The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-05
Why not let Them 90 in Peace ?

" Why cannot you OF the North leu uS ~ l"
peace ?' is question which has been depreca-
tingly addressed to leading men in the Tree
States, by scores Of the more conservative men
of the South, who, though predisposed to be
loyal 10 the Constitution and the Union, yet
dread war and despair of our ability effectually
to put down the rebellion TO all such inquir-
ers our answer is plain and conclusive We
cannot let them 60, and we dare not lot them
60 We cannot let them 60 without violating
our sworn obligations to protect the rights of
the loyal portion of the Sonth, and we dare not
let them 20 because we cannot do so without
recognizing the hereto and dangerous doctrines
of session which, if once admitted, must short
" result in the ACKNOWLEDGMENT and final de-
struction of our Government in the rest of the
Union However overawed by the mobs, which
the secession leaders, by playing upon old pra-
JUDGES and foully disappearing tho Intentions
of our people and their Administration, have
wrought up to dangerous madness, full half of
the whole South, there is good reason to believe,
are yet loyal in heart. and secretly praying for
stitution. Now have the oppressed and suffering
people of this great class who have hitherto
been altogether the best element of Southern
society, no claims on our Government for pro-
lection and for the vindication of the rights
which the Constitution has sacredly guaranteed
to them And how can we of the North, with
out absolutely foreswearing ourselves, refuse to
take action for insuring them the protection
which they desire, and to which they are SO
certainly entitled at our hands? We cannot.
Not only every patriot, but every good citizen,
must unite in saying no, we cannot-we cannot.
This alone furnishes a complete justification OF
our Government in its determination to know
no stopping till every recreant State is made,
for it's own, as well as the general good, to re-
sumo its Constitutional obligations and again
take its place in the Union.
Again we daro not let them 60. Suppose
we should 10 so-suppose we should allow them
to establish permanent Government, based, as
it would be, on the destructive doctrines of Sc
cession, Reputation, and the liberation of mob
law and violence, which would soon make them
as lawless and aggressive as the Arabs of tho
desert, how long could we live by the side of
them without re-opening of the war,-and
war too, as the old disturbing element of
Slavery would still remain and lead to reprisals
for escaping slaves from one party, and counter
reprsals on the other-a war too, that would
be intermnabe? Nor would that be ALL The
Government so permitted to be established and
become independent, would be likely soon to
form alliances with some of the rival powers of
Europe, and then we might have war on our
hands which would exhaust US to weakness,
which would make US the prey of every grasp
ing Nation, and end in the entire subversion of
our Northern Republic. No, no, this must
never be. Our own salvation is at stake in the
present issue. And whether we take the ground
of duty to protect the loyal portion of the
South, or the one Of our nearer interest of saving
ourselves from ruin, or both these grounds,
there is but one way for us,--that of going on
and finishing up the work we have begun of
crnshing this rebellion into the earth so effectu-
allg that another shall never follow it.
Aad in the name of all that is honest and
consistent, what wrong shall we do the South
in enforcing a compliance with their Constitu-
ton obligations? Those obligations were de-
lberately and eheerfully assumed by themselves.
What wrong then to strive to prevent them
from committing the crime of violating thcmf
What wrong is ii to compel men to live up to
their sacred promises None. If that would