Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-09-18
A Bit OF AnLe-Bellum History.

Observers or students of the events which
the Rebellion will remember that in the
early days of 1861. a so-called Peace Con-
ference was called by the Legislature of
Virginia, to be composed of commissioners
appointed by the governors of the several
States of the Union, who were to meet at
Washington and endeavor to agree upon
seine plan for adjusting the differences be-
tween the North and South by mutual on
cessions. such as that the owners of fugi-
tive slaves escaping to the free States
should be reimbursed for their loss by the
general government: that the constitution
should be amended to definitely forbid the
secession of any State, etc. The time had
rasscd, as the event showed, when any adj
justment was possible except by the ar
bitrament of war Twenty States, how
ever, including the six New England
States, seven of the middle States and
seven slave States, sent commissioners to
TIE conference. Those appointed by Gov
ernor Erastus Fairbanks of Vermont were
Ex- Governor Hiland Hall, Lieut.. Governor
Underwood, the Hon. l.. L. Chittenden,
Cen II. II. Baxter and the Hon. b. B. Har-
rs. These spent twenty days in con-
ference with the southern commissioners
and came home satisfied that the Union
could not be preserved by any concessions
that the North could or ought to make. In
fact while the peace conference was in
session, the Confederate government was
organized at Montgomery. Ala. with JEFF
ferson Davis as its president. The most
that most of the northern commissioners
hoped from the conference was that the
border slave States might be for time
held back from secession.
The temper of the loyal masses of the
North was not favorable to any concession
to the slave power. The action of the gov
| errors who sent commissioners to the
peace conference was severely criticised.
and Governor Fairbanks took his share of
the criticism. A letter written by him in
justification of his action, has recently
been acquired by w. p. Baxter esq, of
Chicago, who by the way has perhaps the
largest collection of Vermont books docu-
ments, manuscripts ana portraits In ex-
istence, and Mr.. Baxter has sent 1t to the
Free Press, with permission to print it as
contribution to her history of the ante
bellum period. 1t was addressed to James
A. Dix then one of the editors Of the Bos-
| ton Journal and is as follows, 1t explains
itself and needs no further comment.
State of Vermont,
Executive Department,
st. Johnsbury. VT. March 6. 1851
James A. Dix. Esq,
My Dear Sir Some of our republican pa
pers in Vermont. having animadverted s.
verely upon my course in appointing COM
missioners to the peace convention Feb.
4th, desire to make you acquainted with
n brief history OF that transaction. as |
believe the Journal has uniformly approve d
OF the response made by the New England
States to the invitation of Virginia.
When l first received the invitation. 1t
did not occur to me that 1t was important
that the invitation should be compiled
with; and 1t was not until the 3lst OF
January. four days before the time speci-
fled for the convention to meet that | de-
| cided to act. Being in Boston on business,
l noticed that some of the Free States, ty
| their LEGISLATURE, had authorized appoiLt-
ments to be made. l noticed at the same
time that elections were appointed to he