Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-05-17
Farmers and the War.

Farmers Of Orleans, now is the time tc
show your patriotism, industry and good
sense, three excellent qualities not Away.
possessed by the same person. There j.
war in the land; our nation is divided
into opposing forces, the one endeavorine
to pull down the fair fabric Of our govern
ment by the darkest treason, and the 9th
er to preserve it unsullied as an inherit
ance Of the friends Of freedom through
out the world.
The war viii be short, vigorous, and
it may be bloody. Large armies will be
called into action two or three hundred
thousand men will be employed All
these soldiers will have to be fed, and on
you deyolyes the task Of feeding them.
Though the labor may be none the light
est. the reward will be ample in the good
feelings resulting from che discharge Of
a patriotic duty and the receipt Of bonn
tiful income Of money. 1t will be per-
fectly faie this year to plant every acre
Of spare land, and this is the season to do
il in. There viii be a resdy market for
all that can be raised. All things point
to a successful result: the season is early
and thus far promising; everything is far
advanced nature is proiuse OF her bles-
sings; the ground is in an excellent state
for receiving the seed plentiful har-
vest, large prices, and a ready market, Is
certain.
While other occupations and trades
will suffer more or less from the scourge
of war, our farming population will be
comparatively exempt from the disasters
that will visit others Then let cur hard
listed friends be wise IN season and plant
every rod Of ground that can be spared
from the meadow and the pasture, so that
war and famine, twin scourges, may for
once be disuniled, and our country hap
PLY be exempt from one of these horrors
Our enemies have been foolisbly calcu-
lating upon starvation riots by the poor
famished, fainting wretches whom they in
80: ,,..,.,,,, III ,,loio ~ ~, Lo,,, rt,to-
We are looked upon by the cotton chiv-
airy as race Of paupers and mercil
meney catchers who have no feeling o.
interest in common with each other, and
rs community where the rich prey upon
the necessities Of the poor, and where
the poor fitch from the granaries or beg
at The doors Of the rich. They have pic
tured to their deluded followers the terri
Bile sufferings of the factory operatives
in what we have been taught TO believe
was happy, plentiful New England we
have been told that very soon after the
south should have burst their letters from
the mercenary north" predatory
bands" Of men "with arms in their hands,
and "saunt, shvering famine staring
them in the face" would throng the streets
Of our cities demanding "bread or blood"
at the doors of the rich. While we can
no; believe that this state Of things will
ever exist among us, it can DO no harm
to prepare for the worst possible contin
gencies that may arise in the path Of our
brave army that ia now lowering along
the line that divides loyalty from treason
and anarchy. The earth must yield its
support to those who are now battling to
protect her free soil from the dastards
who now threaten it, and are beleaguring
the sacred tomb of Washington.
Those "armed predatory bands are
abroad as predicted by cur southern con
temporaries, but not exactly for the pur-
pose Of visiting the doors of the rich, but
to chastise into submission those who have
trampled upon ,he flag Of our country.
" Bread and blood" they must have
Upon the farmers Of the loyal states will
devolve the necessity Of furnishing the
.hread-" bur traitors musl supply the
" blood
The free states have shown an oyerpus
of patriotism and aaye rushed to the con-
flict with an alacriiy that is surprising,
when we consider their peaceful habits,
They have shown spirit not unworthy
the heroes Of The revolution. Our vol
unteers are ready TO do and to die if need
be for their country, and for the honor of
its flag. But patriots have as large stom-
achs as other men, and it requires as
much food to satisfy them as it does other
men. Glory may help TO sustain them
for time, but they cannot live upon glory
alone. Bread drives the bayonet. Then
farmers Of Orleans, be up aud doing;
work while the day la5teth;" plant, sow,
put in plentiful supply Of seed, and you
will have discharged your duty in the
great struggle for freedom.