Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-10-02
THE DUTY OF THE HOUR.


The gloom of the past week or two has not
been without its ray of sunlight. AS the strug-
gle has waxed in bitterness and intensity, and
temporary reverses have followed our arms the
spirit of the people has risen 20 the emergency
and the crisis is met with an iuhexible determi-
nation to subdue the rebellion at whatever
sacrifice of treasure and blood. 1t has been
well said that ''sweet are the uses Of adversity'
and we see everywhere around us as the results
Of our recent national nrials, the evidence of
a still nearer approach to unity of public senti-
ment, of higher patriotism, and of more
noble spirit of selfsacriice.
And why should we not be nerved to new ex-
ertions even by reverses, which in less holy
cause would be dsheartening? We are en-
gagged in rebellion which involves not only the
existence of the government and the integrity
of the Uuon, but the happiness and welfare of
every citizen and of all posterity. We must
either put down this rebellion or it will conquer
and subvert all the rights we have enjoyed un-
der the consttution-all the privileges which
we derive from free institutions. Its success
will weaken the government that property
will be insecure, if indeed our country does not,
like Mexico, degenerate into state of chronic
warfare.
There can be no compromise between the
traitors in arms and the government. Before
the attack upon Fort Sumter, when the Peace
Conference was in session, Senator Toombs of
Georgia declared that if the North would give
seeded States blank sheet of paper upon
which to write terms Of compromise, there
could be no restoration of the Union. There
never has been time since these troubles COM
menced that a co mpromise could be made
The rebels ask no compromise now, and will
accept no terms of peace except the uncon-
dtional recognition of the independence, not
alone of the cotton States, but of Maryland,
Western Virginia, Tennessee and Missonli, the
majority of whose inhabitants are loyal. Moth
ing short of this will secure a cessation of hos
tilities. This might purchase brief and in
glorious peace. Is there any man at the North
with spark of spirit who is ready to submit on
such termsp is there any one who would offer
mission by the rebels?
We can have no permanent peace until the
naughty domineerng and insolent spirit of the
Southern chivalry is efiectuay broken. We
must teach this barbaric chivalry decent sense
of respect for the sturdy freemen of the North
or we can no longer live with them on this con-
tinent We republish an extract from late
number of the Richmond Examiner to illus
trate the spirit of the leaders of this rebellion:
"Since the great battle of Shiloh, and includ-
ing it, we have had an almost uninterrnpted
series of victories. We have encountered the
enemy generally with heavy odds against us.
and frequently behind intrenchments, but in no
single instance, unless it be in the unexplained
affair at Lewisburg, have Southern troops
failed to exhibit superior manhood to the mon
gre and many tongued enemy.
Indeed The whole experience of the war is an
attestation of the truth long since discovered
by impartial observers, that the master race of
this continent is found in the Southern States
Of better stock originally, and habituated to
manlier pursuits and exercises, they have ruled
in affairs of state 10y force of the stronger will
and larger wisdom that pertain to and dis
lnguish superior races of men, while on the
field of battle they have in every contest held a
priority OF place, conceded to them by their
present adversaries.
This natural dominancy of the Southern
people has had much to do in bringing on the
war. The inferior race, grown strong in num-
bers and ambitious from prosperity, have re-
volted against and now seek to overthrow and
destroy those whose superiority was a constant
source of envy and sef-reproach. There is no
hercer malevolence than that of caste, and it is
this which has so long stirred the Yankee bile.
Always, in the presence of the Southern gentle
man, ne has felt strong and painfully repress-
ed influence to take off his hat This conscious