Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-03-28

discipline prescribed by Congress.
A law is needed to prescribe not only how and
Of what persons the militia are to be organized
but to provide the mode Of calling them out. Il
instances DO required TO show the necessity for
such general law, 1t is sufficient to mention that
in one case have been informed by the Govern
or OF a State that the law does not permit him tc
call out the militia from one county for service
in another, so that single brigade Of the enemy
could traverse the State and deyestate each county
in turn, without any power on the part Of the Ex'
ecuiiye to use the militia for effective defense
while in another State, the Executive refused to
allow the militia "to be employed in the service
Of the Confederate States" in the absence Of d
law for that purpose.
] have heretofore, in confidential message 10
the two Houses, stated the facts which induced me
10 consider it necessary that the privilege OF the
writ Of habeas clrpus should be suspended. The
conviction Of the necessity Of this measure has be-
come deeper as the events Of the struggle have
been developed. Congress has not conc1rred with
me in opinion. 1t ia my duty to say that the time
has arrived when the suspension Of the writ /:
not simply advisable and expedient, but almost
indispensable to the conduct Of the war. 01
Congress must the responsibility OF declining to
as means Of public safety to be used 10 peril
resulting from foreign invasion, II our present
circumstances are not such as we contemplated
when this power was conferred, confess myself
at loss to imagine any contingency in which this
clause OF the Constitution will not remain dead
letter.
With the prompt adoption Of the measures
above recommended and the united and hearty
cooperation Of Congress and the people in the
execution of the laws and the defense OF the
country we may enter upon the present campaign
with cheerful confidence in the result. And who
can doubt the continued existence of that spirit
and forlitude Of the people, and OF that oonstancy
under reverces which alone are needed to render
our success secure? What other resources re-
mains available but the undying, unconqusrabe
resolve TO be fres' 1t has become certain beyond
all doubt or question, that We must continue this
struggle to successful issue, or must make ab-
Ject and unconditional submission to such terms
as II shall please 9 conquerer to impose on US
alter surrender IL a possible doubt could exist
utter the conferen between our Commissioners
ana Mr. Lincoln as recently reported to YOU 1t
would be dlspeed bya recsnt occurrenceof which
IT'S proper that you should be informed.
! Congress will remember that in the conference
ABOVE referred TO our commissioners were inform.
ed that the Government Of the United States
would not enter into any agreement or treaty
Whatever with the Confederate States, nor with
any single State and that the only possible
mode Of obtaining peace was by laying down our
arms, dsoanding our forces, and yielding unco j..
aliona obedience to the laws Of the United States,
including those passed for the confscation OF our
property, and the Constitutional Amendment
Tor the abolition Of Slavery. 1t will further be
remembered that Mr. Lincoln declared that the
only terms on which hostilities could cease. were
those stated in his message OF December last, in
which we were informed that ia the event OF our
psnlteni submission, he would temper Justice with
mercy; and that the question whether we would be
governed as dependent territories, or permitted
10 nave representation in their G, press was
one on which be could promise nothing but
which would be decided by their Congress, after
our submission had been accepted.
IL mas not, however, been hitherto stated 10
you, that in the course Of the coof4,renc. A.
rofuess Monroe, suggestion was made by one
o. our commissioners that the object entertained
MI hncoln to treating with the Government
'hc Ssnledracy, or with any ssperate State
might De avoided by substituting for the ususl
node OF negotiating through Commissioners OF
elner diplomatic agents, tho method sometime,
mployed oil military convention 10 be entered
INTO oy the Commanding -Gensrals of the two bel.
hgeren;s. This, be admitted, was power mas
ses'ed by him, though il was not thought cnm.
mensurate with all the questions involved. Az bs
uid not accept the suggestion when made. he wa,
anerwatd requested to reconsider his conclusion
upon the subject OF a suspension OF ho,titis.
which heagresd to do, but said tha, be had ma
'u'ely considered Of the plan, and had determin.
ed that it could not be done.
subsequently,, however, an interview with Gen.
Longsrest was asked by Gen. Ord com
manuinS The enemys army OF the James,
aanng which Gen. Longstrest wa, informed by
nun tha' there was possibility Of arriving at
satisfactory adjustment of the present unhappy
uliheuIlles, by means OF military convention and
that u uen. Lee desired an interview on the sub
le9t, 1t would not be declined, provided Gen. Lee
had authority to act. This communicated wa.
supposed TO be the consequence of the suggestion
above referred TO, and Gen. Lee, according IN in.
'trueIlons, wrote to Gen. Grant, on the Cd of
this month, proposing to NEE. him for conference
on the subject, and stating that he was vested
With The requist authority. Gen. Grants tsnlv
stated that he had no authority to seoede to he
proposed conference, that bis powers extended on.
y 10 making contention on subjects purely of
military character, and Gen, Ord. conld onlv
nave meant that an interview would not be refns.d
on the suclsct on which he, Gen. Grant had the
right to act.
IL mus appears that neither with the Confsder.
ate authorities, nor the authorize, of ,ny Stat.
nor through the commanding Generals. will the
Government Of tbs United States treat or make
any Terms or agreement whatever for the cessa.
ton of ho'tes. There remains thon for u, no
choice but to continue this contest to 6nal issue.
ier lhe people OF the Csnfederacy can bs but
little known to him who suppo,ss i possible they
would ever ctnsent to purchase at the cos, of de-
grada'lon and slavery, permission TO live in a
country < rrsoned by their own negroes, and
governed by officers sent by the conquercr 10
rule over US.
hi'lng thus fully placed before you the iufor-
nation requisit TO enable you to Judge Of the state
ot The country, the dangers to which we are ex.
posed' and measures Of legislation needed forI
werling them, It remains for me but to inyok.
your attention to the consideration Of those means
by watch above all the others we may hone TO es |
caps the osamities that would result from eur
hilure' Prominent, above all others, Is the, ne
ce''l'y for earnest and cordial cooperation between
all departments Of Government, State and Con.
iedereie, and all eminent citizens throughout the
0onlsderaey 10 you, especially, as senators and
Representatives, do the people look for encour
'agemeni and council. 10 your action, no, only
in the legislative halls, but in your homes, will
their eyes be turned for an esamplo Of wha, is
betting men, wha, by willing sacrifice on tn, al.
tar oi freedom, ,how that they are worthy to en-.
Joy It's blessings.
iesl full confidence .ba, YOU will concur with
me In the conviction that yous public duties will