Year: 1866

| academic course. Are We not acting in accord


ance with hls spirit in striving to meet the de-


mand of our time for scientific sducatione Are


We not as educators doing our duty to the young


men of this State by placing within their reach


the facilities for acquiring the scientific knowl-


edge which they may need in their several pur-


suits7 Is it not worthy the ambition of the


University Of Vermont to prepare them for the
| highess proficiency iu the Mechanic Arts, and


in that noble Art to which God in his Provi-


dence seems to have called so many of them, by
filling these verdant hills with cattle and by
| faehoning with his plastic hand these fertile


valleys, in which to day ten thousand scythes go
| singing merrily through the bending grass
While We bear the name of University, rather
than bound our vision by any one fixed course
| of study, shall we not with the largest hospi-
| tality throw wide open our gates to every SCI
ence May we not hope to build up here q
University indeed, which shall train and equip
| men for every department of scholarly research
| and for every useful position in lifef


Modification of the Neutrality
Laws.


General Banks report to the House OF Rep
| resentatives on the neutrality laws asserts that
the condition of this country, and its changed
| relations to other governments, resulting from


the great events of the last half century, Justify
if they do not demand, critical and liberal re-
vision of the neutrality laws, with view to their


better adaptation to the present condition Of
public affairs.


After review of the different neutrality acts
passed by Congress since the organization of
the government, the committee dwell upon the
provisions of the law now in force, which
prohibit citizens Of the United States from
equpping vessels for hostillties against nations


with which this country is at peace. and contend
that this stringent prohibition is now unneces-


sary. The report continues:


"The repeal or modification of these provis-
ions will be, in the judgment of your committee,
for the interest of the public peace. Their ef-
feet now 10 10 perpetuate the sub]ugation OF
states without naval force to the will of domi-
nant maritime nations. 1t may reasonably be
assumed that the late bombardment of the
South American cities on the Pacific coast by
Spain, which has been universally condemned,


would not have occurred but for the stringent


execution Of the provisions of this law by our
government. Had the South American gov
| ernment been supplied with materials for de-
tense from the abundant resources OF the United
ST tes, the invasion of the American waters by
| the Spanish navy would not have been contem-
plated. Ships are articles of commerce. They
| are in liberal or Just sense contraband of
war, nor are the materials of which they
| made. The recent improvements In naval
architecture are such as to diminish the distinc-
ton between merchant vessels and ships of war,


and to facilitate the adaptation of one to the
purposes of the other. A strong built, swift
sailing merchant vessel steamer could be
made with a single gun an effective war vessel.
To prohibit our citizens from building such
vessel, cargo and armament, and to require OH


GERS of the customs TO seize and detain them


whenever cargo. crew. or other circumstance
| shall render probable suspicion that they are
to be 80 used, and where American citizens are


part owners only, is substantially to deprive


them of their right to engage IN the construc-


tion of vessels to furnish materials therefor.


Considering the llmitess capacity of this coun


try in this respect, 1t is privilege that ought


not to be surrended except upon grounds OF
absolute necessity and Justice.


are no longer COMPEL ed to become parties in


war; that the rights of neutrals have been
steadily enlarged; that the rights of non-com-


patants are respected; and that the most en-


lightened maritime nations, Great Britain only


excepted, have endeavored to modify and re-


form the laws OF war upon the sea as well as


upon the land and that it cannot be expected


that we shall long maintain policy that. while


it distroys cherished American interests, operates


only in favor of enemies and against friends.


Great Britain, the Committee add, cannot ab-
solve herself from her obligations upon the


pretext that we chose to discontinue such un-


equal and unprotita BILE relations with her gov


ernment.


The report concludes with this, for the


Fenians. 1t says:


The recent memorable invasion of Canada
offers signal exhibition of the spirit and char
acter of our government. Great Britain has
given no cause to respect her sense of jus stice
and her regard for right Our people, who
derive from her their ideas of language, liberty
and law institutions and religion, might Justly
expect consideration, if not favor. But with
indecent disregard of our situation she has not
lost an opportunity to embarrass US. She
planted slavery N America to her own selfish
interests. The profits of the African slavetrads
with this country were the foundations of many
of her colossal private fortunes. Having fac
tened it upon US, she precipitated the question
of its abolition upon US. When emancipation
was necessary to our existence as nation she
gave her sympathy to rebels, of whose confed-
eracy slavery was to be the headstone of the
corner.


"She countsnanoed a rebellion of which the


only effect was,to sacrifice precious blood In great
part of her own kith and kin. She lent them
| the skill of her mechanics, of which the rebels
| had nothing, and without which impos-
| sible. thus making her workingmen supporters
| of cause, the triumph of which was the
| degradation of labor. She gave to the rebel
| lion her sympathy Is long it serviceable,
| and sold to them their power as long they


could pay for it. And when, in adherancs to


our own policy, by reluctant, objectionable and
even VIOLENT execution of our laws, we preserved


to her possessions, the loss of which would be
| the precursor of other calamities and reduce her
| to the rank of a subordinate power, against q


race to which our country is deeply indebted i,
| and which has suffered for centuries inexcusa-
| BILE and ineffable wrongs, conduct is ap-
proved better than they had right to ex-


beet. "The sympathy accorded to


these people struggling for their rights Is


strengthened by sense of obligation due to


them for the aid in the development OF our


country. But independent of that, if to our


sense of their wrong We add the recollection OF


our own, the public interest in their benefit il
| explained. The intervention of the govern


ment under such circumstances is proof of its
fidelity to obligations supposed to be due to


other nations, ana ought to satisfy the world


that We have neither interest desire to Disturb


the public peace. 1t 10 rather to maintain ouE


relations with other nations that the favorable


consideration of the House is asked for the


measures herewith reported"


A bill embodying the substance Of the Com
nd liz sfxsn