The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-08-01
A Change of Feeling.

The Boston Post, which would rather see
the government fail than to have the "pecul-
lar institution" harmed, critieises sharply an
article which lately appeared in the Journal,
in which the latter paper stated facts in regard
to the abettors of this rebellion at the South
which will be hard to controvert. We do not
refer to this to side with either paper in the
discussion, but in the Journals reply to the
Posts criticism there are sentiments express
ed which ale rapidly gaining favor in the
minds of New England people at least, and
We believe in those of the entire North. A
change Of feeling in regard to the manner of
carrying on the war is rapidly going forward.
Men who one year ago advocated the carry
ing of the musket in one hand and the olive
branch in the other,now see the utter futility
Of such course and strongly urge the gov
eminent to drop the olive and take up anoth-
er musket. But the Journal tells the thing
as it is, and liz plain words:
I'VE have never advocated, even IN this
war, any departure from the CONSTITUTION,
the Union, and the enforcement of the laws -
We have hoped to see returning reason bring
ing one State after another back to duty, with
all its rights intact, and with full power to
manage its internal affairs in its own way
The action of the government has been based
hitherto on that same hope and expectation.
1t has gone forward with the sword in one
hand and the olive branch in the other, at
lacking rebels in arms with one hand, and de-
Tending the property of traitors with the 9TH
err, and it is this method of conducting the
war which has left us where we are, instead
of producing submission to the laws and a
return to loyalty. Instead of undertaking the
Southern aristocracy, both government and
people of the loyal States have overvalued it.
We have in our hearts given these 3O0,O 900
shareholders credit for the possession of hui
man feelings, of which they are entirely des-
titute. We have treated them as men, and
they have proved to be fends: and while the
war has been allowed to anguish on our part,
these tyrants have driven every able-bodied
white man into their ranks at the point of the
bayonet, presenting to our astonished gaze
an army of three or four hundred thousand
men, seren-eighthS Of arhom are consc,ipts.
compelled TO tight by their tyranic masters for
cause in which most of them have no inter-
est, and in which not fourth part of them
would voluntarily enlist. And how do they
support this vast army? They have neither
money nor credit, but they toast 100000
slares at their backs, mhose labor Mone fur-
nishes the means.
For ourselves, we have changed our opin-
ion; we no longer hope to see one State
brought to loyalty by its own voltion. Eve
ry rebel State is as perfectly under the con-
troll of this oligarchy as France is under the
rule of its Emperor; and not State will be
redeemed until this tyranny is overthrown,
and the vast ma iority of the MISUNDERSTANDING
population is allowed to breathe think, speak
and act tree from the coercion of their slave
holding tyrants. We have spent money
enough and wasted lives enough in this con-
test: we have wasted words enough and ex-
hlblted more than enough ofthe spirit of con-
citation and good feeling, without making
the slightest impression, or gaining simple
point; and it is high time the people of the
loyal States should know the reason why
100000 tyrants having control most absolute
over 100000 of whites and 100000 of
blacks. Three hundred thousand persons
hating free men and free Institutions with an
intensity of malice that we cannot conceive
Of, determined to rWe or ruin, but never to
submit to the Constitution and laws of this
republic. After the experience of the past is
there man in the loyal States rho mishes to
see THIS rebellion crushed and vet believes in
concttia'ng those people? If there is histo-
ry writes in vain for him.
The time for soft words and soft blows is
past. We have pictured the South as it is,
the Shareholder as he is. and the obstacles in
the way of reunion. If We are to continue
this war it must be with the full determina-
ton to remove those obstacles AMI thus pro-
cure peace"