Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-12-02
The Conditions Of Lasting Peace


Robert Dale Owen, formerly Democrat, has
written letter to Secretary Chase, on the con-
diuoas Of lasting peace, IN which he says;
A suspension Of hostiities we can purchase
few years respite, probably, in which to re-
turn to our money gattng, before the storm
bursts loT5a anew, with gathered force. But II
we look beyond eriishness and the present il
our children are IN our thoughts; if we are
suffering and eXpending now, that they in
iaud Of prosperity may live and die IA peace,
1 then must we act so that the result shall en-
dure. We must not be content to put off the
evil day. The root OF the ev--the pregnant
cadse Of the war--lhut must be eradlcatcd.
! Report has IL that Western politician re-
Gently proposed. as the best solution Of our dit
hcultes, the recognition Of slavery in all the
! States Such an idea has basis Of truth
namely, that state Of war Is, among Us, the
necessary result Of conf ljGng labor systems.
Such an idea might even be carried out and
.ead to peace, but for that progressive spirit OF
Christian civilization which we dare not openly
outrage how inperiec:ly soeyer we obey its hu
lnaae hehests
There are a thousand reasons-geographca
commercial, political, interna,oDal--why We
should nOi consent to a separation into two con
trdefaci,s, itls contingency not 70 be thought
Of, or entertained but u ne i0Ok mrtiy ~ the
conditions ~ iGNlag pedfC, the chances Of main
taning u would he far better If the independ-
eucc OF the South were 10 be recognized with
her negroes emancipated, than If she were To
return to her allegiance, retaining her slave sys-
tim.
For in the former case, the cause Of dissen-
sion being uprootei, The tendency would be to
-eunte. ana few years might see us single
nation again, while in the latter, constantly
active source of irritation still existing, three
years of breathing time wsuld not tssIse with
out bringing endless quarrels and second re-
telGon.
Conceive reunion with slavery st in exist
eace. Imagine Southern sympathi1ers IN power
among US oiluring compromises Suppose the
South, exhausted With military reVerses and de-
siriug a few years armsuce to rocrult decides
70 accept It under the guisu ol peace md recon
structiou? What next Thousands OF slaves.
their excited hopes Of emancipation crushed,
fleeing across the border. a fugitive slave law
revived 10y peace, demanding their rendition
populA, opinion ~ the North opposed 10 the
las. and refusing the demand. Renewed war
be certain consequences.
Or take even the alternative Of recognition
recognition OF an independent cJnicderacy,
stl sla,ehodn. Are we, then becoming
tae sole exception among the nations Of the
edttt---to make our-clyes alders and abett0rs OF
tie slave system of foreign nation, 10y agree
ing % retufo tHs negro refugees seeking lib
crty and an asylum among Us? National sell
respect lmyeIatiyry iorb,ds tins.
Public seutwent would compel the rejection
as base humiliation, OF any proposed treaty
, stipulation, providing for rendition Of runaway
slaves Yet the South would regard such re
: tc,ion 10 no other light than as a standing me
nac,--, threat t. deprive he; Of what she re-
, CARDS as her moss valuable property. Coter-
minous as for hundreds possibly thousands =
. OF miles our boundaries would be, mus; not the
1 south in common prudence, maintain ali along
= that endless border line an armed slave police ?
4 Are We to consent to this? And II We do ,shal
. We escape border raids a;er Icing fugtyes
| NJ sane man will expect it. Are NC to suffer
I THESE? We are dissraced. Are We to resent
5 them ltlsa renewal of hostIlties.
I Sa,e elections may 20 as they will, Then
c results can never change the fact that any party
: obpiniug the control of the government an,
r adopting the policy that the settlement Of III,
8 emancipation question S 70 be postponed till tn
j. wat shall be closed, will never, while It pursue
! that policy, sse this war permanently closed
u not even oy accepting shameful disruption Q
. our country.