Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-09-03

such splendid English as that. (Applause)
Now that is not an electioneering document
got up under the auspices of committee and
calculated to affect the election. 1t is the
outspoken convictions of that mans heart,
written in his tent at headquarters when ma
ny of his troops had been Withdrawn by the
President for fear he would take Richmond
and finish the war. 1t was written at time
when he saw Abraham Lincoln falling into
the embrace of Charles Sumner and Horace
Greeley and Henry Ward Beecher and all
that class of INSTRUMENTATION McDowelrs
corps was withdrawn from him to go back
and defend a place that was not attacked
He knew then the question of policy must be
decided. 1t was decided, and it was decided
wrong. Why? Because the scoundrols that
had got possession of the administration had
got control of the man who, in his inaugural
address, said that he had no purpose and no
power to interfere with the institution of
slavery, aud the words were not dry on his
lips / say these men that had got control of
him knew full well that their day was at an
end if the old Union came back that when
Kentucky and Vermont met again as they
used, such fellows as they would be nowhere.
They knew well that they had no power any
longer; that their Republican party, as they
called it, would tumble to pieces; that their
plundor, out of which they were all fattening,
would come to an end that the instrument
of effecting this great thing would be taken
up and put into the White House over all the
parties that could be mustered. They felt
then as they feel now, that they would rather
that this war should 60 on forever than that
Mcclellan should be the man to terminate it.
They would rather see Jeff. Davis in Wash
ington than see Gen Mcclellan there. Well,
as l said, that question was decided wrong,
4 a. 4. h., s,ft o1
mnistration that they would not consent to
any union, no matter what--they would not
consent to any peace until they could put
down the institution of slavery with it. In
other words, they would not let the Southern
people come back to their allegiance to the
constitution unless they would consent to ab-
solve US from ours. They in effect said to
them What is required from you on our
side, that must be enforced what is required
from us on yours that is TO be disregarded
Now is there any section Of the people in the
Anglo Saxon race that is going to submit TO
that Just turn ii around and suppose what
might have been the case, that the South had
been numerically stronger than ourselves, and
this war had got to going and we found our
selves likely to get the worst of it and we
said to them: Let US make peace and come
back but they should say to us You may
come back, and everything that makes for us
in the constitution shall be enforced the mo-
ment it makes for you it shall be disregard
ed Now what do you say, gentlemen
would you stand il? No! [ rather think
not When you add to that the manner in
which this war has been fought not against
the combatants, but the government has di-
rected its strength toward unprotected wo-
men and children toward dosolating coun-
try where there was not any fighting that
IL
ions of men, as brave men as ever lived-au
army has gone down there and laid down
their lives and fought rs never men fought
before, aud "A grateful country will never for
get those mon-when they have fought as
they have for three years, yet they have
fought in vain. Here we are in this fourth
year of the war, almost as far off as when we
began, not quite, but almost.
"Wepropose to do now what Gen. Mcclellan
proposed to do in July, 1862, in the letter to
which | have called your attention. We pro-
pose to do that, aud when we do it you don't
need any other assurance than what you saw
the other day by the overtures that were made
at Niagara by the half-agents and friends of
the so.called Southern confederacy. The mo-
ment you put yourselves on this platform,
then there is an end to this war Those
States come back to the old Union in the old
way, and it is clearer than light, gentlemen
thousands on thousands went on in this way.
They supported this administration with their
votes and their money, and their children,
and their blood and when those men were
told-as they were told-"This is after all, a
war for the abolition Of slavery" they said
"Wc don't fight for him" l happened to be
in the West in the first year of this war, and
met man who had left his pillow in the field
u.,,l i,iV, fl,a I n.tE l,ol
are you going to do?' by God, sir said
he, Il am going TO open the Mississippi river II
| Well, the way they went ut it you know, at
! Fort DonelsOn and Island No. 10 und Nicks-
burg attest They were not fighting for the
niger. They did not care anything about
| him.
"Well, now, when the thing has been brought
to a point and the question has been put,
"Will you take us back now on the terms OF
the old Union and the old constitution that
is what the American people have been fight
ing for-what was the answer? "We will
take you back when you come connected with
the abolition of slavery. We will take you
| back when you bring with you on your return
the abolition of slavery in those States, and
We will not take you back before" Now,
| when the time comes that the thing that We
were fighting for is substantially attained
when those men are willing to come back, lay
| down their arms, and come into the old Union
on the old terms-are they welcomed? No
1--WE are going little further now, gentle
men. We are going to abolish slavery" "Ii
| it not protected to US by the constitution
which you are fighting to maintain well
| yes-but that don't make any difference
whatever we have been fighting for before
We are fighting now for the abolition of sav'
cry. We are fighting now for what no man
up to two years ago, would have proposed
to turn loose All the niggers. We are fighting
now for the niger, and nothing but the mig
ger" Well, now, gentlemen, so long as We
| were fighting for the Union, any administra
ton could carry the people along with it, but
when they have reached the point where eve
ry man can see for himself that that is nc
| longer the object of the contest, they have
reached point where, in my judgment mos
of the people are going to stop. You cannot
carry them beyond that Now, then, say,
not to Democrats merely, but to Republicans
men who have honestly, patriotically, voted
for, paid for, fought for, bled for, and who
have gone on thus far and supported this ad
ministrAtion-but simply because they believ
ed that the administration was contending fol
| what was vital and dear to us ALL ask those
men, candidly and dispassionately, whether oi
not they have got enough of this attempt t.
break down the distinctions that the Almighty
set up, and to whitewash the niger in the
tears and blood of millions of our people
Have you got enough of it? Look at the
prospect before you, and answer for your
selves the question. If you have, you hat
better use the privilege while yet the day re
mains to you, before the way to the ballot
box is hedged up by bayonets here, as it is il
Maryland, and Kentucky and Missouri. Yor
had better use your privilege of helping you
countrymen inaugurate better state of things
But, if you have not got enough of it, ther
go straight on in the path which this admins
tration proposes to you if they can acquire {
new lease of power at your hands. Send tn,
rest of your children down to the slaughte
from which there are so few returning foot
steps; carry up the expense of living, of you
daily bread, until you have population mos
of which is beginning to find out what starya
ton means; surrender to an administration
which already possesses every element of op
preston but its dignity; give the rest of you