Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-02-21
THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

The committee OF one from each State ap-
pointed by the Peace Conference, have reported
a series of propositions Of amendment to the
Constitution as Q basis Of adjustment. SO far
as we can learn this report was agreed to by
but portion Of that committee, the other nern-
bers recommending only the calling Of anation-
al convention at no distant day to consider what.
if any, amendments TO the Constitution may be
necessary. As the proceedings of this conven-
ton supposed to he KEPT secret we DO not
know how much dependence is to be placed up
'on these reports. We pub!ish the propositions
said TO have been made in behalf of some nor
ton of the committee by Mr. Guthrie, as they
appear in the New York Times. and presume
that they are reported substantially correct
These reports are said 10 be the subject at pres
ent Of very earnest discussion.
1t seems hardly probable that majority Of
the States represented in this conference will
agree to Mr. Guthries report. and it is still less
probab!e'that any such propositions will be as
scented to by sufficient number OF States to
give them effect They are ambiguous, unsat-
isactory, and if adopted will settle nothing
They are very carefully drawn and their Ian
guage is skillluy adapted to cover their real
intent. They are nothing more nor less than
the Cri'tenden Compromise toned down to rem
der 1t more palatatle to northern com promieers.
Should they be adopted they viii be interpreted
by the South to apply to all territory that may
hereafter be annexed on our southern border.
while the North will as certainly deny and re-
sist that Interpretation. Then there is the Cher
okee Grant embracing some Of the best lands
in the southwest Should the Indian title to
this territory be hereafter ex;inguisheG by the
United States, one party would claim that sIar-
cry is to be protected there while another party
would ass me an adverse position. Thus the
whole territorial question would again be re-
opened.
We repeat that, in our judgment neither this
nor any other plan of compromise that the con-
vention will be called upon to consider will be
OF any value as final settlement of pending
territorial questions. The only practicable way
to dispose OF the matter is either 10 admit the
territories into the Union as States, and thus
place the subject OF involuntary servitude there
in forever beyond the pale Of Congressional ae-
ton, or to defer the whole matter 10 a conyon-
ton Of all the States TO consider and adjust A.
ter the present temporary excitement shall have
passed away. The North will now and hereaf-
ter resist all attempts to extend the institution
under force and cover of the Constitution, by
direct legislation, or in any other manner what
ever, let the consequences be what they may.
The conference now in session will soon come
40 close. Already several Of its members
have left 1t is not likely to subserve any other
purpose than to gain time, which is of itself an
important object. If the border States can be
induced to wait the Inauguration Of Mr. Lincoln
and the development of the policy of his adj
mnistratlon, as they now seem likely to do, we
think they will end that they have no valid cause
of complaint, and that their interests will be
better promoted by remaining in the Union
than by joining Southern Confederacy under
the lead of JEFF. Davis.