Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-01-20

less blood We have expended ia the struggle
for our own preservation, il we were to sur
render our grip upon the throat Of the mon
ster and thus permit him to recover strength
TO repeat the atrocities Of the last four years
upon tnose who will succeed US We owe il
to ourselves aud the world to close up this
quarrel 80 that it can never be reopened
II it can be closed by constitutional pro-
vision, what fsfer mode can DO devised Ger
tainly rebel sla' et olders, who have waged
war Of unexampled inhumanity and fsrocity
to break the Constitution, cannot complain
that we snould by peaceful and proper means
attempt TO mend IT,
Ii is sometimes asked whether the Consti-
tuition as il was could have been adopted If it
had been foreseen at the time an amendment
like this would ever be proposed and in re-
ply 1t might be asked, II the growth and the
past and present history Of slavery could have
been fOfeseen, whether In that case the Con-
stitution as it was could have been adopted
This proves nothing, save that the world
moves and is not precisely in the condition
now 1t was then. Then slavery was expected
speedily to die out, and Madison, and many
other southern men IN Congress. sought to
cripple it by taxing the introduction Of slaves,
which, under the Constitution, could no be
prohibited until 1908. When 1903 arrived
he law was already on the statute book to
interdict the further introduction OF slaves at
the first possible moment We all know
Madisoh in drafting the Constitution, studi-
ously avoided any words that would furnish
to future generations evidence that slavery
had ever existed in the young Republic. He
at least honestly looked forward TO the time
when it would all disappear, leaving no blot
behind. Nobody fore-aw how it would dis
appear, and perhaps no one expected in the
hour Of its most colossal growth, and protect
cd by fresh and impregnhhle securities, that
il would commit suicide. But that is its fate.
Il leaped into the Ret Sea- and. like Pharaoh
and his host. it will be drowned--a fate that
would make the morning stars { our Consti-
tuition sing for JOY; and shall any of us
mourn and refuse TO be comtorted ?
To wba; end should slavery be continued
Manfestly only that one half Of the slave
states may breed and sell their slave stock to
the other half In one half Of the slave states
that was the only way in which slavery could
be made productive. l may be mistaken,
bu. believe this to have been so ; and it
has been far from creduable TO US as nation.
do not wish to deprive any state Of legiu-
mate pro, pcrity, end there is not one slave
state which, ten years after slavery shall have
been abolished, will not have more taxable
wealth than they ever dreamed Of before.
1t is urged with some vehemence, if not
eloquence, by the gentlemen from New York
(Mr. Brooks and from Ohio Mr.. Cox that
we should fret seLd Commissions South Offer
ing terms of peace on the basis of the Con-
stitution as it WAS, ard then, if that shall be
refused, as they know very well it would be,
they do not exactly promise homogeneity in
the North, but they ultimate that the rebels
would be very naughty 10 reject such a pro.
posal, aud they might venture to tell them
that their project II independence would lail.
They CO not cay that even then they would
continue Grant, Sherman, and Thomas in tue
field, OF vote for this anne ndment la all Sc
riousness, did not the rebels break with u
when they had the Constitution as it was
How, then, could they come back and sccep
now what they grded up their loins to fight
against This would sadly initiate against
the idea of the gentle man from New YORK,
that eight millions Of people could not be
conquered. They would now give up slavery
to save their own necks from the common
doom Of re bells Gen sheridan has quieted
the rebel army of the Shenandoah :, General
'Ibun,.s kas .nntb,l.t.a ,na e tna
~ wv ANY " '"' ~"
nessee General Grant Oldes bis time, abun-
dainty sure of his nreR f. and General Sher
-. -. - u
Ahou 'holSues MueIe nc pleasos uIOuBu tue
empire STATE of the South, and the people OF
Savannah tgentv thonsard s,ron, NOT ,,o,.
'"e"'' ~ '''O"s' Nv" i'0'e
wise or more ready than the people OF scores
of other southern cities. under the call of
IL =; - - - -
snei "ayoI' nave IesolNeu 'ha' 'ue "hI, 80
far as they are concerned, is at an end. They
,,,,a ,ha Stata ,o tollo,y - .va,,nla
- ~
Let me record the voice OF the citizens
meeting in Savannah
" Whe,.a. hv .be f,,,r % Of vr,, and tho su,,o,as
NJ ,h H,v nv ,bc siyi ,nIho,itiss Savnn.b n,"sssn
80 ,,,SHr ~ ~ ~ a,,,-;,r ~ ~ I1ifaS = 80, W i
,vs hsiisvs ~, ,b i,a,., ~ ~ 49,, ,,i ~
No., h..,vs5 Sd -, ,,.a ~ = saIi -" " fS S ] 80 ~
.oa Of our views in relation to our present condi,n
We therefore the people Of Savannah in full meeting
" Rsaefse 10 TSos ~. ,,cs, M no.,or and IN ~,
language OF the President Of the Ulited States seek 10
nave peace eJ Alng dosn our arms and 'g9@,,'og 70
N oIes,ions which remain 10 he .dused nv the neaes
ial means Of legislation, conference, and votes
mo byo"ss in ins ,bs s,.ys ~ &
sndeayors once more bring back the prosperity aud
'om@sL a & We 9nsT o rsl serloleaa a.
oa Of eonSaerSd ei,y ding terms Of the eopeVerp5
1ut claim the immunities and pfiyeses G, ntaned