Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-08-05

We cannot resist the conviction that what
there is Of patriotic virtue and Christian Trin-
ciple in the hearts Of the American people is 10
be put to the severest test within the next year.
or the next two years-perhaps within the next
three m0uths-to which it has ever been sub
jectei.
If the time shall ever come when the southern
leaders regard their cause as hopeless, they VIII,
Of course, first attempt to save themselves, ant,
second. TO save the system for which they sacr-
feed and suffered So much. Even now, there
are suggestions thrown out by the known friends
Of the rebels, touching a settlement which shall
retain 80 much Of the accursed system as the
war has leiJ intact, giving TO those slaves whom
the war has set free their freedom in perpetuity.
The democrats iu congress have manifested uat
only their willingness but their determination
80 stand by the institution Of slavery, and 90
join with the south in any attempt TO maintain
it and its constitutional protection.
This question. as TO whether the leliing trii-
tors 20 the country con whose heads rests all the
awful responsibility Of the bloody horrors Of the
past three years. shall he received into politi-
cal and social fellowship again, and secure
fresh guaranty for the system Of slavery, is %
come before the loyal people Of the country soou-
er OF later Practically it will come before them
between this time and the day Of the Presidential
election There is no mis-aking the fact that an
influential portion OF tue democrats party would
be glad 70 purchase peace and power az the sane
time, by restoration Of an rebellion % political
fellowship, and slavery To its ola dominating
position To is lust as certain that these men
Will go as tag In this direction as they dare 90 20
just as far as they can carry the masses Of their
party. The late peace reconnaissance at Niagara
Falls was a movement entirely in the interest Of
the democratic party. The commissioners were
no commissioners. They had no authority, aui
received from the President quite as satisfactory
an answer as they expected Al they sought
for, and aimed 81, was Go make capital against
the Administration, through what they could
represent 10 the people dsinclination to peace
on the part Of the President We shall see the
attempt made by large portion Of the democrat
ic press, to the Presidents letter as evidence
that he does not desire pesce; AMI there Is not
paper Of the whole crowd, engaging in this style
Of warfare, which would not approve Of treating
with rebels IN arms, restoring the leaders to
their old rights, and retaining slavery.
The North will be asked to take peace on the
terms which treason may offer, or be willing to
accept, and in the minds Of some Of the more
timld and short-slghted there will be a dispo-
sition TO take it on these terms. We are not dis
posed 10 underrate the strength Of the tempta-
ton which the plausible calls to peace, 50 ready
on the tongues Of dernagogues, Will bring to a
people weary Of war; and it is for this reason
that we sound the note Of warning. In Gods
name. have we not had enough Of slavery p
Have we not had enough of it in our legislation
Have we not suffered long enough from its AFRO
eance and its insolence2 Have we not lost
enough in blood and treasure in consequence Of
Its treason Has il not sufficiently corrupted
and cursed our politics and our political men
| Have we not suffered enough OF national dis
| grace for it, Have we not been sufficiently
l punished for its liberation and protection
Let US not be tempted by our desire for peace
I to do that, or countenance that, which we know
/ TO be wrong and which we know to be shame
/ full The rebels are rebels STILL and their leal-
/ ers are never again to be received into our na-
tionsl councils. Slavery is what it always was
"A sin and curse. 1t is under the military
ban of the government and if one Congress
will not provide for its constitutional abolition,
another will. As people, We can with honor
consent to no other basis Of settlement than
that Indicated by the president in his compre-
heusive letter "to whom il may concern" Any
proposition which embraces the restoration Of
peace, the restoration Of the whole Union. and
the abandonment Of slavery we will consider, and
we!will consider no other. The assumption Of
virtue and equal right which the rebel leaders
indulge in, cannot possibly be tolerated. They
have no virtue They have no political right
in the position which they now occupy. They
are rebels against just government. They are
guilty Of the most enormous crimes. The blood
Of our slaughtered brothers cries from tbs
ground against them ; and to them and 10 our
living country We owe the duty Of extinguish-
inr that system which has been the root of al
our difficulty When We get peaee,and we shall
get il, let US have peace that viii be wortl
something-a peace which we can leave to oul
children as a priceless inheritance peac,
which will permit US to lie down in the grave
feeling that there is no cause to fear recur-
renee Of such times as these A great work ha,
been placed upon the shoulders Of this genera
tiou. Let Us do il we'll