The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-14
Then and Now.

One year ago tie fierce conflict, in which the
Nation is still engaged with the rebels in arms,
commenced. On the 10Th of APRIL last year,
the traitors opened fire on Fort Sumter. On the
18th OF April that Fort surrendered, the Stars
and Stripes beng hauled down, and supplanted
by the emblem of treason. On tie l4th Of
April President Lincoln issued his proclamation
calling out IS 600 troops to pu, down the rebel
hon. AS we look back upon Tie year just ended,
and run over in cur minds the events that have
made it SO memorable, not only in our own his
tory. but in the history Of the world, it hardly
seems that the Nation is but twelve months older
,nan when the trial Of battle commenced The
terrible experiences of the year have SO burned
themselves into the memory of Us all, that it
would DO idle ia Dor to recount th lem. But the
contrast between the Nation then and, by the
Nation, we mean the Government and its loyal
adhelents,-and the Nation to-day, is so strik
ing that We cannot fail 20 gain some instruction,
much consolation, and much to strengthen our
faith 10 our ultimate and speedy success, by a
brief contemplation of it.
One year ago, South Carolina, Georgia, Flor
ida Alabama Louisiana and Texas had passed
ordinances OF secession. The Confederate Gov
crnmeut under JEFF Davis was in full operation
at Montgomery. North Carolina, Virginia,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas
had governors who refused to respond to the call
of the President for troops, and four Of these
States were making what haste they could to
join the fortunes Of treason Some of the best
officers in the United States regular service had
Joined the rebellion. Immense amounts of mil
itary stores and ordnance belonging to the Uni
ted States, had been stolen and turned over to
the service Of rebellion. Thousands of troops
had been raised and drilled in all the seeded
States. For four months, every energy of the
chiefs of the rebellion had been openly devoted
TO streng thening treason, as for years previously
i. had been secretly working to the same end.
The result was that monster rebellion con-
fronted the Government, threatening and put
ting in imminent peril the Capital of the Ma
ton, while that Capital was cut off from the
thoroughly loyal States by the treason of the
chief city of Maryland Arsenals, forts, Gus
tom houses, mints all along the Southern coast,
had been seized by Confederate troops, and turned
over to the Confederate authorities.
The North was, notwithstanding the warnings
of months, found comparatively unprepared to
meet the storm. Ii had neither arms nor men
in the field. 1t had not believed it possible thai
Americans could commit SO gigantic crime as
to strike at the Flag of the Union. 1t had
hoped that the South was only playing little
more earnestly at its old game of Drag and blus
ter II had wasted precious days, that should
have been devoted to energetic action, in talk
ing over deuslve schemes of compromise anC
concliation. The good Ship Of State was yins
IN the trough of the sea of troubles that envi
rsned it, where she had been brought by the di
yided counsels Of those who had her in charge
and for a momen: there seemed doubt whether
she was destined to drift on to destruction a
the mercy Of the angry winds and the bulletin.
wayes-whether the master and the crew wer
equal to the emergency, and would head th
noble craft 10 the wind, or leave her help ess
the sport of the warning elements. The magte
spoke the word tue gallant crew sprang to the
posts, tie noble Old ship obeyed her helm, an,
nobly bre lstei once more the waves and th
storm.
Weneed not recount the varying fortunes 0