Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-03-27

the stropr swimmer hesitate 20 save him lest per-
chance. the exposure may increase his coldf Sir,
should this great nation, hurdcncd % Is true with
debt burdened it is true with taxes. but boundess
in its resources, eNhaustless and unreasonable In
its recuperatyc energies. fail TO accord susenance
TO thousands Of It's starving citizens? ! have no
patience with such reasoning. II belongs 90 the
politician, aud not 10 a statesman having ia view
his duty TO bis ieow-man and his responsibility
20 God.
Sir. the next objection is that II we grant this
relief the money we appropriate will loo bestowed
upon enemies. What If it should heG Are they
enemies at war? DO the cruel and bloody laws Of
war, which justify nation in nfhchng every in
I Jury in its power upon its enemy, now preyalll
BY no means. Peace has returned We have
turned from the long and bloody night OF war to
the sweet aud dawnng morn Of peace, and amid
I the parting clouds the grand old arch has struck
/ high in the heavens. II enemies at all, they are
no longer enemies in war. and our divine Teacher
saws, " II thine enemy hungers, feed HIM; u lac
thirsts give him drink But. sir, these are not
our enemies. They are the poor, downtrodden,
oppressed whites Of the South, whose condition
formerly was but little removed from that Of the
slave. and who now, in their time OF trouble and
starvation. demand our sympathy and aid. Al
though The men were driven into the war, who viii
/ brand a. an enemy the poor woman remaining at
home and struggling for the sustenance OF herself
and children. even while her husband was lighting
against our flag? Who shall say that the infant
drawing miserable sustenauce from the half
starved mothers breast Is enemy of the country
And yet, sir, it is such they that cry to us for
help.
The next objection is that there is enough at
the South TO provide for all its people were prop
erly distributed. For the sake Of the argument
grant IL. That it is not distributed we all know.
That the starving poor cannot control the matter
is perfectly apparent.
The Illustrations used by the gentleman from
Massachusetts addressed TO the passions rather
/ than the reason Of The House. Nhatii Mississippi
has appropriated $50 600 TO aid in the defense Of
that arch traitor, jefferson Davis? What if thc
women of Texas have converted soldiers clothing
into money, aud for the purpose OF endowlng am
institution over which Robert b. Lee presides, or
have sent pair of game chickens for his private
table ? DO such facts change the custom Are the
starving poor nsponsibleY Not at all. As we'll
might we say that the children of the unfortunate
drunkard should bee lett TO star,e, because the
father ii he were sober and industrious, would be
able TO support them.
Sir. these are the three objections which have
been urged against the passage of the resolution
and certainly no one of them commends itself to
my Judgment
MIR. WASHBURN. of Indiana. viii the gem
tlcman give way moment that may send up and
have read as q part of his speech letter on this
subject from the poet Whittier
MIR WOODBRIDGE. presume it is better
than anything eau say. Weld of course.
The CLERK read tollows
! PEACE AND GOOD Will LETTER FROM THE
roET WHITTIER
! My DEAR FREND HAsKELL:-l have noticed
with great satisfaction movement IN your clly
for the aid of tue south. Threatened as they are
IN many places with actual starvation theie can
be no doubt of our duty to relieve them to the eN-
tent of our ability Tins obligation snot Affected
10y the question OF their loyalty or dsloyalty.
They must be req.
am sure it will be done, and done cheeriully.
Massachusetts,, so tercely denounced by the
rebel press aud hated with such blind ierocity by
the great mass OF the men and women OF t1e late
couiederacy has never entertained any feeling OF
hate toward the people oil the south. She was
r forced sadly and reluctantly to put forth all her
energies for the preservation OF the Union and
the suppression OF armed rebellion. She made
for this object terrible sacrifices OF her best blood
her heart suil aches with MS oereayemenis and the
bitter memory OF the cruel treatment OF her sons
but now, when those so lately IN armed conflict
with her ave actually suffering tor lack OF food,
+ think | know the good oId commonwealth wen
enough to promise that she VIII not stop to make
NePgqi but WIZ give 99 Ga5 npormanE n?l
q In the providence oil bod an opportunity Is al
lorded US TO overcome evil with good, to magnau-
e imousy overlook the insane hatred stu manifested
c toward us; and so far IS any acuo1 OF ours can
j do so, to convince the people OF The south that
o while resolved for their good as wen as our own
that slavery aud treason shall have no possibility
e. OF resurrection, we have only kindness and good
will for themselves and that our hearts and purses
I are open to aid them IN recovering from the evils
p resulting from civil war and social changes.
May trouble thee TO- hand the inclosed to nc
n fund committee, and obllge ny mend.
. .,,,,.e JQliN u M len
! Mr.. WILLIAMS, ol lndlaha' ask the gen
It tleman to yield TO ior moment to have an eN
+ tract from paper read.
e Mr. NOODBklDGE. decline TO yield fur
r. ther.
t Mr.. CuNHMAN, thank the gentleman IRON ln
10 diana Mr. Nashhurnl Tor causing to be read an
, article IRON the sweetest OF all our poets, John &
+ Whittier citizen Oh MassachuSetis' and an early
Il and earnest pioneer OF the ani-slaver} cause Il
T. represent. the true leemgs OF thar noble Old Com
. monweallh' winch Is a worthy representative o.
r the grand old fathers who more than two cenurie
G ago unurled the flag OF freedom upon the sacrc1
o rock OF plymouth FROM mat spot were dlsseml
t mated those principle which were the kcy-uotes Of
the Declaration OF independence, and upon which
IS raised our beautiful temple OF liberty In the
i language oil another poet
"Ag call th9S ground;
c They ~ u6'tain'd What ,ben they found.
Freedom to ",T'hp "o'
II also represents the feelings OF the people o.
i Vermont State born INTO the Union AMID con
WILSON'S and difficulties when would have ntlm-