Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-09-23
THE PATHS TO PEACE


the choice Of the people. One is Lincon's,
and that Of bis supporters, and it is this
Peace, on the submission Of the rebels TO the
Constitution of the United States, and all tatos
eristiHg IN accordance heretOih They rebelled
against these, and they must submit to them
anew, or be treated as enemies. They took
up arms against these, and the Government
must and will meet them, face to face, sword
to sword, gun to gun, until they lay down
their arms. Peace on such terms is purely
just, and it is dishouorable neither to the
Government nor to the rebels. 1t only re-
quires them to cease from their wrong doing,
and renew their ancient allegiance. To be
sure there are laws the rebels will not like
such as confscation acts, and various acts
and proclamations against slavery; but these
are the results Of their own wrong. doing, and
they have no decent ground for growing
about them. II these acts are held by the
courts to be constitutional, the rebels will
have no legal ground for complaint. If any
OF those acts shall be decided to be unconst-
tuuonal, they will be void, and rebels will
have nothing to discomfort them so far as
such acts are concerned. But more than this,
and it is the grand feature of Lincoln's
plan the union Of al the States--he Union,
Constitution and Government as founded Jy
Washipgto be preserved. The nation
will not be discovered, to become prey in
sections to each other, or to foreign nations.
Its power and dignity on the earth will be
perpetuated, as guarantee forever for peace
and prosperity. The problem Of Free Re-
publican Government, according to the Con-
stitution, will be decided for all time to be
proof against foreign nvasions and internal
dissension. Is all this nothing Nothing I!
N'y, it is everything it is the Constitution,
the Union, our Nationality, our Honor, our
future Peace, Security, and Prosperity. 1t
is bond Of peace and national grandeur as
lorg as wood grows and water runs---to the
end OF time for if this rebellion be settle
in this way-by unconditional Submission to
the authority rebelled sgainst,--there will
never be another rebellion, unless it be
against bad government instead of good gov
eminent gainst tyranny instead Of Free
dun.
There is another path to peace which was
marked out the other day at Chicago. Let
us contrast it with the path proposed by Mr..
Lincoln. First it proposes an armistce--to
stop fighting rebels. On what conditions
Simply that there shall be a convention Of all
the States to agree upon terms Of peace. Ex-
cept to -esmen and thoughtful men, these
words may not seem to imply much harm.
Peace is a very good thing, which everybody
desires, aud conventions are common things,
which nobody fears, because they are not re-
garded as binding upon the people But be
I, remembered that the Constitution of the
United States was made by convention of
States and another Convention of States, such
as was proposed at Chicago, can unmake that
Constitution and dissolve the Union, or husi
the people Of the North as well as the South,
into anarchy and civil war. We have called
attention TO the fact that Lincolns plan is 10
preserve she Constitution and Union. That is
the purpose and inevitable effect Of it. But
where are the Constitution and Union in a con-
vention of all the States, rebel States inclu-
sive, meeting under 80 constitutional author
ity, and with no Limitation to its powers, but
with unlimited powers, as proposed by the
Chicago platform, Of agreeing upon terms Of
peace 1t has be- reported that President
Lincoln said, not loLg ago, that no nation
ever granted an armistice to rebels without
ultimately conceding their independence The
Chicago convention has done both. 1t has
already proposed an armistice, and acknowl-
edged the sovereignty and independence Of
the rebel States. IL invites them to a con-
vention; it ignores all distinction between
rebel and loyal States itignores the Fede-
raj Government, Congress included. Now,
what are the inevitable consequences ? First,
that the rebel States will come in with equal
power with the loyal States second, that all
combined have power to agree upon terms of
peace; and third and last, that ne,o Con-
staut'on and Union, or dissolution of the
Union, may result. Certainly, these things
follow necessarily. 1t would be an insult to
the rebel States, if they are not to be admit
ted with equal powers. If they are so ad-
m tilted combination of these rebel States
with part Of the other States, may dictate
new constitution, and the division Of the |
Union. And this is t0hdt The most vir1lent and |
energetic coPperheads t0ant. 1t is nc new thing
under the sun; but it is new and very
strange thing that the Chicago convention
should endorse it. On the 7th Of February, |
1861, c. L. Vallandighsm offered resolution
in the House (Congress) proposing to amend
tie Consultation so as to divide the Union
INTO four seet'ons-so require majority of each |
seot'o" to pass any bill in Congress--to re-
quire majority of each section to elect
President, &c.,-to allow the sEoEss1oN |
FROM THE UNION OF AMY SECTION if each
state IN that section agrees and giving The
Pres'de"' Po0er 10 ADJUST all questions toiih The
seeding States. There 10 a dissolution of the
Union fully provided Tor. Our readers will
see that the Chicago convention put it's foot
hatly into Vallandigham's trap.
Nfaxu Nsfstk a..