Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-01-12


ouences of such proectorates Geographically,
morally, politically, separation would create an
unnatural situation, situation violent and haz-
ardous, where each would live, arms in hand,
waiting for the hour of conflict.
We have full faith, gentlemen, that such a
trial will be spared to you. 1t IS not that We
overlook the difficulties which still remain for
you to overcome they are great, greater per
haps than we imagine, War has It's viclssltudes
and you may perhaps be yet called upon to pass
through periods Of llllortune. Yet one fact
always remains and shows on which side the
final triumph will be found. supposing that
there be no foreign Intervention. The iag OF the
Union has now, for two years, never paused 10
its advance. 1t floats to-day over the soil Of
every revolted state, without exception.
The South has had its victories it has never
gained and inch Of ground. The North has had
its defeats it has never fallen back. Master to-
day of the entire course OF the Mississippi,
master of the border states and OF Louisiana, all
that remains is TO stiAe the revolt In the narrow
territory where it frat burst forth, and back to
which It has been driven. We believe that you
will succeed in this; for Europe, the only hope
OF the South, seems now little disposed to give
her aid.
In short the rebellion is already reduced t.
such narrow proportions, that should 1t eyersbe'
come distinct confederation, accepted as such
from weariness Of war, the coniederacy thus
created will not be born with the functions ol
he. Neither European recognition nor your
own could give il serious chance OF duration
Il would end ID return to you But We de-
Ii hit to believe the fe-establlshment OF the Union
less distant And, in the presence OF tat pros
pect which thrills our hearts with JOY, permit
US. as your friends, TO offer you some sincere ad
wee. The dangers OF victory, you are aware
are not less than those OF the combat. Wegiyt
you therefore, our loyal, frank opiulon, sure
that 10 the main it will agree with you. own,
feeling. also, that these communications between
US have no ann more serious than a simple ex
change Of words OF sympathy
We hold 1t 70 be OF the first Importance that
the cause of the war shall not survive the war
that YOUR real foe, slavery, shall not remain up
ON the field. We have often asked ourselves
these last three years why God permitted the
proongation Of this bloody struggle. Was il
not that the real issue might present itself with
perfect clearness Conquering earlier, the fed
eral government would, perhaps, have been led
to make concessions, to enter anew upon the
fatal path Of compromise. To-day all eyes not
willingly blind. see clearly. The New York
riot, breaking out at an appointed day to aid
the invasion Of Lee, and falling INSTANTLY upon
tho negro in way to show to every witness OF
It's cowardly ierocity what kind of spirit ami
mated certain friends OF the South-the New
York riot was a supreme warning to your coun-
try. Your line of action is clearly traced 81
long as anything of slavery remain. there will
be a cause Of antagonism in the bosom OF the
Union. There mupt be no longer any question
ofslayery. 1t must be SO ordered aud settled
as never to return. An amendment to the con-
stitution to this end must be proposed ana
adopted before the return Of the states.
The condition of the free blacks must also be
secured against the lniquites which they have
20 long endured. No more plans of COLOMBIA
ton abroad no more disabling laws, no more
inequality, Those whom you have armed, who
fought so brayey before the walls of Por; Hud-
son and Fort Wagner, can never be othsr than
citizens. Leave the problem OF the races to Its
own solution--the most natural solutions are
always the best. Under the rule of the common
law. the fres blacks of the South and Of the
North will find their legitimate place in your
society, of which they will become useful MEM
bers, honorable and honored.
In ordering in defnitive manner all that re-
lstes to slavery on the colored race, you will
have done more than is generally immagned for
he lasting racifcaton OF the South.
" hat remains Tor you to dol This point may
be stated in three words-Moderation Generos-
ty, Ii berty.
There can be no question, as you have often
said, of an occupation OF the South, Of a con-
quest of The South, OF reducing the southern
states to the condition OF provinces, where the
conqueror will maintain his garrison and the
public will will be suspended. Save in the dis
tricts yet rayaged by guerilas, and in the heart
of which the federal troops must finish their
work, victory will everywhere bring with the re
establishment of the Union the re- establishment
as promptly as possible OF constitutional rights
You hope, gentlemen, that those whom you
conquer to-day will tomorrow meet you in de-
bate. and you will accept in all their truth the
struggle OF the press, OF the legislative hall, and
of the ballot, which will replace the strife Of the
battlefield.
We all feel it is much better that you should
have to encounter difficulties fruitful of liberty,
than that you should seek for yourselves the de-
ceitful advantages of diclatorial regime. To
apply to the Solth an exceptional rule would
be, ais, quite easy. 1t would be easy also to
pronounce the death penalty, to outlaw, To ex-
ecute con6scatlon bills but in treadlng this
path of Vulgar tyranny you would sacrifice two
things-your high renown in the present, a las
ting union with the South in the future.
But if, on the other hand, you show the world
the novel spectacle OF victory without reprlsal,
Of liberty strong enough to survive civil war
# your cor s,ituton remain, and slavery alone
tall IN such conflict; if on the morrow Of the
struggle the law remain supreme, il elections Tor
the Senate and House OF Representatives be
again open as in the old time II the represen-
tatye of the other southern states reappear at
Washington if taking the oath to be faithful
to the Union and TO support the modified eonsti-
tuition, they fad themselves on footing OF per-
iect equality with the representative Of the
North, II it be permitted To them to attack and
t1 embarrass tue government, you will have won
the most glorious OF victories, and assured 10
your country the best chance OF prosperity and
greatness,
Accept, gentlemen, in the advice which We
tender TO you, q proof OF our esteem. us not
OF every government, it is not of every people
that such things can be asked Protrscted evil
wars tend to arbitrary customs, stir up passions
and hates, aud at last engender development
OF military power and irresponsible authority
which generally hinders return to control, 10
Tree opinion aud to strict letter Of the law We
honor the United States enough 10 believe that
they will be capable Of setting us this too, after
50 many oshir examples
The moderation which wC hope ior from you
at home we look Tor also from you abroad. As
suredly on the morrow Of the submission OF the