Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-10-06
RUTLAND HERALD.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 90, 1864
Union or Perpetual War.

Gen, Sherman In his admirable letter
10 the Mayor Of Atlanta, touched upon
one matter which no man In this crisis
should lose sight of foramoment, You
cannot" he said, "have peace and a di-
vision Of our country. II the United
States submits TO a division now 1t
will not stop, but will 90 on till we
reap the fate OF Mexico, which is eternal
war. The United States does and must
assert It's authority wherever 1t a
power, fit relaxes one bit to pressure
it is gone"
1t is clear as MONDAY that if the pre-
cedent of successful secession is once
established. the end cannot be merely
division between the North and the
South. The Western Copperheads have
for some time agitated and are still agi-
Eating the establishment OF Western
Confederacy, and Eastern Copperheads
have shamelcssly helped them by de-
nunciation and abuse of their own sec
ton of the Union-by fostering and en-
couraging bitterness, prejudice and ha-
tired between the East and the West.
So long as human nature is what 1t Is
and men abound who are ambitious and
INSCRIPTIONS, who are swayed by pas
sion, and lust for power, so long we
must look for continual breaking
asunder and warning of the States com
posing the old Union, If Southern trail
tors succeed in their defiance of the
Just authority of the United States and
triumphantly set the example.
With an Eastern confederacy, a Cen
tral confederacy, a Western confederacy,
a Pacific confederacy, and one Southern
confederacy or more; with changes of
States or paris of States from one Con-
federacy to the other with periodical
breakings up all around, with the ne
cessary maintenance of large and ex-
pepsive armies in each State for self
protection; with the constant Earring and
warning between hostile sections inevi-
table in such state of things, it is easy
to foresee how we should reap the
fate OF Mexico" We are not now fight
ing merely for an abstract idea " Of
Union; we are fighting against anarchy,
perpetual warfare, paralyzation of in
dustry, ruin of all property interests,
destruction Of liberty, of the peoples
rights, of free government; we are fight
ing, in short, against national death and
the loss of all that has been gained
through the progress and work of cen
turtles.
With all this at stake in this struggle,
the Copperheads ask for an Immediate
cessation of hostilities." While some
are open disunionists, Others profess to
believe that by this means the Union
may be restored, Notwithstanding the
express reputation by JEFF. Davis and
his associate rebel chiefs of any such
basis of negotiations for peace as a res
toration of the Union. But granting
that some are sincere in this profession
of belief, is there not clearly too much
depending in the struggle to be entrust-
ed to any expedient that is even of
doubtful issue, let alone one that is al
most sure to ruin all we are fighting
for I? Is it not too manifest to require
argument that the only certain way to
restore the Union, is by asserting I'M
conditionally and at all hazards the
constitutional authority Of the United
States over all who rebel against it
The people understand this. Therefore
they have been and still are ready to
undergo all sacrifices necessary to this
war, for they cannot be blinded to the
fact that upon it depends not only I'M
ion, but permanent peace, free govern
ment, and security in life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. Against this
plain and solemn conviction, rebels, trais
tors and copperheads would struggle in
vain till the crack of doom, could they
last SO long.