Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-01-08


/ you vii Succeed IN this; for Europe. th'
only hope of the South, seems now little dis
posed to give her aid.
In short, the rebellion is already reduced
to such narrow proportions, that should i
ever become a distinct Confederation, accept
ed as such from weariness of war, the Con
federacy thus created will not be born witt
the functions of life. Neither European re
cognition nor your own, could give it seri
I ous chance Of duration. Il would end in q
return to you. But we delight to believe
the re-cstablishment Of the Union less distant
And, in the presence of that PROSPECT which
thrills our heart with joy, permit us, as youi
. friends, 10 offer YOU some sincere advice
The dangers Of victory, You are aware, At,
not lras than those of the combat We givt
you, therefore. our loyal frank opinion. sart
that in the main it will agree s.,h YOUR own
and feeling, also, that these communication,
between Us have an aim more serious than a
simple exchange of words Of sympathy.
We hold II 10 be Of the first importance
that the cause Of the war shall not survive
the war that your real foe, slavery, shall not
remain upon the field. We hate often ask-
ed ourselves. these last three years, why God
permitted the prJlOngiti,n of this bloody
struggle. Was it not that the real issue
might present itself with perfect clearnes> ?
COnqueriBg earlier. the federal government
would, prrhaIs, have been led to make con-
ccs-ons, to enter anew upon the fatal tath
of campromis To-day all eyes, not Willingly
blind. see clearly. The New York not,
breaking out at an appointed day TO aid the
invasion of Lee, and falling instantly upon
the negro in way TO show 10 every witness
of its eowardly feIocity what kind Of spirit
animated certain friends of the Subtitle
New York riot was q supreme warning To
your country. Your line Of action is clearly
traced. s. long as any thing Of slavery re-
mains there will be a cause OF antagoni,m in
the bosom of the Union. Ii must be 80 or
dered ana settled as never to return. An
amendment TO the Constitution 70 this end
must ne proposed and adopted before the re-
turn Of the States.
The condition of the free blacks must also
- secured against the iniquities which they
have 50 long endured. No more plans 5i
colonization abroad, no more disabling laws.
no more inequality. Those whom YOU have
armed, who fought 50 brayely before the walls
of Port Hudson and Fort Wagner. can never
he other than citizens. Lesye the problem Of
the races 20 its own soluti0n-the most nat
ural solutions are ALWAYS the best Under
the rule Of the common law the free blacks
Of the South and Of the North will find their
legitimate place IN your society, of which
they will become useful members. honorable
and honorcd.
In thus ordering in dehnltive manner all
that relates to slavery and the colored race.
YOU will have done more than is generally
imagined for the pacifcation of the South
What remains for YOU to do on this point
may be stated in three words-mOdcratiOn
generosity, liberty.
There can he no question, as you have
often ssid, Of an occupation OF the South, OF
reducing the southern States 70 the condition
of provinces, where the conqueror viii main
tain his garrisons and the public life will be
suspended. save in the districts vet ravaged
by guerrillas, and in the heart Of which the
Federal troops must finish their work. Veto
~ will every where bring. with the re-estab-
lishmeDt Of the Union. the re-establishment
as promptly as possible Of constitutional
rights.
You hope, gentlemen. that those whom
you conquer to-day viii Tomorrow meet YOU
in debate, and YOU VIII accept in all THEN
truth, the struggle of the press. OF the legl--
latiye hail and o. the ballot. which will re-
liacc the striic of the battlefield
We al feel that il Is much better that you
= ould have 20 encounter difficulties fruitful
ui liberty, than that you should s,,k f,l
yourrelyes the deceitful advantages Of a die
Jatorial regime. 10 apply To the south au
exceptional rule would be. alas quite easy.
1t would hc casy, also, 10 pronounce tur
death penalty. 10 outlaw, 10 execute coniis-
cation bills but in trcading this path Of
vulgar tyranny, YOU would sacrifice two
thinss-yOur high renOWn in the present,
lasting union with the SOUTH in the future.
But if, on the other hand YOU show the
world the novel spectacle Of victory without
roprIsals. OF lib-rty strong enough T. survive
ciyIl war; If your constitution remain. and
slavery alone fall in such a conflict IL on
the morrow OF the struggle the law remain
supreme. If elections for the Senate and
Hoase Of Representatives be again open as in
Did time II the Representatives of the uth-
ern States rc-appear at Washington. If. tax
ing the oath to be faithful to the Union and
to support the modified Constitution. they
md themselves on footing of perfect equal
ity with the representatives of the North #
il bc permitted 10 them 20 attack and cm-
barrass the government. you viii have won
the most glorious OF victories, aud assured
90 your country the beet chance of prosperity
and greatness.
Accept, gentlemen. IN the advice which
we tender TO YOU proof Of our esteem. Ills
not of every government, il il not of every
people, that such things can be asked. Pro-
tracted civil wars tend 70 arbitrary customs,
= l.. l..
der development of military power and
irresponsible authority which generally him
ders a return to control, to free opinion and
to the strict letter of the law. We honor
the United States enough TO believe that they
will be capable of setting US this. too, after
o.many other examples.
The moderation which we hope for from
YOU at home, we look also from you from
abroad Assuredly on the morrow Of the
submission of the South, there will not be
wanting class of persons eager TO recall 20
YOU wrongs, real or fancied, suffered ht the
hand of this or that power.
They will point to your armies and dispc-
sable fleets. They Will prove to you that a
foreign war is perhaps the surest way TO
draw together the two sections so lately hos
tile. They will tell you that common en-
mitv, common dangers, are the cement need
ed to strengthen your shattered ediice.
You will not believe them, gentlemen
You will feel that after these iars, it Is need
ful before all else 70 restore to America
peace and liberty. You will not seek new
adventures and thus lengthen the tempta-
tion Of dictatorship, the peril of exceptional
rule.
You will fear n return 20 the aggressive
policv which, with its invasiOns and turbu-
tenoe, the influence Of the South forced upon
YOU. the day when 10 assure the extension
of slavery it awakened in your hearts
wicked covetousness and pushed you almost
70 the violation of the law of nations Your
,lory will he to take the opposite Of those
violent declarations, of those fllibustering
expeditions, Of those unscrurulous ambi-
ions.
The temptations which a great army ez-
cites are Of the class most difficult to repress
Nav YOU not hesitate to reduce your forces
after peace. Not only your material pros
perity but your very liberty is involved in
disarning, in reduction Of your expenses,
and return to the old idea Of small armies
and small budgets.
But We do not deceive ourselves. Your
small armies, do what YOU NAV, will be