Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-09-03


tion proclamation, on the ground that it
would unite the South and DIVIDE the
North, now publishes the following letter.
The proclamation was issued after long
delberation, solely because it was the du-
ty of the president, as commander-in-
chief of the Union army, to make trial of
all measures which promised assistance in
putting down gigantic rebellion, by
weakening the power of the rebels. 1t
was issued simply as legitimate means
to the great end in view, of maintaining
the Union-all copperhead clamor to the
contrary Notwithstanding. The conse-
quences upon the institution of slavery,
whatever they might be, were such as the
rebels had forced upon themselves. Now
this letter strikingly vindicates the wisdom
of the measure in this view of the object
for which it was issued. 1t admits that
the emancipation policy "bears more heav-
lily upon them (the rebels) than anything
else connected with the war;; and in view
of Its crushing effect, they are many of
them anxious for peace upon the basis of a
return to the Union. The questions sug-
gested by the letter, in view of the present
weakened power of the confederates :"
the ''point ofhonor" made in behelf of the
people in rebellion inaugurated to perpet-
uate and strengthen the institution of
slavery, but who now perceive that the
opposite effect Is being brought about by
the suicidal schemes of their leaders the
question whether offers of submission
should first come from those in still fla
grant rebellion--or offers of peace from us
with guaranty of protection to the insti-
tuition which has already come near de-
stroying the Union, and made while the
rebel armies are still defantly IN the field;
are all matters whose discussion we do not
propose % enter into now. We reprint
the letter as vindication of the presidents
course in first issuing the proclamation, -
as prsof of its immense weight in the
reduction of the rebel power and desire of
resistance to the federal authority. The
letter is as follows:
Norfolk, Aug %, 1868.
To the Editors Of The National MteUi-
gencer
Having just returned from a tour
trough portions of the States of Virginia,
North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, and
Kentucky, and having met in my travels
many of the former prominent politicians
of those States, and, as was most natural
under the circumstances, had frequent con-
versations with them on the subject of the
War-its origin, objects, bearings on the
present and future Of our country, and its
prob$ble result feel assured to some
extept that brief synopsis of the lmpres
sions made on my mind will not be alto
getfer unacceptable to your readers. The
War, they argue, was instituted for the
purpose of securing further guarantees to
ther own peculiar nstitution-Slav"~-.,,,
and 10 repress Aboltioni,sseu, or Northern
aggressions on tneir rights. Its bearing
on tie institution mas been to weaken and
endsnger its entire overthrow. They ad-
NIT they have been deceived by their po-
litiqal leaders, and that nearly all their
promises have proven failures. They
see, they feel, the crushing effects of the
War upon the Slave States, and admit, if
it udefnitely ly continue, that the institution
of slavery will not only be in danger of
an4ihilation, but that their former slaves
vii be drafted into the army of the United
Sqtes Tor the purpose Of continuing the
wa on the South. This one single fact
bef's more heartily upon them than aay-
ting else connected 10jth the War; and to
esppe this apparently inevitable fate, they
express willingness to accede to any
toms which shall not humliate and de-
gbde them. They affirm lin fact, they
Expect, they hope, they pray for it, that
tits not for them to beg for peace, but for
tie President to hold out the olive branch;
All if the President were to issue proc
l,nation holding their leaders to a strict
aboun ability for the Rebellion, and offer
tie people protection in life and property,
lsving the institution of Slavery to the
Institutional immunity of State laws, they
viii not only accept it; but will hail the
AT as magnanimous, noble, great Thus
twill be perceived that the great .''asses
fthe southern people are standing on a
Tfnt of honor, which to them is of far
aeater import than defeat in battle, the
IFS of strongholds, or the reduction of
tpelr armies. All this they can bear, but
fhonor they cannot bear; and they hope,
thy expect, they pray, that the President
fll spare them this unspeakable humilia-
tfn. In view Of these simple truths, |
Iuld ask Messrs. Editors, through the
rbdium of your invaluable Journal, if the
President cannot afford to be magnani-
nous ? If, after the fall Of Charleston, he
annot afford to offer some terms which
hall induce the great body of the South