The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-31
81.

The year which is just closing has been an
o,pntful one, particularly to this nation, and at
;s departure we cannot forbear making a pass r
ollnsion to its events Of almost tragic inter- c
est.
The nations of the old world have been main
" at peaee, and the only event of great histor-
u significance which has taken place among
,bem. has been the step taken towards the ultl-
.ate freedom of the serfs OF Russia. They have
aeen kept from the devastations of war or famine
or nestilence. But they have not been free from
anxiety, and have watched with a .feverish In
terest the unfolding of the scenes OF the war in
America in defence of Free Institution and Re-
,ublican Govern ment. Some of them have had
d;snosition to help the enemies of Liberty on
his Continent, and to make war on our Govern
,.oot hut this now seems to be avoided and the
Yea, viii 90 out leaving the nations of Europe
A. peace with the world except the little joint
exnsdition of Spain and France and England to
make ~reprisals and collect debts of Mexico.
In this country however, the year has been enc
If war, the government having put forth its
STRENGTH to resist an armed attempt to overthrow
and break up the Union. The events of this
war are 50 fresh in the memory of every person
in the nation, that there is no need, as we bid
.he year good bye, that we should recount them
Ia successes and reyerses are all yet vlvidly in
onr minds. We remember with what unexpec,-
Cd enthusiasm and unanimlty the nation sprung
to arms at the iall of Sumter how from tower
end steeple and flag staff were flung out the ban
ners of the Republic with what a s:ern deter
minaion the country heard the news of the lott
Of April, and the das,ardly conduct of the mof
in Baltimore with what a generous patriotism
fathers, husband, and sons were given up in re
sponse to the call of the government how hope
fully we followed them as they went forth tt
battle on the memorable Dist of July, and hoV
mournfully and despondingly we heard tn
dreadful news of that days disaster how "
had a laith that rose superior to defeat, and stl
sen, forward hundreds Of thousands OF men t
repair the disaster of that day and wipe out tha
stan upon our flag {; how we have watched tha
army ever since, summer changing into sombl
autumn, and autumn putting on the sadd'
CARO- Of winter how we have followed 1t wit
oar Prayers i'll Missouri, Kentucky, Westel
Virginia, and along the line of The Potoma
alternately exultant and Respondent, beseechll
,he Supreme Ruler of the Universe to be over
n camp and field and in his own good tin
crown its efforts with victory ali these thin
nave been written as with the point Of a dl
m0nd in our recollections, and we need
prompter to enable us TO fill up the picture
And as the year goes out twenty millions OF pt
ME At the North. and ten millions at the Son,
are watching with a painful anxiety the emo
lied hosts tina! must soon meet face to lace III
SeReort News to the Kansas border.
1t is 100 soon yet to know just what the NO
has gained, and what the rebellion has ios'
the events of the year. For five months
Government has been getting ready to crush
rebellion, and when the blow falls, the labol
Inc preparation will be more surely iel' I
We can now estimate. But we know that
traitors have recelVeu u Cheoh o"
will rot SC on recover in Missouri; that an
mense force is ready for o movement down
Mississippi that Gen. Buell at the heaa I
sreat army is making sure progress In heh'us
that in Western Virginia, the campaign mas
successfully ended and the rebels driven !
the State that along the Potomac zen.
Clellan has beneath his eye two nun
thousand men ready at the word 10 ao'
against the rebels that stand in their path
ard the land of Dixie; that in Eastern
.inia Gen. Dix has restored to their aheS'
several reyol,cd Counties ; and that the
and Stripes are unfurlcd upon the soil OF III
every rebel State. And while the reoel,'o'
cot, as we hoped it would rave before 'h's
eelved its death-blow, we yet believe ''a'
Government has now the means and the I
at its disposal through which 1t can max
remainder of the war short, sharp ana oec
With this hope and in this faith we o'u
to 1861, a year of disaster, hardsh'p,ah anu
Die trial for our Nation, in which nave
2lan,ed the seeds that shall give US III
oi Grand achievements in the new year.
BrAcKwooD's MAGAZINES AND THE MI
uEws.-We hope our readers VIII reau !
,.. ~ another pluce OF these va