Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-04-25
ENLARGEMENT OF THE AREA OF FREE.
DOM,

Since it became certain that the people
are in earnest in their determination to
put down the rebellion, and that nothing
can turn them from this purpose, we have
felt that several things are settled, and
have had no sympathy with the blind
impotence which would forestall events.
We have been confident that the Union
would be saved and the constitution re-
main unbroken that slavery as political
power on this continent would be annihi-
lated, and as a social institution wounded
past all recovery and that at the close
of the great struggle we should present to
the world the sublime spectacle of great
nation of freedom that had gone through
the severest contest on record and main
tanned the national life, in strict fidelity
70 the constitution and laws, against the
strongest inducements to violate both in
order to strike a blow at the prime cause
of the rebellion, but rewarded for this con-
scientious adherence to fundamental law
by seeing slavery destroyed by the mad
ness Of its own worshipers. That would
be a demonstration of inherent strength
and vitality in q republic such as no des-
potism has ever exhibited, and the begin
nings of this glorious consummation are
already apparent.
The distinguished patriot and divine,
DIR. Breckenridge of Kentucky, said in
one of his earnest protests against seces-
sion, when his State hung trembling over
the abyss: ~ H.. Taa
1.-The present disloyal race of cotton
and sugar and rice planters Of the South
its great property holders, who ought,
above all men, to have put down this re-
bellion-will, as class, disappear, beg
CARED, perhaps in large proportion extinct,
when the war is over. 1t is fearful ret
mbution, but we do not sec how they can
escape it, "...a
Whose planters are already beggared.
Their negroes, once source of princely
revenues, since the cultivation of cotton
and sugar has become proftless, arc only
tax upon the resources, and another year
of war will compel them to set their slaves
adrift to shift for themselves. The testi-
mony as to the poverty and desperation
of the planters is beyond doubt. If they
set their negroes to the cultivation of corn
instead of cotton, they may raise enough
to feed them, but any surplus crop for
clothing and other supplies will be out of
the question, and will bring no return in
anything more valuable than confederate
scrip, if they should raise it. And if the
people Of the cotton and Gulf states con-
tinue madly obstinate the process already
successful commenced on the fertile island
Of South Carolina and Georgia will be ex-
tended into the interior, with the advance
Of our victorious armies, and soon thous-
ands of plantations will be worked by
free negroes for the benefit of the govern
ment, while their late owners "will disap-
pear, beggared, perhaps in large proportion
extinct" This social revolution is to go
on, and probably with more rapidity than
most of US are now prepared to believe.
"A similar change, but by different
methods, has already commenced in the
border slave states. The fertility and
beauty Of this great central belt of the
Union, 50 long closed against the capital
and enterprise of free settlers, arc now
discovered and appreciated. Our soldiers
write home enthusiastic descriptions Of it,
and when peace is restored they and their
friends will cmigrate thither, to create
new homes for themselves, under milder
sky. In western Virginia the process of
settlement from the free states has already
commenced. And western Virginia is
now the whole Of Virginia, for the theory
upon which the general government bases
its action for the restoration of the seeded
states to the Union is, that their loyal
citizens alone have political rights under
the constitution and shall be placed in
possession Of the governments of their re-
spective states. The loyal portion Of vir-
.ginia has voted for the abolition Of slav-
cry, and that decision is the decision Of
Virginia If this view is maintained the