Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-01-25
Negro Regiments and Vermont Politicians
WEST CHESTER Penn.
January 10. 1882


DEAR SIR:-SIms one has sent me
Vermont paper containing an article on
he relation Of Vermont during the war Of
he rebellion to the measure of raising |
negro regiments. In which my name Is
mentioned. Perhaps the article (though
calls for no especial notice, since
it is we'll known. or ought to be- known,
what part took In forwarding that meas
nre, and what part the political leaders Of
the stnte have failed to take in IL; hut
nay I've allowed to say thst the people Of
the state have submitted to the passive,
remporizing course of their politicians. an
have In no way sustained the position thai
| look In their service. The consequences
have not been pleasant to me or beneficial
to themselves.
The facts Of the case are simply these:
To begin with the beginning. IN l777 Yer.
mont bound herself to the abolition OF
slavery, as an article of her independent
existence, which act she afterwards con
iirmed b. an express law cOuched in the
most positive and string nj terms. When.
therefore, she subs q ,ently subscribed To
the constitution of The United States in
1871, she was not at liberty TO see slavert
IN that instrument, or TO regard it as
living slave holders rights in opposition
TO her own institutions. And in confrma
lion of her early position in this question,
ner legislature, no long before the out
break of the war, passed personal liberty
bill, which WAS a virtual and juslIfi IDlr
declaration of war against the slave power
When the war br, ke out, Vermont, in
order TO be true to her sntecedents, should
have demanded the same rights for black
men that her own religion and laws ac-
corded them; that Is, a political equality
with the white citizens Of the republic
She owed this in M especial IN amer,
,bove all other states. to her own character
IS we'll rs to the merits of the CASE. From
he very moment that the first rebel gun
was discharged against United State.
trrt. Vermont ought 10 have demanded
hat negroes shout be recognized rs men
IS she herself regarded them. and thai
hey should be employed us militia an,
volunteers. If this curse hal bsea fol-
lowed, us it ought 10 have been (for wal
Is wary. the war and It's immense expen
futures of life and treasure would nav,
nren put an end To in n comparative shnr
period OF time; and rs one of the bene 6cla
results there would have been very
much less occasion than there is now q
Establishing privileged class offraudulen
pensioners.
b It instead of assuming this position
Vermont has followed her p Politicians. i,
ne rear ola movement which she ougl,
. have headed; AMI in conseq fence. be
tire the W r was over. the state was ply
ny Sum. ten millions of dollars, more I,
IS, for b'unli's for recruits, when IN IT,,
"gihnin2 negro Regiments mi gnt 'hav
"'n had Tor The asking Tho money lht
ne 5 ate has has rs yppd It's thrown ava,
would he suih ;lent to meet her school TX
nses for AL time to come The loss !
lie more /" be regretted since if the stat,
low had this money she might still keel
Up her old district system of schools which
among other Original Institutions of tn,
'tL'e, it is very desirable to maintain.
In brieI, in SIMPLY u monetary view O
he case, the political leaders Of the sta,
ave subjected her citiz MS to an unneces
!ary expense OF some ten millions of dol
IRIS, wi hout having even protest /,
how for it, for the one that M ule rs
military fl ;nr they never awaited them
'rlvcs of IN any wav for he service OF tn
ause. The loss of their money, however
urge rs the sum is tor so small and poo
slate, is nothing IN mp. rison with TIL,
o,s To the state Of her early character
which has Leen sacrificed by the cour>
which her politicians have taken. The,
lave p AGED her IN an attitude which i
,holIy Incompatible with the position
when she had occupied from l777 dow
20 The beginning of the war.
In closing this article may be allowed
IS The only value perhap, that can now b
derived nom it. to express the upinlo
lat the instruction Of the political aft .r
f the state is due To her yielding. in "a
WI hour, to the secret counsel, of lh
Masonic Lodge. 1t is my opinion that n
stale who Political interests nre conlro
led as those of Vermont have been lurln
he last twenty years, by secret societie.
can long exist ns republic, II the stat
cannot lid herself again, MS she has ono
done before, Of that foreign and una
can institution. the Masonic lodge, sh
must slill continue to sacrifice, not onl
money. but that republican characte
tor which she has formerly been SO d.,
tingushed, she must occupy the phe
omenal position of honoring men VIII
remain silent on. or appl,ud Credit NJ,
niler, back pay. star route and otht
rauds, while depressing all who rendt
her true and faithful service. With thes
sentiments, remain
Very truly yours,
j. w. PHELPS.
tFrom Our Regular Correspondent
Washington Letter,