The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-08-30

ern Virginia. is the old story over again, of des-
perate fighting, brave conduct of our troops
severe loss and ultimate defeat, caused-as we
comfort ourselves-by the overwhelming force
of the enemy. And yet the loyal States contain
u population of l8,OOo0,OO0, and the seeded
States have less than 100000. The border
States have not yet contributed largely, except
in sympathy and information to the Rebel cause,
and it is quite probable that Western Virginia,
and Kentucky, and Delaware, and Missouri,
have given more troops to swell the Federal
army, than the same States have furnished to
the Southern army. Then why is it that from
the day that our Flag was shot from the walls
of Fort Sumter, down to the last skirmish in
which picket has been attacked, tho Rebels
have ouinumbered us? Great Bethel, Manassas,
Springfield, Summeryille, tell the same sad
story of calamity and when victory has visited
our Flag, the telegram has still brought us the
same news of an outnumbering force Of the
Rebels Is the Government to be blamed :?
Are the people to be blamed? Is anybody to
be blamed ?
We advise Vermoners especially to make
these inquiries; and inasmuch as we regard it the
duty of the Press to take note as much of things
at home as abroad, and when the whole body
politic- the Nation iself--seems in danger Of
destruction, to endeavor not 80 much to fasten
the evil and the blame upon some one else, as to
seriously seek to know whether We ourselves are
innocent, we ask Vermonters particularly if
they hare get fully comprehended the danger Of
the Country, and have, as they ought, set about
the business of contributing what they Gun TO res.
cue the Nation from the perils 1vhich cnuiron III
We make this inquiry in no fault-fnding spirit,
and are not by any means inclined to believe
that Vermont has been much behind her fore
most sisters in this struggle, but is that enough?
Shall we, while the Nation is in extreme dan
ger, withhold from its defense our men or our
money because we are doing as much already as
our neighbors? Or shall we basoly calculate,
as we count out our dollars tho probabilities
of getting them back in five or ten years with
compound INTEREST," Shall we stop to haggle
about the price of our liberties, and shrink
back from shedding blood and sinking treasure
without stint, when Freedom, and Government.
and civilization are to be saved or lost? Are
we already SO much the slaves Of ease, or gold
that we willing, rather than lose these bless.
ings, to grind in tho prison houses of Southern
taskmasters7 Do we envy the black chattels of
the rice swamps and cotton plantations, their
lazy, careless lives, clothed, fed and housed BY
masters who own and govern them? No.
These questions are not, and never shall be used
to justly point sarcasm against the loyal sons
of our mountain State
Buff wowould ahectually dull the edg of such
asarcasm. if the loyal S.stss wsald rescue them
selves from the just indignation Of history, and
savs tho Government that il shaken by every
wind, the errors Of the last four months must
not DO repeated This is a Government Of the
People. Its safety is in their hands. Presi-
dents, Cabinets, Generals, cannot alone do the
work. Where are tho Northern armies that
should now be driving back rebellion bowling
to the swamps and malaria Of its more South
ern homes? OF $4,000 900, cannot a million
be set in the field Of 50 900, " able-boliod :"
Vermonters can but some O0-300O-4OO0 be
found who regard the preservation of our liber-
ties as beyond all price, We believe 3d.
We believe 20 900 Vermontcrs love liberty bet
ter than lite. better than property, better than
ease and luxury. How much longer then shall
we wait? When will we arouse Must WASH
ngton fall before we comprehend the crisis?
Must a Rebel army, flushed with victory, be
at the gates of Northern cities before
We fly to arms?
'ermonters, your Country calls. Republic
IAN Government is in peril greater than has
threatened it since the Battle of Bunker Hill.
The sons of Freedom in the Old World are
cooking upon the conflict in America and watch
ing with terribly painful anxiety the VARYING
fortunes of the combat. The haters of Liber-
y, the lovers of Tyranny and Slavery are sneer-
ing and c1ultant at every humiliation of our
arms, at every triumph of the black flag of
'rea son. The blood Of those who have died in
The sacred cause of Liberty cries to you from
The ground. Go forward in the name Of God
Ind humanity, and conquer the blessings that
will only follow your victorious arms.