The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-03-05
Ross-H HuntressC Company
Cor.West and Grove SITS.
Rutland. Vermont.
Rutland. Vermont.

ner the provisions or which they sub
sequently acted, and also asked 70
admission into the Union.
/ Some time IA 1856 an association o.
Abolitionlsts was formed IN lllinoli
TO 90 10 Kansas and aid the free stat,
men In opposing the government. The
object of those engaged In this worl
was In their opinion, a very laudablt
one no other than the defense OF free
dom. which they thought foully men
aced In that far Off region. Among
these gentlemen and one OF the most
courageous and dislnterested was VIII
liam II. Herndon. He says:
'Mr. Lincoln was informed OF our
intents by some means. Probably the
idea of resistance was more known
than ! now remember He took the
first opportunity he could TO dissuade
US from our partially formed purpose.
We spoke OF liberty, Justice and God 8
higher law and invoked the spirit OF
these ms our holiest Inspiration. In
1856 he addressed us on this very sub
ject substantially in these words:
Friends, agree with you In Prov.
ldence, but ! believe Ia the providence
Of the most men, the largest purse and
the longest cannon. You are In the
minority llr sad minority and you
can't hope to succeed. reasoning from
all human experience. You would re-
bel against the government and red
den your hands In the blood OF your
countrymen. II you are In the minor
ity. as you are, you can't succeed.
say again and again against the gov
ernment, with great majority Of its
best citizens backing It, and when they
have the most men, the longest purse
and the biggest cannon. you can't
succeed II you have the majority, as
some Of You say you have, you can
succeed with the ballot, throwing
away the bullet. You can peaceabIy.
then, redeem the government and pre-
serve the liberties OF mankind through
your votes and voice and moral infu-
ence. Let there he peace. In q de-
mocracy, where the majority rule by
the ballot through the forms OF law,
these physical rebelllons and bloody
resistances are radically wrong, un-
and are treason. Better
bear the Ills you have than fly to those
you know not Of. Our own Declara-
tlon OF Independence says that govern
ments long established, for trivial
causes should not he resisted Revo-
through the ballot box and
restore the government once more to
the affections and hearts OF men BY
making IL express, as II was Intended
to do, the highest spirit OF justice and
liberty. Your attempt II there be
such, TO resist the laws OF Kansas by
force Is criminal and wicked, and all |
your feeble attempts will be fOlies
md end In bringing sorrow on your
heads and ruin the cause you would
freely die 10 preserve
''Thls little speech" continues Mr.. |
IIerndon, ''is not IN print. II is
,art OF much longer one. likewise
lot In print This speech squelcbed
he ideas Of physical resistance and
lirected our energies through other
more effective channels which his wis
lom and coolncss poiated out to us.
This little speech, so timely and well
made, saved many OF MS from great
ollies, II not our necks from the halter.
The man who uttered II IL no more.
ut this little speech, hope, shall not
Don he forgotten. Mr.. Lincoln him