Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-01
Hate and Sectionallsm.

Democratic speakers of high and low de-
gree have prated ceaselessly Ia their har-
argues during this campaign Of the feeling
of hatred toward the south that animates
the Republican party. Never was charge
more false or more maliciously wicked.
When the rebels went into rebellion, in the
ordinances Of secession, which they signed,
they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and
their sacred honor to the overthrow Of this
government, and when they surrendered TO
this government at Appomattox they lost
all that they had pledged. The government
gave them their lives, not man was hung
for treason, told them TO keep their horses,
obey the laws, go to raising crops, building
factories, and replenish the ravages of war.
They had forfeited the right of citizenship.
These rights were restored to them, and
they were soon admitted again to all the
rights and privileges possessed by their
loyal conquerers. BY the laws of war and
the laws of nations, they were bound TO pay
every dollar of the expense of that rebel
llOtly anu Wy VIC laws VI bflt lHlUtu DJHJtS
their lives were forfeited. Not dollar of
reparation was demanded, not a traitor was
hung, but the process of rehabilitating
them with all the rights of citizenship was
full, complete and rapid. The most con-
spicuous northern Republicans were fore
most in extending the nand of fellowship to
their rebelious fellow citizens, and forgive
ness for the Unreasonable wrong they had
done was deep and sincere-qualified with
only the conditions embraced in the consti-
tutional amendments In the past the coun-
try spent unmeasured millions of treasure,
and sacrificed the best blood of the nation
to subdue rebellion, and to-day it is carry
ing debt Of nearly two billion dollars, the
legacy of that rebellion, paying annually
nearly SS0,G00000 in interest and mourning
burdensome taxes for pensions as the fruits
of magnanimity on the part of the con-
querers never before witnessed on this
earth. The whole after course of these pen
itent q? rebels down to the present hour
of this presidential campaign is familiar
knowledge to every youth of the land. Ev-
cry promise made in the hour of pentential
surrender has been violated, and extenua-
ton of their treason TO their plighted faith
is now sought in a persistent charge of rank
and inveterate hatred toward them by the
larger share of the northern people, the
share that embodies the best intelligence,
the charity, the Christianity-in a word, the
conscience of the north This charge is
kept up in the face of evidence as clear as
the sun in heaven that this same class of
northern people 'are they who extended to
them that magnificent charity and forgive
ness when they surrendered, who have
since, when misfortunes have befallen them
when the pestilence has futtered its yell
low wings over their plague-stricken cities
extended to them that munficent charity
that comes from all generous and enlight-
ened hearts. All that these northern peo-
| pie ask of their southern brethren is that
Vermonter may enjoy the same legal priv
ileges in Mississippi which Missisppian
enjoys in Vermont, that the same laws that
are in force and voluntarily obeyed all over
the north shall equally prevail in every Sec
ton of the south. On no other basis can
true harmony be established, and on no
other basis is it worth establishing. A con-
flict as irrepressibe as Seward proclaimed
between free and slave labor exists between
harmonious (O understanding based on
southern domination, and harmony founded
on the rock of one law for north and south,
aud that law obeyed and respected south as
well as north. Under whatever ignomin.
ious name our enemies may apply to this
doctrine, " hate" sectionalism" or "bloody
shirt" the Republican party will cheerfully
accept it as they did the ari'hat Of Di'.oh
Republicans twenty-five years ago in their
conflict with slavery, and they will never
lower their standard till harmonious un.
derstanding, on sure and lasting founda
ton, is fully and forever established. Those
northern demagogues, aud southern, too
who are misrepresenting their fellow citi
zens to our southern brethren, are mourning
a responsibility no less grave than they who,
twenty-five years ago, by similar appeals
famed the fires of sectional anmosity be
tween two great peoples, whom a common
ancestry, common humanity, and common
interests naturally bind together. If wal
is again the deadly fruit of their course, OIL
their heads be all the responsibility. Even.
handed justice to all, rich or poor, white oil
black, is what the Republican party de
mands. Till this end is achieved, let thi,
purpose of the party be fully declared, ant
let the fight go on till the victory has beer
| won,