Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-01-13
The Peace Propositions.
TIE ORGAN Or HEsouInERN roNrLDlaAc4 oN
THE SUBJECT.
From the Richmond Enquirer, Jan. O

~
oil the meeting lately held in New York at which
resolutions were adopted calling upon New Jersey
to invite a convention Of all the Yankee States,
10 meet at Louisville Ia February next Accord.
ing to this hopeful scheme tae states 10 feHell-
( ion were TO be invited TO send delegates TO Icp-
resent them IN this sayory conceive, and in case
/ they yielded to the proposition an armace Of six
months, by sea and land, was 20 be proclaimed.
We are told that the resolutions were "uu4ui.
mousy passed. and that Mr.. Brooks, the ora.
tor Of the occasion, was enthusiastically applaud
ed.
From the above il is plain enough that he yli-
or Of our soldiers, and the skill OF our generals
are beginning to tell. Richmond Manassas,
Sharpsburg, and fredericksburg have almost
wrought their lesson. The Tide Is beginning to
tura at the North in favor OF peace. The glorious
victories at Murtreesboro ard NlcksJurs which
have occurred since thi, meeting was held, vii.
doubles, give fresh impulse to he sentiment Of
which It is manifestation. But while The North
begins to see the folly and impoviJ.,.y OF at.
tempting to conquer the Souto they are not yet
read 10 grant our Just demands, lLcy nope
still TO chain US, BY some specloas compromise, TO
the corpse Of the old Union, or, at least, to gain
some advantage in determining boundary and
commercial relations.
It would be a fac thing for them truly b have
the 80 b agree TO meet them 10 convention
which should recognizes the Uu.on As unbro6cn,
and look to its perpetulti)n Ga this head, how
ever, they may as well know the truth. On 10
term, whatever viii the South cjnsenllo a polt-
cal association with them There isuo concession
which they en- grant, or which human imagine
ton can frame, which could render tn. idea aught
but intolerable and revolving TO the southern mind.
We separated from them because they sought TO
put US on a brand Of social and poitcii ioi7ioi.ty.
We would not rcunile with them il they would, one
and all, consent to occupy Tie same position Of
degradation which they aimed to rlyet 90 Us. We
would not consent to nod the N1ilhern States
even as provinces, On this subject there is hardly
a ripple upon the surface Of southern sentiment.
This was tie feeling and the purpose fSed aud
unaerabe, Of the South at time when all wa,
gloom and disaster-when Roanoke, Doneson and
New Orleans had surrendered 10 the lle-and 10
seemed as il Providence bad dccfecd loltsl to die
lltermost the forIitude Of our people, Bat now
when Heaven has youchsafed to Us 50 many crow
ming victories, when the Independence Of die South
is an accomplished fact and liberty fairy won, tie
suggestion that the reward ofal the sacrifices and
suaerings Of our people is to be basely disclfdeI
for a connection with Yankees, j, not cudurlbIe
even as Jest.
When The North wants peace .Ae can obtain it
by recognizing the independence Of the 50 nhe in
States, and yielding the terms which justice de.
mands. Her proper mode to secure this result
so desirable to her, would be at once to withdraw
her armies from southern soil and send her CON.
missoners to this capital. Not even to brine
about an honorable peace, can The South make d..
slightest advance TO the NORTH 1oa, was wise
j. and humanely done by the conladpale govern
I ment before The war but nov any step 90 tli'
direction, however tryi4l will We sure to be mis-
interpreted BY our enemies, and would only tend
to prolong the war.
1t would be beneath the dignily Of The conled
crate government to take any notice Of the New
York meeting until the sentiment OF which il /,
an indication shall rpen into a sincere desire for
peace, and come clothed With the authority Of
the United States, or some Of The Northern States,
acting independently 10 make proposal, on q la.
sis OF southern independence as q fact accomplish
ed. All propositions which ignore either our esq
tablished independence or the only channels O.!
foreign intercourse appointed By Tie confederate
constitution, can only meet with silent ooute pi.
To pay any atien ion to them would a. once l,lI
the Nnr'h 10 suppose that We were SD eager Tor
peace as 10 be ready TO submit G. Any tsius.
Their hopes aud mad dreams o! su1juea.i o.
would at uuc9reNyc.
In the path Of peace it not TO be disguised
that Lincoln and ms cIbnei loim q natural ubs,a-
Gle. Paciiicaton is ruin and disgrace forever O.
hm They must oppose il by virtue OF tbcir
position. In view OF this impeachment, pe.hlps
the shortest road to peace would BE lorthl states
Of Illinois, lnlilna, Ohio, Pennsylvania New
Jersey and New York, or portion Of them, to
act on their own account to REGAL, thGrqaoias Of
troops from the field, drive the ramp government
which now lords ii over them TO tho corgenml
soil Of New England, aud then make their own
separate treaty or treaties Of peace with dc South.
1t Is obvious that in the states just mentioned the
Lincoln government is viewed bya large majority
as a vile tyranny and they may soon come to
think its destruction Is demanded by the highest
interests. These states will bo bind to every
adopt this policy. This is the only mode 10 fs-
cape the burden Of gigantic deb, listened On
their shoulders by New England mnricsm and
cupidity aud as New England has r@ped the
profits Of the war, they may co.c.ude to turn over
to her the burden OF payment. Having mus
cleared away the ru5b.h, they may proceed to
found government which viii give tbem some
promise Of stability, order, conservatism and
peace with the southern conledpmcN as we'll as
The rest ofthe world It is not at all impossible
that this war may finally esd by the separate &C.
ton OF these Northern States repu5mting lincoln
aud New England together, Trey must soon
feel that the old Union is gone forever their con-
stilulion by.word aud moc&ery by their own
rulers, aud in this temper Of mind il is every way
reasonable that they should look outlor their own
safety and not stand upon noeiies IN dealing With
the guilty agents who, to carry out selfish ends,
have involved them in a ruiuous war. The q ing
would be easily accomplished by two or three
states acting together. II Illinois and Indiana,
tired Of selling corn At ten cents per bushe, should
form a separate treaty with the confederate gov.
eminent, It is evident that Lincoln has no, the
power TO eoeree them, and the war would at ouce
break down. They are "mastets OF the situation
did they but know it.