Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-11-26


duty in the towns and cities in the rear, in
order to keep the other half in the front
heard that speech, and there are other men
living who heard it, aud some of them are
probably present to-day. IL this statement
was true it sustains my view, that the war
was not only brought on by n minority, but
mat the defence of the South was also left
to minority
In this connection, and for the purpose of
showing the madness and folly that prevent
eu negotiations that would have saved the
south much that she afterward lost, pro-
pose TO make statement, never before pub
ilciy made, so far as | am informed, but
winch can be substantated by two dstin
guished Georgians, who yet live. The day
after the battle of Sharpsburgh Thomas II.
H. Cobb, who was brigadier- general in
the army of northern Virginia. went to the
headquarters of his brother, ten. Howell
Cobb, and told him that it was evident the
war would continue if something pot
done by negotiations to end it, until one
SHE or the other was exhausted, and 1t was
pam that the South would be first exhaust
ed lie proposed that they should go to
zen Lee and suggest that lie should send
note to Gen. Mcclellan, asking for a confer
enco looking to negotiation to terminate tho
y
headquarters, they found him sitting at
his desk, with a note in his hand. which hs
had just received from Gen. Mcclellan, re-
questing tho return of the horse equipments
and side-arms of Gen. kearney, who had
been killed a few days before at Chantilly,
Virginia Gen. Lea doubted the wisdom of
such movement at that time, thinking
that better occasion to inaugurate it
would ba Just after a confederate victory,
and, furthermore was of the opinion that
1t would be condemned ut Richmond.
Howell Cobb stated to Gen. Lee, that if he
was permitted to draft reply to the note
OF Gen. Mcclellan, which Gen. Lee had read
to them, that he would guarantee, without
making the proposal he and Tom Cobb had
suggested, to bring proposition for Il con
florence from Gen. Mcclellan. Gen. Lee
promised to think the matter over, and to
send for them If be concluded to do any
thing, and the Cobbs left him, and, AS
Howell Cobb afterward stated, Gen. Lee
was very sad
Howell and Tom Cobb were both seces-
sionist', but they saw the doom that was
impending over the South, and desired to
avert it. They never heard from Gen Lee
atterwarl upon this subject The moment
was lost, tbs war went on, and the South,
taking counsel of men who were confident
without reason, followed the course marked
out for her, and staied and lost all the
future termination of q conflict, which, to
the minds of Howell and Tom Cobb, was de-
cided in September, 1862. y
After reviewing the attitude Of President
Lincoln and the republican party toward
slavery, Col. Hanson said:
''The African race is indebted to
the secessionists of the South for en-
anicpation. 1t came in the interest
of Union, und was a military necessity,
just as the enfranc sement of the race was
political necessity The Save owners OF
the South are also indebted to the same men
for the loss of the money value of slavery.
III the l mon had not been aaSaled slavery
in the slave States would have been per-
petual, or emauclpat.o would have come
! through the voluntary action OF Southern
slave holders.
In tue language OF Mr.. Justice Lamar,
the war accomplished two things: 1t estab-
lishei tho indissolubility of the American
Union, and the 'universality OF American
freedom If, of the struggle to preserve
the Union universal freedom was n natural
consequence, which the Union leaders fore
saw, their opinions conceded with tbs great
ma jority of Southern men upon this poirt
If thoy did not foresee it, and favored 1t,
because they could not resist it, they build
ed wiser than they knew; for, in this great
stroke, although it fell with crushing effect
upon the South, the only adequate ,use for
future sectional divisions was forever re-
moved. 1t gave and will yet justify the as
surance of lasting peace between the sec
tons, and has already proven a boon to the
South in her growing diversity, through
which African freeman are contributing to
Southern prosperity more than it was ever
possible for us to derive from African
slavery. Union and freedom were not only
accomplished as results of the war; but in a
quarter OF Il century from its close, these
results are approved by the people OF the
South. We would not dissolve tho L MON If
we could: we would not restore slavery if
we could. Because this is true, we confess
that our estimate OF slavery was wrong.
We care nothing about the right of seces
sion now, because it is not valuable as a
theory for the defence Of slavery, and it
never had any other value. IL we are sin
cere, we also confess that the confederacy
was mistake, and hence to us it is nothing
but memory, a sentiment, hallowed only
by the blood of brave and noble men,
sacrificed in its defence. In our love for the
Union, we reject the doctrine of secession
and, in our approval of universal freedom,
we repudate the system OF human bondage
the confederacy sought to perpetuate.
In closing, Col. Hanson discussed the suf-
frage question as follows:
The negro is not responsible tor residence
or citizenship in this country. He was
brought a captive to our shores, and sold
! into slavery. In patient submission, he
wore the chains that were riveted upon him,
and remained a passive witness for 30 years
of the struggle he innocentiy provoked. He
did not ask Tor freedom, nor the ballot with
which to protect 1t. For his presence and
his condition at all times, white men have
been and are yet responsible Through
/ their aVarlce he has made IA slalve; rs the
! result OF their quarrols be was made free
man. He is not responsible; he is not TO
/ blame. Neither does the responsibility for
! his Introduction here rest alone upon South
eru or Northern men. Both had hand in
! the slave trade AMI some OF the people OF
/ both sections approved aud some in both OPP
/ posed it, lie was brought to the South in
the ships of New Eng land, and sold to our
ancestors. OF this, history has kept the
record, of the war and its causes, and we
cannot change it. While he came as q