The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-02-10
The Peace Business.

In TIE CALEDONIAN OF last week we
cave what proved to be u fact, that Alex.
II. Stephens, the vice president OF the
conlcdcracv. Il. W. f. Hunter of Virginia
and Mr.. Campbell of Tennessee, were on
their way North to talk over peace mat
Ter, with the Washington government
They did not come to Washington, but
President Lincoln and Secretary Seward
went to Fortress Monroe, thus meeting
these Southern gentlemen half way. The
President ha. returned to Washington,
but Inst what transpired between him and
1hc confe,Icratcs has not vet been made
public. though the result may be inferred
from the following dispatch from Hon.
Henry J. Raymond, who is supposed to
cct very near the chief executive at times ::
..The conference at Fortress Monroe
lasted four hours and was perfectly friend
" and good tempered throughout, not a
word was said on either side indicating
any but amicablc sentiment. On our side
the conversation was mainly conducted by
the President, and on the other side by
Mr.. Hunter, Mr. Stephens occasionally
taking part The rebel commissioners
said at the outset. and throughout the
conference declared, their entire lack of
authority TO make. receive OF consider any
propositions whatever looking towards a
close of the war EXCEPT on the basis OF in
dependence of the Confederate States, as
4 preliminary condition"
And in this connection we think we can
not better occupy the same space than by
copyine the following timely leading arti-
Gle from the Bo>tan y0muuI of Monday,
entitled. The Duty before US: ~
Tho last Offering peace bubble has
bar>t. Ii has turned out as the great
majority OF loyal men had supposed, that
the rebel commissioners recently within
or lines, representing not the common
people OF the South, but the ruling con-
,laye at Richmond, have arrogantly as
sumcd that the government OF the United
States and liz twenty millions OF loyal sup
rorters have 80 far filled III their struggle
with armed treason, that they would sub
nit to peace ON the basis OF diSunon.-
Having. therefore, rendered that and moth
in. short Of i;-a proposition which our
President and secretary OF state could not
even look at--they returned to their own,
AMI the contest stands as before.
OUGHT it not 10 stand much better fol
Us! The last hope OF those who have
trusted to the returning sanity of the reb-
els and their proic>sed desire for peace,
has faded away. Many good citizens
have thought that if Alexander III. Ste
phen> had, on Il former occasion, beer
allowed II open free communication Will
tn. government, he would have prepare,
the way Tor peace. But now, he and hi,
chosen associates nave been granted thai
privilege to the utmost even our PreSi'
dent alI his chief officer of state have
gone half way to meet them; and yet ii
turns out that these commissioners repre-
sent. in Il gtntcmanly way, Bat sllbstan
tally, The bold, unyicliing defiant Treason
of JET, Davis and the Richmond press
They tender II, still, as they did the day
they fired ON Fort Sumler, q divided
country or war 10 the knife. Is there
then. any man. with the least germ 0
patriotism IN his heart, who is not ready
by thiS time to join issue with these re-
morscle,, traitors, and TO lay on till they
cry ont Enough ," Is there any maj
not in league with them who does not a
least see that we must either conquer
them or they will conquer u.s. Are W,
not all ready 10 lay aside every hinderin2
thought and circumstance and unite shoul
der 10 shoulder in fighting this battl,
straight through, and winning peace in the
cnly way which Is now left to US!
1t seems to us that this is the grea
provlcntal lesson taught by the recen
events. Everything, too, conspires t
impress it upon Us with all the emphasi
OF hove and faith. Never before was til,
condition Of the lraitorous conspiracy SC
low, 50 Departing. Great victories fo
I'll, Union have followed in rapid success
sion. unattended by single serious re
verse Sherman is again on the march
toward the very cradle of the rebellion
while Grant is tightening his irremovabl
grasp upon Richmond and the only first
Glass rebel army that yet remains
Thomas has the southwest to himself
whenever the elements shall permit hin
to resume active campaigning Shall we
then, the people of the North, fail to sup
port orr brave soldiers at the momen
when the overthrow of the rebellion i
within their GRASP? Let Us As one maj
throw our whole power into the scale
LIT every state and district fill up It's quo
II II once. and with go1d men. worthy t,
take the step and march to the music o
the mon with the noble veterans in tn,
field. The hour calls Tor one more olori
Gus, unanimous effort. Give it. and o,1l
armies will swell to a sufficient size tC
crush thi, bloody conspiracy before the
leaves of autumn shall fall again Ever,
man--we might almost say, every woman
AMI child-can accomplish something to-
wards the righteous work. Let it b,
done
- Gold i'll New York Tuesday PIP.