The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-31
1862.

recKoning by events, by TAR the longest OF an
since the organization of the. Republic. Tn
gigantic struggle between government an
treason has engrosssd almost the undivided at
sention of the people Of this Republic, an
: commanded the undated interest of the entir
civilized world. One year ago, when we stoo
on the threshold of 1862, we looked forward, il
view of the immense preparations already mad
BY the nation. TO speedy and complete triumph
of our arms everywhere, and quick and fata
collapse of the great rebellion. In this hop
we have been most sadly disappointed, ane
should prefer, after lapse of twelve months
to speak rather of what we hope will be, thar
Of what we know has been done.
The retrospect, however, is not wholly gloomy
and IN moment of somewhat general despond
eney, it may serve good purpose to recall oul
position one year ago, and compare it with the
situation to-day. Then, what had we accom-.
pllshed? TO be sure We had had Iatteras Inls,
and Port Royal to glory over, and had made
some progress in Kentucky but the great work
of suhduing the rebellion, except in preparation,
wac but just begun Our Grand Army of Vir-
ginia had LETT the Potomac Blu, once, and then
had returned, routed rabble, to Washington.
From Fortress Monroe, we had scarcely advanced
at all inland. We had occu pied unimportant
positions along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts,
but left the rebellion, in it's strongholds, almost
untouched. The expedition down the Mississip.
p', so lung in preparation, had not then started.
In short, little had been done except in calling
into the field what We then thought to be an i'm.
msnSe army, and in preparing for vigorous
and general onset upon treason, on ell the bord-
ers of the rebel Confederacy.
This general aspect of the situation has been
substantially changed since then and remains
now much more favorable for the national cause
than it was twelve months ago. Kentucky,
with the exception of occasional raids of Nor
gans guerrillas, is free of rebels The Missis-
sippi is nearly all in the control of our Western
feet. Middle and West Tenn. ssee have been for
nearly year practically under the control of
the national authority. New Orleans and the
Lower Mississippi have been for many months
in the firm possession of portion Of our army
And although in Virginia, on the whole, we
have gained but little, yes larger army than
ever before row menaces treason on the Kappa
hammock, when one year ago it was watching
the banks of the Potomac. And this is not the
whole of the change for the better. The Army
Of the Republic is larger, better disciplined,
more completely appointed, and we hope better
commanded than one year ago. The Navy is
also in every respect better and stronger than
then. And may we not hope that the gov
eminent itself has profted by the experiences
Of the year, and is more thoroughly penetrated
with conviction of the necessity of crushing
the rebellion by sharp and decisive war.
And besides these material advantages which
this lapse of time has given US, let US take cour-
age in the remembrance that in no era since the
foundation of the Republic have such great,
humane, benefcent and just measures been in
as those which will, in the history ,
Of the nation signalize 1862. The treaty for
The suppression OF the Infamous Slave Trade,
The abolition Of Slavery in the District of Co
umbla, the conservation Of the national terrific {
ries to Freedom, the proposition for compensa- i
ed emancipation, and the prelude to the grand 4
blow which, with the opening OF the new year, t
to fall upon Slavery in all iebellous territory,
IRE acts Of which any nation or people may