Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-12-12

since may not be Improbable. What was pain
fully uncertain then is much better defined and
more distinct now, and the progress of events
is plainly in the right direction. The insurgents
confidently claimed a strong support from north
of Mason and Dixon's line, and the friends of
the Union were not free from apprehension on
this point. This, however, was soon settled
definitely and on the right side, south of the
line of noble little Delaware. Delaware led off
right from the first. Maryland was made to
seem against the Union our soldiers were as
saulted, bridges were burned and railroads torn
up within her limits, and we were many days
at one time without the ability to bring single
regiment over her soil TO the capital Now her
bridges and railroads are repaired and opened
to the government. She already gives seven
regiments to the cause of the Union, and none
to the enemy, and her people at a regular cleo
ton have sustained the Union by larger ma
jority, and a larger aggregate vote than they
ever before gave to any candidate or any ques-
ton. Kentucky too, for some time in doubt,
is now decidedly, and think unchangeably,
ranged on the side of the Union. Missouri is
comparatively quiet and believe cannot again
be overrun by the nsurrectionists. These three
states, Maryland; Keniucky and Missouri,
neither of which would promise soldier at
first, have now an aggregate Of not less than
40 900 in the Fl Id for the Union while of their
citizens certainly not more than a third, and
they of doubtful whereabouts and Of doubtful
existence, are in arms against it. After some
what bloody struggle of months, winter closes
on the Union people of Western Virginia, leav-
ing them masters of their own country. An in
surgent force of about 1900, for months domi-
mating the narrow peninsular region consttu-
ting the counties of Accomac and Northamp-
ton and known as the eastern shore of Vir-
| pinia. tOppi hpr with eop,p continuous ,,orts 6
Maryland, have laid down their arms, and the
people there have renewed their allegiance to
and accepted the protection tf the old flag.
/ This leaves no armed insurrection north of the
Potomac, or east of the Chesapeake. Also we
have obtained footing at each of the isolated
points on the southern coast, of Iatteras Port
Royal, Tybee Island near Savannah and Ship
Island, and we likewise have some general ac-
counts Of popular movements in behalf of the
| Union in North Carolina and Tennessee. These
things demonstrate that the cause Of the Union
is advancing steadily southwark.
SCOTT AND MCCLELLAN.
Since your last adjournment Lieut. Gen.
Scott has retired from the head of the army.
During bis long life the nation has not been
unmndful of his merit; yet on calling to mind
how faithfully, ably and brilliantly he has SER
we'd the country, from time far back in our
] v.
born, and thence forward continually cannot
but think that we are still his debtor. submit
therefore, for your consideration what further
mark of recognition is due to him and our
selves, as grateful people.
With the retirement of Gen. Scott came the
executive duty OF appointing in his stead gem
era in-chief of the army. 1t is fortunate
circumstance that neither in council nor coun-
try was there, so far as | know, any difference
of opinion as to the proper person to be selec-
ted The retiring Chief repeatedly expressed
his judgment in favor of Gen. Mcclellan for the
position. and in this the nation seemed to give
Il luminous concurrence The designation of
Gen. Mcclellan is, therefore, in considerable
degree, the selection of the country, as well es
Of the executive, and hence there is little reason
to doubt there will be given him the confident
and cordial support thus, by fair implications
promised and without which he cannot. with so
full efficiency, serve tn country. 1t has been
said that one bad general is better than two
good ones, and the saying is true, if taken to
mean more than that. An army is better di-
rected by single mind, though inferior, than
by two superior ones at variance and cross
purposes, and the sam is true in all Joint OPP
erations wherein those engaged can have moth
ing but a common end in view, and can differ
only as to the choice of means In a storm at
and yet, not unfrequently all go down together,
because too many will direct, and no single
mind can be allowed to control
a LICK AT THE VIRGINIA THEORISTS.
1t continues to deveope, that the resurrection
is largely, if not exclusively, a war upon the
first principle of popular government, the rights
of the people. Conclusive evidence of this
is found in the most grave and maturey con-
sidered public documents, as well as in the gen
eral tone of the insurgents. In these docu-
ments we find the abrdgement of the existing
right of suffrage, and the denial TO the people
OF all right to participate in the election of
public officers, except the legi ,lative body ad-
vocated with labored arguments to prove that
large control of the government in the people
is the source of all political evil. Monarchy
itself is sometimes hinted at as possible ref
uge from the power of the people. In my
present position, | could scarcely be justified,
were to omit raising a warning voice against
the approach of returning despotism. It's not
needed Tor fitting here, that a general argu-
ment should be made in favor of popular in
stitutions, but there is one point, with its con-
necton, not so hackneyed as most others, to
which ask brief attention. 1t is the effort
to place capital on an equal footing WITH if not
above labor in the structure OF government.
1t is assumed that labor is available only in
connection with capital, that nobody labors un-
less somebody else owning capital somehow, by
the use of it, induces him to labor This as
sumed, it is next considered whether it is best
for capital that shall hire laborers and thus
induce them to work by their own consent, or
buy them and drive them to it without their
consent. Having proceeded so far, it is nat
urally concluded that all aborers are either
hired laborers or what we call slaves, and fur
ther it is assumed that whoever is once hired
laborer is fixed in that condition for life Now
there is no such relation between capital and
labor as assumed, nor is there any such thing
as free man being fixed for life in the condi-
ton of a hired laborer. Both of these as
sumptions are false and all inferences from
them are groundless. Labor is prior to and
Independent of capital, Capital is only the
fruit of labor, and could never have existed if
labor had not first existed. Labor is the su-
perior of capital, and deserves much the higher
consideration. Capital has its rights, which are
as worthy of protection as any other rights.
Nor is it denied that there is, and probably at
ways will be, relation between labor and cap
ital producing mutual benefits. The error is in
assuming that the whole labor of the commu-
nifty exists within that relation. A few men
own capital, and that few avoid labor them
selves, and with their capital hire or buy an
other few to labor for them. Ard a large ma
jority belong to neither cass,--neither work for
others, nor have Others working for them,