t uutil 1t shall rever berste
over the mountain tops and through the val
lsys OF land, until every dweller in the
bose of mountains shall know that
there is still power In the mighty and pop
ulous North that will again, as before, come
20 their relief, and protect them from the
domination aud the despotism of treason.