Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-03-02

in similar cases within the jurisdiction G
our own courts? What we claim for our
selves let us be ready to yield to others.
But because | have insisted that Englan
was to be recognized as one of the family O
nations, and as such was entitled to the sam
respectful treatment that we should deman
for the United States, | am arraigned in al
most every variety of eloquent discourse as
2 sympathizer with England and as a hater o
lrishmen. The gentleman from Minnesot
Mr.. WILKINSON said
-"I do not join my friend in his expression G
sympathy for England, or the English Government
minds of ali of rs to forget Who in that great strne
gle for national life, friends and who wer
the Irish, both had their sympathes enlisted in ha
war: but they were enlisted different sides
Inc irlsh were under and followed the fortunes o
our flag from The first battle of Bull Run to the na
close OF that great contest. The English people
on the olheI nand, not only sympathized Win ou
enemies, but labored inlthe meanest most cowardly
and might say hyPocl,tcai III, manner to 1id GU
ference between myself and my friend from Yer
| mont is that he sympathizes with enemies Ii
that severe crisis, while l sympathize with thost
who stood firmly with us in the hour of peril and o
| danger"
Another gentleman, Mr.. ScHUMAKERl after
denunciation of the administration for its
course in the matter of these prisoners, refers
| to my remarks in this style
1.-THE next blast from the bugle was heard in this
,a nan. it was from the gentleman from vermont
III X
ling eduson to the glory of England never was heard
before by me. What could have induced such re-
marks am at a loss to understand. 1t could not
have been the fear ofthe raiders from Canada again
invading Vermont. they did in 1864 for the gentle
man does not live in that part of the state
:" That city (st. Albans) having once had a band
of outlaws turned loose upon it from English soil,
would, should think, be in good state Of mind to
appreciate anything relating to the English Crown
1t did not occur to me, sir, that the state
ment of the simple proposition that gov
ernment had the right to enforce its own
laws, in its own territory, against any one
who should violate them, made me necessa-
rily sympathizer with Great Britain. And
has this Government, and have our people,
from their recent experience, come to have
such admiration of rebellions that it is
worth our while to 60 out of our way to
encourage them, or to blow into flame of
war the sparks of Irish discomfort? 1t may
be that some of the Democrats of this coun-
try would not be inconsistent in sympathiz-
ing with rebellions abroad, for unless they
have been greatly misjudged they would not
have mourned over the success of one at
home; but is it wise or just or righteous fer
the party that is charged with the business
of the Government, and maintaining its po-
sition among the nations of the earth, to
encourage Fenianism and flibustering?
am thankful, Mr. Speaker, that | am
able, notwithstanding the wrongs England
has inflicted on this country in the recent
past, to still stand for justice and honorable
dealing among nations | am not in favor of
erasing justice from our action as a nation
because England has stained her annals by
selfish or cruel policy. A nation fit to exist
at all should have some higher law than ler
taliOnis some rule of action more abiding
than the caprices, the jealousies, or the anger
of the moment; some principle more nearly
just and eternal than revengeful clamOr. AS
a Vermonter, denounco d-and l was right
in that denunciation, and the whole loyal
people of the country agreed in that denun-
ciation-the unlawful, unfriendly, and mur-
derous raid on St. Albans and standing on
that principle precisely, believing that what
claimed was law for England was also law
for ourselves, | protested against the Fenian
demonstration which attempted to make the
soil of Vermont a base of operations for a like
unlawful raid into Canada. If the denun-
citation was right, the protest was right; if
the last - trucking cffusion to the
elOrysof Enslaz,d - the irst sa1Jrst
and unwaTranted arTaignment of a foreign
Power.
/ have not what seems to me to be the gift
of many who have declaimed so ficrcely
against England, and who seem to find no
embarrassment in insisting that there shall
be one law for Great Britain and another
for ourselves that we may worry England,
but she must let US alone that she must
pay us for Alabama depredations, while we
may sympathize with and encourage every
Fenian who chooses to set on foot an exredi-
ton against the integrity Of Ter empire. 1t
may be convenient and perhaps natural to
inquire whose OK has been gored before de-
Gliding upon the right or wrOngof the action
but am obliged to confess that have been
educated to believe that there is higher and
a better rule of action for nations and indi
viduals than the prOmptings of seli-interest
or the impulses of revenge.
And had hoped that the buster that used
to find it's annual opportunity on the Fourth
OF July, and from thousand platforms On
that anniversary was accustomed to dare
England To come on and fight and be glOri-
ousy whipped by the Yankee nation, had
been dismissed, if not from our platforms, at
least from our craftsmanship. | do not
think that much is added to our dignity or
consequence, OF that we shall make a more
considerable figure in history, by barking
and swapping, like ill-uatured ours, at the
heels of the British lion. When England
wrongs US, and we are ready to make n
square stand-up fight for redress that cannot
otherwise be obtained, the nation will need
no arousing for the fray. But this perpetual
worrying and bullying and clustering, this
fierce de nunciation and invective, this per-
pctual scolding, this setting on and symPa-
thizing with Fenianism and Irish discomfort,
is utterly unworthy great, conscious, and
self-cOntained and self-reliant Power
| cannot believe, moreover, that we show
in this wav the truest and best sympathy
with the sufferings of Ireland. My colleague
on the committee Mr.. WILKINSON and
many other gentlemen have said that we
owed this sympathy as debt to Ireland
He said
"Rv the providence Of God this nation is placed
obscure part in the affairs of other nations we
cannot if we would hide our light under bushel.'
IN Il therefore almpOrtant that the sympathy which
do express shall be consistent with the example
W3iGn we n nhYe Tn bes so f & , % haIe BEEN
tempting to walk in the hSst of the example which
we have set them. Our success has awakened anew W
their longing for national independence. Ana IL
would be strange and unnatural for Us TO with
hold onr sympathy for them now a. IT would be Tor
mother To forsake her firstborn But It would be
still more strange and unnatural for us TO synpa-
thize with the Oppressors of this people,"
NV colleague. | am sure, will agree with
me that if we would help Ireland we should
let our sympathies wait on our Judgment.
1t would hardly be intelligent or even valua-
bic sympathy with a Gagged bird TO encourage
! it to beat and bruIsc its head and wings
against the bars OF its prison-hoUse- Ireland
cannot, If it was united as one man. sever
| itself from the kingdom of Great Britain.
The power that holds the island and will hold
/ it to that empire is too strong for lrishmen
at home, even when aided by Fenians from
I the United States. Ireland may make her
condition infinitely worse by rebellion. but il
can be made 10 better by war with such a
Power as England. The liberation of Ire
land will come through the English Govern
ment, and not in the breaking up of tina
empire Gladstone and Bright are the true
friends Of Ireland, better far than the mis-
guided enthusiasts who are ready to hur
defiance at England and infame Irishmen tt
beat and bruise and ruin themselves in tho
vain effort to break their prison bars anC
attain freedom ami a separate nationality
Fenianism never viii achieve the deliyeranct
of Ireland. and aithonrh il mav exist as tht