Year: 1861

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GEO. p. MARSH ON THE WAR.


At meeting held at the Town Hall, in
Burlington, on Thursday of last week, to
give the public an opportunity to tender
their respects to Hon. Geo. P. Marh, pre-
vious to his departure as Minister to Sar-
dinia, Mr.. Marsh made the following re-
marks:


But what picture does our Country
present, which few years ago was with
out dispute the most powerful nation on
the face of the globe. | have no hesita-
tion in saying this. If we were united
we should still remain for centuries to
come the most powerful people on the face
of the globe. 1t is true that the United
States has had heretofore prodigious
influence abroad and every movement to-
ward liberal principle, has had its origin
in the example of the United States.


have no deaire to enter into discus
sion of the causes of the present trouble,
but | should be false to the principles
which / and most of you maintain did /
not say that l do believe it is Gods truth
that we as people, here at the North,
are guiltless of all the troubles which
Southern politicians have bro't upon us.
True it is, individuals have used violent
words. True it is that some few of the
State Legislatures in their detestation of
slavery have express it in their personal
liberty bills, whose constitutionality is
doubtful. But it is admitted by South
erners themselves that these personal lib
erty bills have done them no hurt. 1t is
truth at the South that no Southern
gentleman ever joins gang for the pur-
suit of the slave, and is it crime in us
to express by legislation the very feelings
of every man who possesses the self re-
spcct south of Mason and Dixon's line.


The true cause is in the census Of 1860.
This is our crime. We are now to assume
under the influence of that census that
power to which We are rightfully eutitled.
But the denunciations of the South seemed
to paralyze the North themselves They
had been SO often repeated that we were
slow to dispute them. Many people even
begun to believe them themselves, and it
seemed down to the Fourth of March as
if our storm was going to be extinguished
without even an explosion.


What change has come over us! We
have now q strong man surrounded by
strong men, at the head of the government
The spirit of the people is reused, and
they are now coming forward with a spirit
never manifested in the United States,
since the eventful days of the Revolution
They arc now rushing to the frontier
Hundreds Of thousands, millions, if nee
essary--are ready to meet the rebel arms
of the South. But, as General Washing
ton said of the people of the North,
though they are not perhaps in 50 great a
hurry to get into battle, they arc not in
so great hurry to get out


But, fellow citizens, every moment Of
the few hours that have to remain among
you claims its duties. must withdraw
to attend to my private concerns, but you
must remain to pledge your lives, your
fortunes, and your sacred honors to the
maintenance Of that constitution which
we have all sworn to support The Leg
islature is about to convene, and your rep
rescntative wants instructions. 1t is your
business to tell him what to say. Tell
him to move that the State of Vermont
appropriate half q million dollars to this
cause, and tell him to vote that the State