The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-04-02


passions rather than the reason of the
House What if Mississippi has appro.
priated $50, 600 to aud in the defense Of
that arch traitor, jefferson Davis +?
What if tho women of Texas have con-
verted soldiers clothing into money, and
for the purpose of cndowing an institution
over which Robert f Lee presides, or
have sent pair of game chickens Cor his
private table? Do such facts change the
, question Are the starving poor respon-
siblc ! Not at all. As well might we
say that the children OF the unfortunate
drunkard should be left to starve, because
the father, if he were sober AMI iudustii-
Gus, would be able to support them.
Sir, these are the three objections
which have been urged against the pas
sage of the resolution and certainly no
one Of them comments itself to my iudg-
mcnt.
Mr.. Washburn, of Indiana. Will the
gentleman give way moment that
may send up and have read as a part
of his speech a letter ON this subject from
the poet Whittcr7
Mr.. Woodbridge. presume it is bet.
ter than anything can say yield of
course.
The Clerk read as follows
a PEACE ASD GOOD Will LETTER FROM
TIE POET WHITTIER.
AME sBrKY, 4th Third month, 1867
My DEAR FRIEND ISRAELI: have
noticed with great satisfaction move
ment in your city for the aid of the peo-
pie 9t the South. Threatened as they
are in many places with actual starvation.
there can be no doubt of our duty to re
llcve them to the extent of our ability.
his obligation is not affected by the qncs-
tion OF their loyalty or disloyalty. They
| must be fed.
am sure it will be done, AMI done
checrtully. Massachusetts, 50 fierccly
denounced by the rebel press and hated
with such blind fcrocity by the great mass
OF men and women of the late confcdcr-
acy, has never entertained any feeling of
hate towards the people of the South.
She was forced sadly and reluctantly to
put forth all her energies for the prcscr.
vaIion ot the Union and the suppression
ot armed rebellion. She made for this
object terrible sacrifice of her best blood
her heart still aches with its bcrcavemcnts
ana the bitter memory Of the cruel treat
mcnt Of her sons; but now, when those
so lately in armed conflict with her are
actually suffering for lack of food. think
| know the good old Commonwealth we'll
enough to promise that she will not stop
to make nice determinations, nor to take
counsel of revenge, but will give llbcrally,
''upbraiding not"
In the providence of God an oppor,uni
ty is afforded Us to overcome evil with
good, to magnanmously overlook the
insane hatred still manifested towards us
and, so far as any action of ours can do so,
to convince the people Of the South that
while resolved, for their COOL as well as
our own, that slavery and treason shall
have no possibility of resurrection, we
100 only kindness and good will for
themselves, and that our hearts and purses
are open to aid them in recovering from
the evils resulting from civil war and So
cial changes.
May trouble thee to hand the inclosed
to the fund committee, au oblge thv
friend. JonN G.. W;uruER.
Mr.. Williams, of Indiana. ask III C
gcntlemnn to yield to m, for "A moment to
have an extract from paper read.
Mr. Woodbridge. | decline to yield
further
Mr.. Chairman, | thank the gentleman
tIom Indiana Mr. Wa-hburnl for causing
to he read an article from the sweetest of
all our poets, John G.. Whittier, a citizen
OF Massachusetts,, and an early and ear
nest pioneer Of the anti slavery cause.
1t represents the true feelings of that noble
old Commonwealth, which is worthy
representative of the grand old fathers
who more than two centuries ago unfnrled
the flag of freedom upon the sacred rock
OF Plymouth. From that spot were dis
semlnaled those principles which were
the key notes of the Declaration of indie
pendencc, and upon which is raised our
beautiful temple of liberty. In the Ian
Suage OF another Eoct:
Gay, call it holy ground,
The spot where first they trod,
They left unstained what then they found.--
Freedom to worship God
1t also represents the feelings of the
people OF Vermont, a State born into the
Union amid convUlsions and dilicultic.
which would have inrimidatcd and awed
men less brave and patriotic than her IL
ers were, ana preserving a record so pure
that she is called the star which never
sets. Her people are already burdened
with taxation, but are ready TO endure
more and suffer more when our hag is as
SAILED or our people cry for bread. /
have no fear for the little Green Noun.
tam State, and believe, sir, that every
man and womrn within her borders
7ould call their Representatives recreant
to duty should they oppose the passage of
this resolution.
The question simply is, shall We extend
governmental aid TO these starving mil
lionsl Great God, has it come to this.
that the American Congress in this cen
tury OF the Christian era shall close their
ears to the cry Of thousands of starving
fellow men for bread, bread, when we
have enough to spare When the people
s.I IraI L e.