Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-06-27
PEACE PROPOSITIONS

LGhOHi NNOL ODlIlONOs
The following article from the Boston Jour-
nal illustrates subject of deep significance at
the present moment, and the views therein set
forth are worthy of serious attentions
"The air is full, not of poniards, as the
French minister wrote to Napoleon but of
propositions. 1t is rumored that Mr.. Crtten-
den will bring forward something of the kind
at the approaching session of Congress, and
that other members have devised other schemes.
Certain papers, which have for some time worn
very thin mask of patriotism over their hos
tilty to the prosecution of the present righte-
GUS war, have been giving various indications
of readiness to distract public sentiment by
recurrence to the numerous schemes which fail
ed to avert the war; And now we see by our
dispatches that Jefferson Davis himself is re-
ported to have submitted two propositions for
the cessationof hostilites to the Government
the one a recognition of the Southern Confed-
eracy for temporary trial of its capacity to
maintain itself, and the other a Congressional
recognition of slavery everywhere below Sc deg.
30 min. as the price of returning allegiance on
the part of the rebels. This last statement is
little TOO bold, and makes Mr.. Davis appear
little too shallow, for US to attach much Gre
dence to it.
We regard all these things together rather as
straws which show which way the wind SETS
than as facts of material consequence in them
selves. In this light the public must accept
them, and be ready for the developments which
they indicate. We believe the vast majority of
loyal citizens have their minds made up already.
They have not submitted to the tremendous
sacrifices and responded to the arduous duties
of this crisis, precipita'ed upon them by the Sc
cessionists, to stop short now, before they know
whether their sacrifices have amounted to any,
thing or their duties are really ended. They
are engaged in no boys play, and have run on
no FOOLS GRAND. They have undertaken to
vindicate the outraged supremacy of the laws
and restore the integrity of the Union-and
they will do it. This is why they have sent
quarter of million Of men into the field at
the expense of millions and millions of dollars.
And every man and every cent have been en-
poyed for defensive purposes, and after all other
means of averting national ruin had failed.
And now we are going to listen to artful
propositions, emanating from and made in be-
half of traitors, who still stand with arms in
their grasp and show not the least spark Of re-
pentance tor all the mischief they have done to
the countryP 1t is preposterous. The matter
Is not approached in the right way. Has the
slightest whisper been heard in the rebel ranks
about returning stolen gun, a seized fort, or
a dollar from plundered mints? Yet these
should be the first tokens OF amendment. in
order to atone for the first departures from the
path of loyalty. Is there any evidence what
ever that the rebels have begun to recant their
perncious errors, and are ready to become once
more good citizens? Do they offer any guar
anty that if their terms were accepted. they
would not, under their still cherished deusion
of States rights, plunge the country into armed
commotion again. on the occasion of any polit-
ical disappointment? The truth is, they have
embraced dogmas inconsistent with the exist
ence of the Government, nave acted upon them
to the violation of every duty of citizenship,
and have appealed to the sword to make good
their claims. The loyal citizens have respon-
ded, because there was no other course. And
now there is no other course than TO carry the
conflict through unless those who have pro-
voked the whole controversy shall promptly
and thoroughly recede from their defiant posi-
ton, and tender indemnity for the past and Sc
curity for the future. Those who would wiring
concessions from the Government before the
arrival of that necessary condition, are in league
with the rebels and devoted to their suicidal
cause. But they will only injure themselves"