The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-04-18
Thus Far.

1t is now nearly five months since treason frs t
showed itself in South Carolina. What has
1t gained Ia, Calf States have made
have voted themselves out Of the Union They
have formed Confedsracy. They have lavish
ly expended money liz raising and equiping
large army. They have stolen some millions Of
Federal property. They have at last, with
many thousand men and the most formidable
preparation Of a three months siege, reduced
Fort Sumter, garsesoned with less than hun.
tired soldiers. They have, in fact, declared war
cEsing that waS with all their ygor and re-
sea rces.
Gntll recently they met very little resistance
to their headlong course. Men high in power
pathzed In their movement, shared in their
counses, and aided their treason. A large
proportion of tbose at the North, who voted
against l.incola, talked continually Of Southern
wrongs and half justified their rebellion. The
current SO strong in favor Of concession to
Slavery, of giving them nearly everything they
asked in the way OF amendments to the Consti-
tuition, it seem ed at enc time that the revolution
would, without actual war, be SO far successful
as to entirely change the structure of the Gov
eminent, and make it irrcvocablya slave holding
confederation The frmness of u lew men alone
saved it fren that disgrace. Congress>was SO
far either under the influence of the South, or
SC tar led by its fears, that itdid nothing for the
defence of the country. 1t adjourned as Lincoln
WIGS inauguratcd. The new President took the
Government, weakened by the traitors that had
been sucking It's life blood, demoralized by it's
cewardicc in the face of an enemy, and totter-
ing to its fall. Lie Aad no Congress to aid him
in arresting the disintcgraton and decay so rap
idly taking place. He had to meet at the outset
the GOODNESS and criticism Of the Northern press.
es that had opposed has election. There were
distractions and divisions among his friends.
The taitter rancor Of personal quarrels aud bick-
erings forced itself npoh him in tho selection of
his Cabinet The importnnate cry of ahung,y
crowd Of Office seekers, was in his ears day and
1HJaSoh ollA iuIhcu auQul inc CaPltal
and fed upon the public treasure. The United
States Government seemed at it's last gasp, and
just ready to fall prey to the spoilers
Daring all this time, Treason was lifting it's
hideous front, girding on its sword, strengthen
ing itself With all the sinews of war, and every
day advancing its cause. Itgrew naughty, ar
rogant confident, audacious. It saurned the
counsels Of moderation. 1t threw cut to the
heavens the flag Of a separate Nationality. 1t
bore itself aloft on the wings of an excited and
fiery imagination, and saw the Kingdoms of the
earth bowling down and worshipping at its Cot
ton King. 1t dared, at last, to open its bate
ries on the Flag that WAS once so proudly de-
Tended in the harbor Of Charleston, against a
foreign foe.
What next? Aye, what next? The news
Of the capture of Fort Sumter, only an out
post of Freedom, little spot surrounded by
the turbulent waves of revolution, was flashed
along the ten thousand wires that reach like
nerves over the Continent The North was.
for an instant, appalled, ut the dning treason.
The blood few for moment to the heart
But it wig only momeptary shock The next