Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-03-06
"The Rebellion


feelings towards the rebellion have changed an iota
since then ,Q) Ifso. they are greatly mistaken.
We have never for moment looked upon it in
any other Light than as something to be put
down, ST any and all hazards; and that the ambi-
tious designs Of its criminal leaders are to be
thwarted and brought to nought. (2) But we
have not sought TO bring about this end by an
Idle and useless repetition Of hard sayings
against them. (3) Blows, and not words, are
what should be hurled against rebellion,
armed men, and not empty and useless procls-
nations. (4) We are still, as we have evex been,
for a vigorous prosecution ofthe war; provid-
ed il he for subduing the rebellion, and not for
the triumph ofabolitionism. (5) Wewould wage
war for ian honorable peace for hearty and
cordial reunion Of the States, and for a restora-
ton Of the old greatness and wonted prosperity
Of the country.(6) If the Southern rebels will
listen to reason, if they will give up their smbi-
tious scheme Of a separate and independent con-
federacv, and will consent that the country shall
be one again, as Of old, then We are for compro-
mise and an honorable adjustment Of difficulties
between us and them. Cd But not otherwise.
We are opposed now as ever, steadily, persistent
" and uncompromsingly, to a separation Of the
States, whether the proposition for it comes from
the ultra republicans, Greeley, Of the Tribune,
and Conway, Of Kansas, on the one hand; or, on
the other, frum ultra Democrats like Nallan-
dgham, Of Ohio, or the Woods, Of New York
Can the Free Press and the Times say ms
much (S) If abolitionism cannot triumph, if
the Southern negro slavery system connot be
destroyed. are they really for reunion with the
South or would they prefer permanent disunion
and separate and independent Confoderacies ?(9)
We wait their reply. ''-SentiRei
Happy to oblige the Sentinel in this case,
ss we have been in sundry previous instances.
We mark its article for reference. and notice
its propositions in order. Moreover, we hope
the !S,efincl will do US the little favor to re-
pub'i.h our article, including its own, as We
marx il, FOR the comfort and instruction Of
It's readers
J. The main point is not what the S7ih-
ne sid twenty-five or three months ago, but
what !; saws now. Like scores and scores Of
other IaTcrs which had upheld the Southern
dcmoGa;ic-now the rcbel-leaders in every
thing before, it found the storm which burst
over the loyal part of the nation at the bonn
bardment Of Fort Sumter, too mighty to
stand up against. As they did, it hrnt to
the blast and waited till its first fury was
spent. Therein, with its associates, it bitterly
disappointed the leaders Of the rebellion.
who counted on the sure aid Of their northern
pro-slavery allies to block the " ecl- Of the
government, so that nos 81 4. O. ] '
made against the traitors. tIis..u,. ,.,.
continue to execrate those W. belay,
thcm-io denounce their perEly, even " lie
gathering fresh courage Fl m their recent
demonstrations in their behalf We do not
s"Fpp7e the feelings Of the Sentinel have I'M
dergone any essential change, from what they
were two, or two and a half years ago The
flush Of opposition to the leaders Of the re-
bellion which it showed when
Fort Sumter was taken by them,
we look upon as very superficial at
fair. The temper of the heart-blood, we
suppose to have been the same then as |
now.
(2) You certainly have a queer way of |
showing that sentiment. The more YOU show
it in the way you do, the better the rebels
like it.
(S) Nor has anybody else. The SeniiHers |
hard words are against the most steady and /
active supporters of the Government For
them it has plenty.
~ Indeed How long since the Seafinel
said there would be no more voluntecrs-that
the people would not submit to draft"
AMI "dared" the Administration to ..fry''
one?
~ The Scntiael knows that the " yigor-
GUS prosecution Of the war rs for the subdu-
ing the rebellion, and for mother end. Not
a measure has been adopted by the President
except for that end The Emancipation Pro-
clamation was but means To hasten and
ensure it. The Sentinel may just as honestly
say the purpose of the war on the part Of tie
Government is to kiH men and to lay waste
southern torns, because the army kills reb-
els and destroys their property as necessary
means for quelling mighty rebellion in arms,
as to say that the object of the war is the alb
clifton Of slavery.
(6) Well who wants the war wased for
any thing else? Nobody that we know of,
except the rebels and their supporters at
home and abroad.
% There are no difficulties at the founda- t
ion of the rebellion but those created by the
-ebels themselves. e npromising with trai- a
'ors in arms wouleioe a new way of quelling a
rebellion and strengthening government I
The Sentinel saws, if the rebels will ''lsten TO
reason" But they l0ont-and more than [
hat, tley constantly assert tat they aa.e 9
10 compromises To propose u lis,,n 10. Taey 81
will divide the Union they will ave Ell O.
'wn independent nation or they will peris d
n the attempt, is what they say They spit :
lpon the compromises which the Sentinel,
nd others like it, are willing to make with ]
hem. By-the-by, we wish the Sentinel .
would state distinctly ,chat ''compromise, t
What g honorable adjustment of difficulties
would be willing to make with these arm v
d and persistent rebels. a
(8.) Most assuredly the Free Press is now a
nd has ever been an Outspoken, persistent Il
nd incorporating opposer ola separation of
be States, no matter who has advocated or ii
lggested the cIpediency of consenting to W
ny such measure. We challenge the Sen Of
mel or any body else to produce a sentence fir
ON us that favored any such scheme. W
(9.) The Sentinel talks nonsense There tn
no question of " reunion with the South" IN
if the South were already a separate in
pendent nation, and there was propo- ca
lion to bring it and the United States to-
ther again. The South is simply in DO
ltc of armed rebellion against the rightful pu
thority OF the nation, and the Purposs Of w