The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-01-02
Peace Demanded.-Dis Threatened.

We are evidently at crisis in the history
of the revolution. We are threatened, within
six months, with peace by disunion Or peace
by concession to slavery. The number of
people ready to accept, nay preparing to
seek one result or the other, is very large
and rapidly increasing. Mr. Vallandigham
makes formal proposition in Congress for
peace, with the Union by putting the Dred
Scott dicta into the constitution. MIR Con-
way, representing another extreme of north
ern opinion, proposes peace on the footing
of disunion. Better thus, he argues, than to
60 on with this expenditure of life and treas
ure to no apparent purpose.
These propositions get few votes in Con-
gress but they are finding much response
among the people. The country is getting
tired of unsuccessful war; of blunders in
field, of doubt and hesitation and confusion
in council, of fraud and rascality everywhere.
Unless the success in battle, which Mr. Lin
coin at last confesses is the prime necessity
of tee hour, soon comes, there will be a
clamor for peace from all sides, that cannot
be resisted. True, peace By disunion, or
peace by concession to the South is but a
a truce. 1t settles nothing it leaves all our
bleeding wounds open, ready to start afresh
at the first conflict of parties and Interest,"
BIT of the many and increasing peace parti-
sans, some do not recognize this, others ig-
more it. Those who are for peace by conces-
sion are 50 stupefed by interest or igno-
rance, that they do not believe slavery in
compatible with civilization and freedom and
progress. TIE Others say We have had
enough Of war under prese1: leadership: let
us raise up leaders fit for the fight, ard then
renew the conflict. Besides, they NAV wei!
add, the elements of death TO slavery are al
ready thckly and deeply sown; the chances
are that they will work out its speedy over
throw, without another appeal to arms and
when it perishes, unity will naturally and in
evitably come back to the snat;on. At any
rate, we have failed to appreciate the work
given US to do, or to do it leave to Proyi-
dence for awhile the production of cess
out Of our defeat, of order out of chaos ::
while we gather clearness of purpose and
sfr Of hn1x :.
there remain such for US.
These are the truths of our present posi-
ton. The air is instinct with their life
Every quick heart and head feels them. The
country, the government must recognize and
crushed. if the Union is to be restored with
out disgrace to civilization, the main work
must be d)ne in the present campaign.-
! Whatever further blows we have for slavery
must be struck at once. I he more fatally We
strike that, the more sure We are of the ma
tion,-the speedier comes permanent peace
The time for action is short We warn the
country, we warn the administration of this.
Defeat, confusion, dishonor threaten them.-
1t howls at their thresholds. What they do
must be done this winter, and with the pres
ent army. They will get no new soldiers
until they can show great results accomplish
ed with what they have.
Given the subjugation of the rebel capital,
the full occupation of Virginia, Tennessee
and Kentucky, the opening up the Mississippi
river, with the possession Of all the territory
west of it, and the taking of Mobile and
Charleston, or their perfect blockade these
results substantially gained the present sea
son-and with our present power and prep
tons from unity and vigor in the executive
and good generalship in the field and ther
we may defy all doubts at home, all defiance
abroad. Given these by the coming spring
and then We can wait for the leaven of dis
satisfaction and disorder and famine, among
white and black, to work out the needed sub
iugation of the rest of the South. Then W,
can tolerate separation which We shall know
to be short and healthful-a peace that shal
be as effective as war in giving freedom to ,h'
slave and humility to the whites Of the cotto,
states, which led to the rebellion. But fail
in these speedy results, the administration
and the country must be prepared either t.
yield the South It's independence, with an ull
certain and dangerous boundary, or what i
more disgraceful, yield it its demands in tn
Union-Sprnfeld Pepublican.