Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-06-23

capacity to serve his country Yet for him
who shall say it was not we'll? there are
many things in life dearcr that life itself,
honor in its true and noble sense, patriot
ism. duty, all tre dcarer; to all these he
had been faithful. His position is forever
among the heroes and martyrs of liberty
his reward forever in the affection of il
grateful people. As the dead always bear
to US the IMAGE which they last bore when
on earth. and rs by the subtle power of
the imagination we Summon before us the
brave who stood here for their country.
/ thlt noble presence, maiestic in its manly
beauty. seems to rise again, although 4
hundred yctrs are gone. with al the fire
of his burning cloiucnce. with all the ar
dor of his patriotic enthusiasm. with all
the loftines- of his generous self devotion.
SO shall it seem to rise. although centuries
more shall pass, TO inspire his countrymen
III every hour of doubt and trial with
valor AMI patriotism kindred to lis own.
THE CONS rITCTIoN.
The convention which met at Philldel-
phia in l1S1 gave these states II govern
mcnt and made them Il nation. and, while
| know to that which is mpcr>on;u there
is wanting much of the ardOr that person.
III loyalty inspires, Vet so far rs there may
be warmth in the devotion we cherish for
IN Institution il should awaken at the mon
/ ton Of the constitution ofthe United States
/ TIE noble preamble declares bv whom it
made and defines its purposes: We. the
I people Of Tie United States, in order to
form u more perfect nion, establish JUS
1 ticc. ensure domestic tranquility, provide
for the common Defence promote lhe gen
! e"al welfare. and sccuIe the blessings of
/ liberty To ourselves and our po>tcrilv, do
ordain and establish this constitution for
the United States OF Amcrica." In the
largest measure it has fulfilled these OBJ
irc.> and the Judgment and far-Seeing wis
dom with which lis founders met the DIFF
ticuliir> before them more and more chal-
lengcS our admiration a> the years advance
and the republic e tends.
Formed bv men who differed widely in
their views. some who clung resoluIcly
still to the idea Mat it was dangerous tC
the liberties of the : ates to constitute al
efficient central power. ana others who
like Hamilton preferred II consolidated
government whose model should be the
British con-tiution. it might easily have
been that a government 50 framed shoul,
have been Il patchwork of incongruitIe,
whose disrur,lart and IrccOnciable pro
visions would have revealed alternate
the Influence of cithc. opinion. Yet, DIFF
icIing although they did, they Were states
men still. and, educated IN the rougl
school of Hdver9ity and trial, they re;tlize'
that Il Government must be cOn>trUcte,
capable ;lile of daily efficient lractica
operation. and of adapting itself to th'
const;n, " varying cAigrncc> in which soy
, crc@n states mus act. How doubtful the
| We're of their success. how noblv they sue
, crcdcd III the government they made. 10
f ,.av we know. We have seen its vast ca
lttcisv for rXuan>ion "a it has received
, under the shield N which are cmblazonc'
the arms of the Union. safe after state a
it rs arisen in what WAS on the day OF It
| formation the un'roddcn Wilderness anC
advanced to the blessings of liberty ant
] civil !Z,t1iou. We have recognized the nrNl
hilitv it possesses in leaving to state
ma,crial, differing in local characteristic
. and interests the control and maragemen
| of tlei Immediate atllir,, and we hav'
: known its capacitv to vindcate itself il
: the widest storm Of civil cOmmotjon.
p Let II, guard this Union well, for IL upol
i, it all that i glor' ou> in the past Is resting
/ 80 upon it all our hopes of the future ar
founded! 1t 10 d,.n-,nl If those wh'
: are to administer its great powers, purity
= di,intc"c>trdncS-. devotion to we'll settled
i carefully considered principles and con
e victionS. Let IL cherish the Ipmtly bu
: manly virtues of the men WHO tor 1t mt
= the storm of war in behalf of II govern
: ment and a country, their simple t;uth l
k what wa~ il-t and right, that found It's roc
p. in their un>Wrrving bt.nt III >ome,hn
higher thqn mere human guidance IL
= u encourage that universal education
+ that diffusion of know ledge which every
K where oppose Themselves II baI .ier-. steA'
4 ilv and firmly. alike To pIUIdef anu 1rau'
T to ,!i-o.-,.,.- and turbulence Abpv" all 1t
e IL strive To- lr:,irtain and r"nrW the iratei
/ nal cling which should cNI~t between Il
t the .tltrs of the Mon.
q r!1I DUTY ur EECoN' iliATIoN
i Wevillno pre;en that tn" trial throu-
!. which We hafc pt-sel h;I~ ttd"d eitiie
, from our heart. or memories. Vet no OF
:, viII trust. believe that | would rude
=. rake olrn the ,mOldcring cmbcra that a
! woald .,la,!ly wish to sec eAtjngulshed 10
ever. or thlt, deeply IL ieel our great al
i solemn obligations To those who preserve
-, and ,rftndtd til" Mon, | would speak OF
" word except with respect and in klndne
even to those who assaulted il, yet Who lia'
now submitted to its power. In the ne
In two CLASSES of stat, had their place, q
le Gr.ino radically in tlIi~. tlltt III the one Il
id ,vet,m of ~lalrrv existed. Il was dIt
W ,.nItv which the tathr's could not elm
ne nate from the problem before them. h'
X. dealt with it with all the wisdom and Tor
II >ioht that they Possessed. Strongly II
" pres- ed in their belief Of the equal rlgil
., of man. 70. their discussions hau colnpcli
st them to dead with 1unJamcnt1l pLlhclpi
II thrv were not 80 destitute Of phlIosopl
td tllat they did not see that what they q
w ,,.nI -, for themselves, should be accor
IN nI +, oilers. and. believing that the who
It system would fade before the noble mn
" ,.,,ra nf wee Government is 4 dark clol
or n,rlls and drifts away, they watched, al
ct with Jealous care, that when that day c'l
tie the instrument they signed should bear
ed ,r,re of iis existence. 1t was not thus
III he. and the system has passed away IN |
ne tnn,,,r-t Of Jat,lr and amid III" clanG
- arms. ,;
d is restored to liberty, and the n'tlon Il
o. h.,d under G. cd u new birth OF freedom
n Nn executions no harsh punishment h''
as SMILED the copclusion day by day lle III
rk t,ri,I evidences of wHr fade from our ~
ah tho b3,iion- siuk to the level OF the Srou
II, which surrounded them, scarp and count,
ee .c.,rn meet III the ditch which dIviu
or. Them. So let them pass away 1orev'
he The contest is marked distinctly on!y
nd the changes in the organic laws OF
nd constitution when embody IN more "t
be mite forms the immortal truths OF lile
ell claration OF Indrpendcnce. il1t 'N'
no include more than its logical ana nee
ps. s,rv results cannot fairy be collteil',' ~
:cr Did believe that they embraced ilioie III
me these. did find in that great lhstluiii' II
eat any changes which should place ol soIN I
NJ place one state above aholher' u ''DI
a ,no,brr class of states, 50 rs 10 mar
on victory of sections or localities; l coua'' J.
'gy rejoice, for l should know hrod inat we woe q
nd ,i,utrd the seeds OF - unllumDelt" W.
As Tn.day, it is the highest duty of ALL
ere matter on What side they We're p'tl '"'
tic. In those who have struggled for the pr