Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-04-28

sediton laws, so odious in history they are
at variance with all the sanctlfled theories
of our institutions, and the construction
given by these radical interpreters TO tho
18th amendment Is, to use the language Of
an eminent Senator, Mr.. Tfembnll of ILL
nois, ian humiliation of tho states !" un-
der the last enforcement bill, "tho execu-
tive may in his discretion thrust aside the
government of any state, suspend the writ
Of habeas corpus" arrest its governor, inn
prison or dispense its legislature, silence its
judges and trample down its people under
the armed heel of his troops. Nothing is
left TO citizen or the state which can any
longer be called right; all is changed into
mere suiierance. Our hopes for redress
are in the calm good sense, the sober see
ond thought of the American people. We
call upon them TO be true to themselves
and to their past and, dlsregarding party
names and minor differences, insist upon
a decent equalization of power, and the re-
stricton Of federal authority within its just
aud proper limits, leaving to the states that
control over domestic affairs which is es-
sential to their happiness and tranquility
and to good government. Everything that
malicious ingenuity could suggest has been
done TO irritato the people of the middle
and southern states. The gross and exag-
gerated charges of disorder and violence
owe their origin TO the miscellaneous minds
of political managers in the Senate and
House of Representative, to which the eX-
ecutive has, we regret to say, lent his aid,
and thus helped to innamc popular feel
| ing.
In all this course of hostile legislation
and harsh enactment, no word of concila-
| ton, kind encouragement, fraternal fellow
ship has ever been spoken by the prcsi-
| dent or by Congress to the people of the
southern states. They have been address
| ed only in the language of prescription.
We earnestly entreat our fellow citizens in
all parts of the Union to spare no effort to
maintain peace and on der, to carefully pro-
tect the rights of every citizen, to preserve
kindly relations among all men, and to
discounte nance and discourage any viola
tons of the rights of any portion of the
people, secured under the constitution or
any of its amendments.
Let us, in conclusion, earnestly beg you
not to aid the present attempts of radical
partisans to stir up strife, to renew the is
| sues of the war; or to obstruct the return
of peace and prosperity TO the southern
| states, because ii is thus they seek to di-
vert the attention of the country from their
| usurpation and extravagant administra-
ton of public affairs, and the runous and
| profiigate attempts they are making to-
ward a centralized military government.
In the five years of peace following the
war the radical administration has spent
$1,000, 600 for ordinary purposes alone
being within 5000, 900 of the aggregate
amount spent for the same purposes, in
war and in peace, during the II ears pre-
ceding June 10, 1861, not including the sum
paid on the interest and principal of the
| public debt. 1t is trifiing withthe inteli-
gence of the people for radical leaders to
contend that this vast sum has been hon
estly expended. Hundreds of millions OF
| ii have been wantonly squandered. The
expenses of the government for the fiscal
| year ending June 30, 1861, were only SG2,-
600, 900, while for precisely the same pur-
poses-the civil list, army, navy, pensions
and lndians-SlGi, 100000 were expended
during the fiscal year end ne June 30, 1870
No indignation can he too stern, and nc
scorn too severe for the assertions by UNI
scrupulous radical leaders that the demo-
cratic and conservative party of the Union
has or can have sympathy with disorders
or violence in any part of the country, OF
| in the deprivation of any man of his rights
under the constitution. 1t is to protect
and pcrpetuatc the rights which every free.
man cherishes, TO revive in all hearts the
feelings of friendship, AFT elton and har-
mony which are the first guarantees to law
and order, and to throw around the hum
blest citizen, wherever he may be, the pro
| tecting Iegis of those safeguards of person.
al liberty which the fundamental laws o
land assure, that we invoke the aid of al
good men in the work of peace and recon
ciliaton. We invite their generous coop.
Grafton, irrespective OF all former differ
ence of opinion, so that the harsh voice o
discord may be relieved, that new ant
dangerous sectional agitation may b,
checked that the burdens of taxation, di
rect or indirect, may be reduced to tn,
lowest point consistent with good faith Il
every Just national obligation and with
strictly economical administration of tn,
government and that the states may be re
stored in their integrity and true relations
to our federal Union.
THE .u.g.v.EGE.uE.y'T OF R.IIL