Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-01
Gems from the Argus.

campaign are Blarlng, anu their hhmo 10
legion. But to Vermonters none, perhaps,
are more absurd and obviously false than
the claims made by Chairman Atkins and
some of his associate leaders of loyalty TO
the Union during the rebellion, and OF their
belief in the patriotism of Abraham Lincoln
The memory of some men is conveniently
"short" at such times as these, but, fortu-
natey for the interests of truth, we have in
this case the record to refer to. Let us ex-
anime il for our mutual edifcation and to
see how much these mems claims can be re-
lied upon.
At the beginning of the year 1861. when
four states had seeded from the Union,
when a call had been issued for conven-
ton of delegates to form the government OF
the confederate states, when southern men
in all departments of the public service
were deserving their posts and carrying with
them TO the seeded states all the public
property under their control, when the south
was "sold against the Union and in favor
of treason,-what were the loyal utterances
of Chairman Atkins
In the Bellows Falls argus of January IA,
1861, which he edited at that time, appears
the following. The italics and capitals are
| ours
We turn, however, with horror and disgust from
| the contemplation of war. Neither OF the sec
| tons afford to engage in this wicked expen-
| sive and utterly futile conflict To restore the
Union by such process Is absurd war Will de-
stroy the last hope Of its restoration Far better
that we dcq,desce IN The sepdrdtion ,cdiUe The in
| forndlitieS II ANY In the mode OF its formation
and become good neighbors All the south will
ask at our hands Is peace and TO De let alone, and
| we think their DEMANDS ARE REASONABLE. The
| Republicans indeed may call them rebels and
traitors assert that It Is their own will which has
| caused the disruption and deny the indignites
and outrages which have been committed, but
| the conservative portion OF the northern people
| know better, and are witnesses to the causes
which have at last driyen the south into an indie
pendent position. Surely their voice will be unan-
| imous for peace. We must prepare ourselves for
| this contingency, and In case the progress of
events through the incapacity or obstinacy OF the
! Republicans, should result In permanency OF
| the confederacy at the south, the Democracy OF
the north owe it to themselves, to the well being
| of all concerned, and above all to the hope OF
| eventual reunion, to maintain rigidly and invio-
laby peace. No matter what attempts were made
| to break up the Union, no matter II the old flag
was dishonored and nsulted and II traitors robbed
| the nation and then tried to destroy 1t. The
| Democracy of the north must maintain peace
And right well did Mr.. Atkins and his
followers carry out this plan. Never during
those four dark years, when other men,
without regard to party lines, were giving
and working and fighting for the preserva-
ton of the Union and the suppression of re-
bellion, did they, by word or deed, give
aught of cheer or assistance TO the cause
Can it be that any man in Vermont who
risked his life or split his blood to preserve
the Union has so forgotten the reasonable
utterances and conduct of these men as to
be deceived by the mask they have assumed,
and to follow them in the repetition of
their efforts of 1861 to help the solid south
to power?
In the same paper, under the heading, "a
Proud Position" appears the following;
Virginia holds proud position at this time
| Her state sovereignty committee is now in session.
and a large majority of the delegates are for the
| Union, IL can be preserved on an honorable and
| Just basis but II not, THEY ARE FOR SECESSION.
| The result will be that the convention Of Virginia
| will present to the free states the Wtimdtum of
| the south; and, il that should not be accepted,
we may expect that Virginia and all the slave
holding states will secede and Join the southern
| confederacy. Let her nor present he
| ulti,ndtum Of The south, and let her give time to
the people OF the north to consider and act upon
| it, and the Union will be saved.
Witness this burst of loyalty from the
same paper
| land ,oW not aid the south in breaking up the
blockade, they will find themselves mistaken
To know how these sentiments were
regarded by southerners, read the following
extract from private letter from the 18th
Vermont regiment in March. 1890 ,w---~--
MAN, March 20, 1859
A rebel clergyman, recently taken prisoner on
| the Chantilla battle-ground, and detained over
| night at General Stoughton's headq quarters, read
| the Argus with the greatest pleasure, saying IL
,cds a better secession paper than any he had seen
| at the south He said he was glad to read such
paper from the NORTH and was surprised to find it
| was printed in Vermont
For whom did this "loyal " man pour out
his sympathy during 1S6l-4 For the gal
liant soldiers whom he is now calling to fol-
low his political leadership? We quote
again
That Vallandigham will be elected governor Of
| Ohio there can be no doubt we believe
rather that he will be restored to his old status as
| sovereign citizen.
Referring to Sumner, Andrew, Greeley,
Stanton and others.
just see what the cowardly tyrants have done
| Vallandgham is imprisoned and exiled because
| he is a genuine Union man. But look
for a moment at Mr.. Vallandgham's offence
He procaims for instant peace with the south on
the basis OF a restoration of the Union.
This was in 1868. Valandigham was ar.
rested for publicly expressing sympathy for
those in arms against the government of the
United States, and for declaring disloyal
sentiments with the object and purpose of
weakening the power Of the government in
its effort to suppress an unlawful rebellion.
He was tried and found guilty, and was or
dered to pass within the rebel lines, and not
to return under pain of imprisonment. 1t
is proper to state that Mr.. V. was not elected
governor of Ohio, but was buried under
hundred thousand majority
What was Mr.. Atkins opinion of Abra.
ham Lincoln in 1864 We quote from an
editorial in the Argus of July 7, 1864;
1t has been wonderful to politicians of all
parties, that an ignorant, low man, like Mr. Linz
coln could make the whole Of the affairs of the
administration subservient to his own ambition,
, without being understood, and detected by the
people Of the country. But the three years rule
Of this miserable man has been crowded with
; momentous events that, etc.
Boldly ayowed that he was not controlled
by any fixed policy, or well-considered states.
manship, but that he followed the popular cur
rents and impulses.
! The article abounds in epithets applied
to Lincoln, of which the following are q
! few "Low demagogue," slow cunning
| and selfshness," A" 1t agreed with the coarse
low cunning of the man." " Cunning selfish
ness and doube-dealing," "Western bar
room joker" Sneaking into the capitol in
disguise" "Lincoln's ambition and AFRO.
gance," abraham Lincoln has been all
along for his selfish purposes playing with
the mightiest and gravest interests witt
which any one man was ever entrusted"
Let us quote further that no injustic,
: may be done;
That "Old Abe "-as his followers choose t,
call him-is coarse, vulgar, ignorant, and utterly
unfit for the responsible position Of president o
this great republic Is not seriously denied by any
person Of intelligence
' The sentiment Of gratitude found no place II
| the contracted mind of Mr. IincOIn