The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-07
GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN, MARCH I, 1867

wholesome restraint of Federal bayonets has
prevented them from plunglng into the gulf of
secession as readily as Mississippi and Georgia.
Slavery is the strength of the rebellion wherever
it has any strength, and jus, as far as Slavery
can be removed, or put in IA way Of being abol-
ished, just so far can the insurgent districts be
restored to their obedience to the Federal author
'ty. And in that view and as recognizing the
necessity Of dealing in some way with the origin
| OF the evil, the proclamation is OF the utmost
! importance.
But it has more CAin this sigaii3A and is
as important loF what it does not sly--but only
hints at,-as for what it proposes for remedy.
The border States, if the suggestions Of this
proclamation are followed, are to be offe red pc
culary aid by the General Government IN car
rying out the work of gradual abolition within
their borders and under their State enactments.
They are to be invited to do this as one OF the
instrumentalities in putting down the rebellion,
and thus their patriotism is directly appealed to,
to aid the General Government IN the work of
suppressing treason and this too without any
pecuniary sacrifice on the part Of their loyal
inhabitants. But if they refuse to exhibit any
patriotism of this desert ption,-f they should
be so blinded to their own interests, as we'll as
deaf to the voice of the President in this ext
cency of the nation, they may perhaps find
warning, as we'll as invitation in these signif-
can't words
Ii, however, resistance continues, the war
must also continue, aHaU is impossible TO foresee
al the incidents 'ohich may attend, and all The
rum ~h'ch may (oHow 1t. Such propositions as
may seem indispensable, or mag obuiousW prom.
Use great efficiency toOard ending tie struggle
must and ,uiN come. The proposition no,o bs,nq
made is an offer only, but Ihope it may be es-
teemed no otencc TO ask aohethcr The pecuriarv
consideration rendered ,vond not be of more caiue
to the States and pirate persons concerned than
are the institutions and property in it, in The
present aspect Of affairs "
What precise alternative the President hints
at by this language, of course we do not know.
But if he had desired to say to the Border State
men that, in his Judgment, the time had come,
or was close upon us, when Slavery must he
dealt with by the States themselves on the invi-
tation of this proclamation, or the necessity
might arise for the Governments Dealing with
it as " an indispensable proposition -" towards
ending the struggle, he could not have chosen
more apt words to have gently conveyed that
hint.
We hope Congress will act upon this recon-
mendation at once, though we think in justice
to loyal men, they ought TO exclude traitors
from any of the proposed benefits of the reso-
luton. Let them offer at once to the loyal men
Of the Slave States the invitation of the Presi-
dent. If they refuse it, preferrins rather to
retain their system OF wrong, now the buIwark
OF treason, the Government will not then be re-
sponsble it, rs one Of the - Incidents Of the
war, one Of the - Indispensable propositions
that must and will come in the work oft
putting down the rebellion and i" ending the
struggle - which is SC terribly taxing the re-
sources of the Nation, it should finally decide
to kill Slavery that the Republic might live.