The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-08-29

has kept ten. And the proof may be found
that While IN the West, as in the East. the
better educsted, more intelligent, and more
energetic minds, have at once comprehended
the necessities of the war; and dared the
whole, call it Abolition or not the binder
and more iliterate, who were afraid of being
called Abolltionists, have kept back, or re-
NAMED by secession altogether.
AS we write, striking proof of our news
comes before US in remark in an influential
and able Western conservative journal, the
Nebraska News. The remark in question is
to the effect that the proposition made by us
in the Continental Monthly, to partition the
contscated real estate of the South among
the soldiers of the Federal army is nothing
more nor less than "a bribe for patriotism. =
That is the word.
Now, politics apart-aboltion or no aboli-
tlon-we presume there are not ten rational
men In the country who believe that the pro.
position to colonize Texas in particular with
tree labor, or to settle free Nortl ern soldiers
IN the cotton country of the South, is other
than I]udiclous and common-sensible. If it
will make our soldiers fight any better, it GER
tanly is not very much to be deprecated To
settle disbanded volunteers in the South so
as to gradually drive away slave labor by the
superior value Of free labor on lands confis-
Gated or public, is certainly not very repre-
hensible proposition. But it originated, as
all the more advanced political proposals of
the day do, with men who favor Emancipa-
ton, present or prospective, and therefore it
must be cried down! The worst possible
construction is put upon it. 1t is "a Lribe for
patriotism, and must not be thought Of
Better lose the victory says Conservatism,
rather than inspire the zeal of our soldiers
by offering any tangible rewardr We beg
our thousands of readers in the army to note
this Since we first proposed in these col
umns to property reward the army by giving
! to each man his share Of cotton-land, I've did
not even 60 so far as to insist that the land
should absolutely be confscated, knowing
we'll, and declaring, that Texas contains pub
lie land enough for this purpose, the demo-
cratlc-conservatlve-pro-slavery press, especial
ly Of the West, has attacked the scheme with
unwonted vigor. For the West understands
the strength latent in this proposal better
than the East; it knowS what can be done
when free Northern vigor goes to planting
and town-building it knows how the thing
is done : it 'has been there and sees in our
'brbe tor patriotism the most deadly blow
ever struck at Southern ariStocracv. Conse-
Quently those men who abuse Emancipation
IN Its every form, violently oppose our pro-
posal to give the army such reward as their
services merit, and such as their residence in
the South renders peculiarly ft 1t is "a
brlbe ) 1t is extravagant it-yes-it is Abo-
lluon The army isrespectlully requested not
TO think of settling in the South, bu: to hob
b.e back to alms-houscs in order that democ-
racy may carry its elections and settle down
IN custom-houses and other snug retreats.
And what do the anti-energy, ATTRACTION,
anti-contrabanddigging anti everything prac-
teal and go-ahead III the war gentlemen pro-
pose to give the soldier in exchange for his
cOtton-and Let the soldier examine coollv,
If he can, the next bulle,-wound in his leg.
lie vii! perceive puncture which will prob
ably, when traced around the edge and care
fully copied, present that circular form gener-
ally assigned to a--cipher. This represents,
we believe, with tolerable accuracy, what the
antl-actlonlsts and reactlonists propose to give
the soldier for that leg. For so truly as we
live, so true is it that there is not one anti
Emancipationist in the North who is not cp-
posed to settling the army or any portion OF
it in the South, simply because to do any
thing which may in any way interfere with
the institution, or jar Southern aristocracy
forms no part Of their platform.
We believe this to be as plain fact as was
ever yet submitted to living man.
Now, are we to go to work in earnest, to
boldly grasp at every means Of honorable
warfare, as France or England would do in
our case, and overwhelm the South,or are we
going to let it alone? Are we, for years to
come, to slow V fight our way from one sma!
war-expedency to another, as it may please
the mongrel puppies Of Democracy to grad
ually get their eyes opened or not? Are
We to arm the blacks by-and-by, or wait til
they shall have planted another corn-crop fol
the enemy? Shall We inspire the soldiers by
promising them cotton-ands now, or wait til
We get to the street of By-and-by, which lead:
have our victory now, or wait till We get it
Up and act. We are waiting for grass to
grow while the horse is starving. Let tn,
administration no longer hold back, for 10
the people are ready and willing, and ont
grasp at fiercely brave, deciIedpolic would
send roar Of approval from ocean to ocean
One tenth part of the wild desire to adop
instant ard energetic measures which is nov
struggling into life among the people, would
if transferred to their leaders, send opposi
ton, North and South, bowling to Hades.-
We find the irrepressible discomfort gather