Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-09-01
a Convention OF States.

The peace democracy have much TO
say about a convention OF all the states.
In this way they propose TO bring the
war to close.
Inthe Peace Conference at Washington
before hostllities commenced, the repub-
licans proposed and urged such a con-
yention, but the proposition was defeated
by the slave state representatives In That
conference and by The democrats OF the
Northern States. Not democrat, ac-
cording to the Tribune, not slave state
man. voted for the convention. This
convention was proposed TO prevent war.
But the Southern leaders were irrevo-
cably bent on rebellion, Secession they
would have, and war If the North re-
sisted the breaking up of the Union.
The democrats who pirate so much of
the "horrors of this fraticidal war"
were OF course as subsequently with
them as ever, and helped defeat this ma
sure proposed by the republicans for
saving the Union without bloodshed.
That is the sort of peace men these
"peace" democrats then were.
War thereupon was inaugurated by
the rebels against the Union, and has
been carried on for three years and
more. The rebels counting too much
upon the assistance their northern
friends could afford them, have met an
Unexpectedly powerful resistance to their
disunion project. Their resources are
nearly exhausted Their last men are in
the field. Ifthe war continues much long
or they must succumb and submit to a
restoration Of the Union. A speedy
peace is now vitality necessary to the eX-
istence of their government-is vitality
necessary to the permanent dissolution
Of the Union. Their democratic" sym
pathisers, who throughout the war have
bent their energies to discouraging and
weakening the North and encouraging
and helping the South, and who would
not in the outset vote for convention
TO prevent the war; now raise the cry O
convention to stop it. The rebels
send emissaries to the Canadian border
to consult with these northern "demo
Gratis" and with them construct plat
form to delude the loyal people into {
belief that an immediate peace will lea(
to union; while they privately acknowl
edge they are only for peace and dism'io"
and JEFF Davis himself says, and the rcb
ell Secretary Benjamin says, and the
the southern newspapers say, it is use
less to talk of peace except on the basis
OF disunion. But it is the work of theil
northern allies to convince the north
ern people to the contrary, if possible
The rebels want time, and it is too east
~ seen to require demonstration @
what vast benefit to them and dam
age to the Union will be delay of tn
war at this critical period. The north
ern democrats, therefore, are now cry
Ing for an armistice, for convention O
states, for peace.
Such has been and is the course o
northern copperheads on the subject o
. convention of states. The motive wa
the same then as now-co operation
with their democratic" brethren of tn
South. When the rebels admit readi
ness to treat on the basis of the restora
tion of the Union, then it will be ampl
time to talk of stopping to hold a con
vention and all will then favor it. I'm
til then delay is disastrous, and it is ou
business to prosecute the war with al
the yigor and power we can command
Rebellion cannot hold out much longe
against this. Any other course viii
inure only to the advantage of traitors
and tend directly to national destruc
ton.