Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-02-17
A Few Words with the Peace Party.

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There seems to BE- some disagreement, already
between the Democratic managers, in respect {,
the way in which a peace is to be brought about
John Van Buren,, undoubtedly because Of somt
new light vouchsaled to him. has given ut erancf
to the opinion that, sooner than stand BY The
"waywsrd.sst -depart.in-pe doctrine, which
he promulgated last fall he is ready to fight the
war through, and compel the South to submit 70
the authority Of che Government The boston
Courier is in favor Of putting Mcclellan at the
head of the Army, and by that means prolonslng
the war until after the next Presidential election,
when the Executive power, and the Military es.
adjustment, being once more IN the hands OF the
devoted adherents Of Slavery, such course maybe
pursued as shall best conduce to the perpetnlty
of that institution. The Legislature Of Indiana
is in favor Of Convention to meet, OF course,
in Slave State, and to consist Of members from
such States as may choose to send delegates, 10
agree upon some way to establish government
with New England territory and New Eogllrd
IDEAS left out in the cold. Oao Mahoney,
democrat of Iowa, and Just out Of Fort lafayette,
announces himself, and such Of the democrats OF
the Northwest as he has authority to speak Tor
as uncompromisingly hostile to the war, and 10
favor of vigorous prosecution Of peace. "
Messrs. ValIandigbam and Cox, Of Ohio, seem to-
be much taken with the idea Of inviting the
French Emperor to inform our Government how
it must end this civil war, and patch up a
peace that shall leave every question raised by the
war unsettled, and the now hostile elements IN
condition to make war upon each other ag1in at
the earliest moment.
We cannot consider il matter Of wonder that
there should be such variety Of opinions among
these peace gentlemen, and we confess, were it
not for the CAVITY Of the crisis ana the inyllua-
BILE interests and hopes Of free government per.
illed by these tcheming politicians, 1t would be .
matter for curious observation TO watch the growth
and development Of their ideas, and the practical
shape which they must assume by and By, unles'
they are entirely abandoned by their advocates.
They tai fuently of peace, but how do the gen
temen propose to reach it' No matter who i,
in the White House, or who at the head Of the
army,-how can peace be reached? This a re-
ally most important inquiry, and one in wi ch
not only Democrats, but the whole people, are
intensely interested The way, the road 10 thai
goal, is Just what we want to see as much as any
other man. lo pc sure, it may not be such
road as We should choose to walk 10, bat we should
be glad to nee what sort of path it is Then We
can choose or CT H. and give our reas ons for it,
but how en- we express any opinion of it I'LL it is
shown to usp
1t is Just thu easiest thing in the world to find
fault win our immediate ex erence of the
roughness OF the road which, for the time being
we are obliged to rod over. Its stones or dust
or mud, or steep iscents, its sloughs Of defpond
and It's hills Of difficulty may dishearen US, and
make us long for what appears, at first sight, a
shorter, smoother, aud more inviting way to the
end We all like SEEK. level and smooth turn
pike has more atlrac ions than rough corduroy
and il they alike lead to the same goal, one car
not be blamed for taking the pike. But road
" OF no service except as means of getting
somewhere, and he would be simply a fool no
should consider the qualities Of the way more
than its probable termination.
1t is Just here. we believe that whatever di.
vergence Ct opinion there may now be among the
honest masses of the people commenced. At the
first moment Of hostlies there was burst of in.
digualion from all Loyal men at the great wicked.
ness of rebellion against SO good government
as ours and very general disposition, not only IL
restore the national authority, tutto punish treas
on in a vindictve manner But, whether for the
better OF not We do no, pretend to say, we think
quite portion Of tie people OF the loyal State,
have become either so far tired of he war, or
have so little faith in the ability of the Govern.
ment successfully to carry il on for any such pur
pose, that they have no desire to prolong i. one
momen, in any spirit of revenge; aiming now
simply to suppress rebellion and restore Tt right
ful authority Of the Federal Government. The,
have no more affection for traitors or Nmpatb,
with treason, than at the first, but have come to
fuller comprehension of the work they have IN.
deriaken, or, rather, which has been thurst upon
them. Accordingly they are becoming imparien,
wish the job was done, and are ready to resort tc
any but dishonest means to reach the end, and
bring back the haloyon days OF peace.
This disposition, so far as il springs from on
honest desire TO see the wheels Of governmenr
again moving as formerly the Federal au,hor,
and the States again working tremendously, the
Constitution unimpared, with the whole people
from the Lakes to the Gulf and from the Atlantic
to the Pacific owning one Gag, and moyin, for.
ward again united republic, should be respected
whatever differences Of opinion, as to the best
methods Of reaching that end, may exist. Thi,
isa peace party that can a, least be reasoned with
il We cannot agree with its views, or concur in il.
opinionsi and it is 10 the men vh9 hold such
opinions that we ought to address reason and ar.
gumen,
Gentlemen, we ask you seriously 10 look upon
the state Of the country as practical proposition
presented to you for solution. You have certain
elemeats to deal with Of whose nature you have
no excuse for being ignorant. The Government
10 ennlronled by treason, open, defiant, armed, hos
tile at all points, and refusing, so far as any public
9.