Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-06-02
THE TINE OF PERIL FOR TIE CoUN-
TRY

The Time Of Peril for the country--of great
est peril--is upon us, just when peace is taxi
ing war prisoner, and consigning it, like Da-
Wis and Stephens, to the classmates Of forts
for safe keeping. The vast army of volunteers
is for the most part to be disbanded, and the
gallant soldiers to &C home, there to enjoy
the pleasures of peace, fighting all their bat
ties over again by the FIRE side to admiring
friends while the rest, with the regular ar
my, will be put to service in forts and garri-
soned towns The perils Of the army ale
over, but perils still remain for the country.
These are the peris Of peace. How, and by
whom, are the late rebel states to be govern
ed How, and by whom, are they to be
brought back into the Union, How, and by
whom, is the Union itself to be governed
These arc great questions, and they cover
great perils. For instance we read in the
newspapers tina. Mr.. A. II, IL. Stuart of Vir-
ginia, a man whose high character and great
ability were recognized years ago in Congress
and throughout the country, holds that the
rights Of the State Of Virginia under the Fed
eral constitution were only suspended during
the rebellion, and now are all restored by the
return of peace; so Virginia has only to elect
her State officers, Members Of Congress and
Senators, and resume her old place in the
Union, with all her ancient power-dnd pas
sion, too, we add. Let us see about that, for
the second instance we also read tina, in the
elections a few days ago in Virginia. governor
Pierpont (loyal) was badly beaten, and the
dsloyal party carried the day generally
Now is it true that the rebellion is not crush
ed that the surrender Of the rebel armies
means nothing but an armistiee that our
victory is a failure Is it true that Virginia
car iOut the Governor who is recognized by
the National authorities at Washington that
the late rebels can assume the powers Of the
states with all their rebellion still cherished
with the slavedrver's whip in hand, the
slave-driver's temper 10 their souls, and the
slsve-driver's tone in every word If 80, the
rebellion is not dead yet, and the country is
mics. Now we do not believe that rebellion
was or is so slight thing that it shall have
no punishment, nor the victory Of the nation
over it so poor thing that it shall bear no
good fruit. Magnanimity is a good thing /;
bat it is not good to be msgnanimous to Satan.
When the Southern people utterly cast out
the devil Of rebellion, it will be time to call
for msgnsnimity. Forgiveness is a good
thing; but we want it on the christian rule.
First let there be unieigned repentance, prov
ed by works meet for repentance after
that, forgiveness. The portion of scripture
suggested by the above quotation is every
way SO applicable that we are not content
merely to refer to it:
Then went out to him John the Baptist)
Jerusalem, and all Judes, and all the region
round about Jordan, and were baptized Of
him IN Jordan, coniessing their sins. But
when he saw many Of the Phatisees and
Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto
them, . generation Of vipers, who hath warn
ed you to flee from the W, ath to come. Bring
forth therefore fruits meet for repentance
and think not to say within yourselves, we
have Abraham to our father for say unto
you that God is able Of these stones to raise
up children unto Abraham. And now also
the AK is laid unto the root Of the trees
therefore every tree which bringeth not forth
good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire."
We do not fancy the Pharisees and Sad
dncees Of Virginia, nor any like them and
it seems to us that President Johnson has a
very delicate and difficult job to frame an
amnesty that shall not let rebellion in like
food, and Congress and the Executive an
other work, that will task their best powers,
in reconstrueting the rebel states. The way
is not clear to us yet certainly, and we do not
think it wise to theorize. Old theories and
rules, applicable to loyal people, do not meet
this case, and those who cling to them only
entsnge the more badly tangled mess. The
end to be desired is clear-a free, united,
thoroughly loyal and mighty nation. If God
has preserved US from the rebels for that, the
path to walk in will in ne time be made
plain.
GEN. Summarize is melancholy to see