Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-09-11

His POSITION.
ExrcuIryI M,s,Ior.

Hon Ji,rts {. Co,BLGNG-Mv Dear Sir
Your letter inyitin. me TO attend mas meet
lng Of unconditional Union men. 10 hc held at
the capital Of Illinois ON the 81 day Of Septem-
ter, has been received. 1t would be very agree
able for me thus 10 meet my Old friends at my
own home but | cannot Just now be absent
from thiscityso long a visit there would require
The meeting is TO be Of all those who maintain
unconditional devotion to the Mon and | am
sure that my old political friends viii thank Inc
for rendering. as do, the nations gratitude 10
those other noble men whom no partisan malice
or partisan hope can make false To the nation 5
I life
There are those who ART dissatisfied with me
To such would -ay You desire peace, and you
blame me that We DO not have it. But how can
we attain it There are but three conceivable
ways First-to suppress the rebellion by force
Of arms. This am trying to do. Are YOU for
/ il If you are, so far we are agreed. If you
are not for it. a second way is to give up the
/ Union. ! am against it. Are you for it, If
/ you are, you shoald say so plainly. If you arc
not for force, yet for dissolution, there only
remains some imaginable compromise.
DO not believe that any compromise embrace
/ ing the maintenance Of the Union is now posi-
BILE All that learn leads to a directly opposite
I belief The strength Of the rebellion is its mill
tary, its army. That army dominates all the
country and all the people within its range.
Any offer Of terms made by any man or men
within that range, in opposition TO that army, is
simply nothing for the present because such
man or men have no power whatever 20 enforce
their side of a compromise, If one were made
with them.
To illustrate. Suppo-e refugees from the
South and peace men from the North get together
in convention, and frame and proclaim COM
promise embracing restoration Of the Union.
In what way can that compromise be- used 10
keep Lees army out Of Pennsylvania Nleate'-
army can keep Lees army ont Of Pennsylvania,
and, think, can ultimately drive II out Of exis-
tence. But no paper compromise 20 which the
controllers Of Lees army are not agreed can 10
all affect that army. In an effort 80 such can-
promise we would waste time, winch the enemy
would improve 10 our disadyautaee and thar
would be all.
compromise, 90 De effective. must Nr made
either with those Who control the keoc. army or
with the people. first liberated from the iomina-
uon Of that army by the success Of our own
army Now, allow me TO assure y7u thst
no Wori OF utmatiou from that Rebel
army, or irom any OF the men controlling IT, ia
relation 90 any peace compromise has ever come
to my knowledge or belief All charges and in
sinuauons 20 the contrary are deceptive anil
~
proposition shall hereafter come, IL shall not he
rejected and kept secret from you-- freely
acknowledge myself To- be the servant Of the
people, according 10 the bond Of service, the
Jultei states Constitution, and that, as such, /
am responsible 10 them
But, 20 hc PLAIN. l0u arr dissatisfied with
me about the negro. Quite likely there is diff
ference oi opinion between you and myself upon
that subject certainly wish that all men
could he free, while You, ! suppose do not y Ct,
have neither adopted nor proposed measures
which are not consistent with even your view,
provided that you arc for the Union ! sug-
gested compensated emancipation to which
you replied you wished not 70 be taxed 10 buy
negroes But had not asked you to be taxed
to buy negroes, except in such way as 20 save
YOU from greater taxation 70 save the Union e1-
clusively by other means
You dislike the Emancipation Proclamation
and perhaps would have it retrscted You say
II IS unconstitutional I think differently |
think the Constitution invests its Commander
in-Chief with the law Of war IN time Of var
The most that can be said, If so much, is, that
slaves are property Is there. has there ever
been, any question that BY the law Of war. prop
erty, both Of enemies and friends. nav be taken
when needed u And is itnot neededIwhenever it
helps Us and hurts the enemy Armies. the
world over. destroy enemies property when
thev cannot use il. and even destroy their own
to keep it from the enemy. Civilized bellirer-
ents DO all IN their power to help themselves or
hurt the enemy, except few things regarded as
barbarous or cruel. Among the exceptions sre
the massacre Of vHlquished foes and non-cou,-
batants. male and femsle.
But the Proclamation. As law. either Is valid
or is not valid III Is not valid it needs no re-
traction If Is valid It cannot be retracted
anv more than the dead can be brought 10 life
some Of YOU profess 10 think ITS retrsction wouId
operate fayorablv for the Union. Whv better
amer than bef,rs The isse Tbere was more thar
year and half Of trial TO slpnress the Rebelbon
bef,re tho Proclamation was issue5 tho last one
hundred davs Of which passei under an ex-
plieit notice that il was coming unless avertei
tv those m revolt rcfuruin- to their allegiance
The war has certainly progressed as f,yorablv
for Ms since tbe issue If fbe Proclamation nj. he
fre
know ,. fully 81. spv ou. ..,p know the o,.ip-
;,. f -bars ti4t .,r,a ,t rI,.. ,,,,,,.,,,l.I. of
our armies In the fsId who have aivcp ms our