The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-09-16
GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN, SEPT. IT, lool'

Pooo Vi oiBouA'nS ""u edoiPPinS OLA A0SHno""
of soldiers. There has not been that we car
learn any difficulty in borrowing money on the
credit of the State. The funds and the men
have been ready to place Vermont, where she
belongs, in the front rank of the defenders Of the
Republic What has caused the delay? and
why to-day must Vermont send forward to Wash
ington her unarmed and undisciplined civilians
to the aid of the country in the hour of its ut
most need
We know Of but one answer to this, and that
is that five months, or three months, ago those
who had the natter in charge did not deem it
advisable or necessary for Vermont to do any
thing except as required by the general Govern
ment; to make any attempt to raise regiment
or company till the requisition was received
from Washington ; to make any contract for
tents, arms, equipments, army wagons, horses,
and the other necessary outfit of a we'll appoint
ed army, except for troops in the field to take
any thought for the morrow, but let the NOR
row take thought for the things of itself; or,
in the honely but expressive adage used to char
acterize shiftless and unthrilty man, to live
only from hand to mouth. What would have
been the proud position of Vermont to-day, if
at the close of the extra session Gov. Fairbanks
had Immediately opened recruiting Offices for
six regiments, had contracted at once for tents,
arms. wagons, horses and equipments for sixty
companies instead of ten, and had lost no oppor-
tunity to make soldier Of every Vermonter who
offered his services to his country! Does any
one suppose that to-day, if this had been done,
our cheeks would DO burning with shame and
vexation, to witness the hurried departure, not
of our soldiers, not of our contribution to the
army of the Republic, but of incomplete, I'M
drilled, unarmed companies of citizens Should
we not rather long ago have had the proud sat-
isfaction OF knowing that six thousand brave
sons of our mountain State were already at the
Seat of War bravely defending our starry Flag?
or IT the General Government had not until to-
day called them into the field, that four thous-
and disciplined soldiers were ready at the word
81 Fall in to anSwerwitb the march of an armed
legion forward to Washington? And who does
not know that one man Of such an army would
be of more value to the nation to-day than ten
men of an undisciplined company?
But the past cannot be retrieved. however
much we may regret its errors. We may, how
ever, profit by its experience and learn wisdom
from its teachings. There is no need that we
should repeat its bunders, OF renew it's mistakes.
In April, or May, or June, we might not have
comprehended the magnitude of the rebellion
and the fierceness with which the South would
attack the Republic, and this may DO our excuse
Tor not then having estimated the need Of tie
Government, and risen to the full understand
ing of the necessity of an army of at least half o
million men But shall we longer slunber
Must nc more soldiers be made in Vermont p
Must the next requsition from Washington find
us with only the raw material, and even that
not enlisted!
The answer that Vermont gives to such cues
lions as these rests with the Executive of the
State. 1t is for him to say whether the State
when next called upon, shall be ready, armed
and equipped as the law directs,'' waiting or
ders, or shall be compelled as now to beg and
plead with the authorities at Washington for
more time in which to get ready to 90 to the
defence OF the nation ; and this, too, when for
month rebel flags have been floating within
sight OF the Capitol, and the sky at night has
been red with the light of buildings burned by
the advancing rebels.
we oeseecA our Governor not to stand in the
way Of the people in their earnest desire to save
The country, but to cut at once the red tapo Of
1elay' and clear channel through which the
swelling tide OF Vermont patriotism may find an
'a'l3t +o"a.2 the South, The people will do
,jo llSt