The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-02-16

ment successfully TO carry II on TOT any s'Cu Pu'
pose, that they have no sire to probing it one
moment 10 any spirit of revenge; aiming now
simply to suppress rebellion and restore tie rlgtt-
full authority of the Federal Government. They
have no more aztec ion for traitors or sympathy
with treason, than at the first, but have come to
luller comprehension of the work they have I'M
der,aken, or, rather which has been thurst upon
them. Accordingly they are becoming impatient,
wish the job was done, and are ready TO resort to
any but dishonest means to reach the end, and
bring back the halcyon days OF peace.
This disposition, so far as it springs from an
honest desire to see the wheels OF government
again moving as formerly, the Federal authority
and the States again working tremendously, the
Constitution unimpaired, with the whole people
from the Likes TO the Gulf and from the Atlantic
o the Pacific owning one flag, and moving for
ward again a united republic, should be respected,
whatever differences OF opinion, as to the best
methods Of reaching that end, may exist. This
peace party that at least be reasoned with,
opinions; and it is to the men who hold such
opinions that We ought to address reason and ar
gument.
Gentlemen, we ask you seriously to look upon
the state Of the country as practical propositions
presented to You for solution, You have certain
eleneats to deal with Of whese nature you have
30 excuse for bling ignorant. The Government
Is confronted by treason, open, defiant, armed, hos
tile at all points, and refusing, fur as any public
expression Of ito purposes can declare, any terms
Of accommodation or compromise, short Of disun
ION. You must admit that the rebels through their
press, through the speeches and messages oftheir
recognized leader, through the acts and resolves
Of their so-caIled Congress, through the action of
their StateGoyernm 4n,s have ex pressed the dalib
crate determination OF accepting no peace which
shall not break up the Union. You have no right
to suppose they mean anything different from this
THY have chosen war, not we, and hey yet give
no evidence Of any chlnge OF purpose. They
mean to fight our armies, whenever and wherever
We attempt to carry The old fig, the emblem Of
n ,tion il authority, on the soil of the States COM
prsed in their so-c4lled Confeder4cy. How do
you propose to meet them While they employ
cannon and steel what weapons will you employ ?
hsh their government, and to that end are ready to
all, and are forcing into their armies, all their
aLls.5odied men, how do you propoe to establish |
your Government? Willie they are striving by
force to destroy, how do YOU propose by peaceful!
methods to preserve our institutions These are
practical questions which you must solve, issues
which you are forced to meet, and Which no skill
will enable you to eude.
And so far as Your responsibility ior an honest
and patti lot response to these inquiries is co.,
cerned, the fact that the Government is for or
against Slavery is Of no sort Of consequence. You
are in the temple which ruR4ns are pulling down
abont your ears, and you may cry peace until you
lose your voice, but if you stand IDLE it will be no
fault Of yours that the ruthans do not succeed.
You cannot say it is no concern Of yours, while
you pretend to delrecats the destruction Of the
Union. You are part of the Government, and
on your shoulders, as we'll as on ours, rests the
responsibility Of saving the Republic And if the
policy Of the Government doesn't please you, i'll
its blow aimed at Slavery seems unwse, mpoltic, !
mi,chievous, even unconstitutional, can YOU there
fore, in your c. nscence, declare that you are alb
solved from your duty to save the Government ?
Is that any reason why an honestly loyal and pat.
ri tic man 81 GU withdraw his support from the
Ing. and the only flag, which he acknowledges?
We ask you seriously to consider these things