The Burlington weekly hawk-eye., 1862-05-17

1
The present rebsllion vss commenced in the
interest Of very different end from that which
will be attained. II was planned and started
IL the interest Of slavery, andit viii wind up
j against that interest. The State Of vifGna
went into il believing that the power Of
slavery would be strengthened within her bor-
ders. The peculiar trade Of breeding negroes
\ for the Southern markets, profitable % IL had
been, would be, it was supposed grestly en-
HANGED in value. We had more negroes than
any other State in the Union. and the interest
was fast becoming an absorbing one. Already
it had controlled and shaped legislation East
and West for many yesrsss As cotton and rice
and the Southern staples advanced in price, 20
did Virginia negroes. and as negroes advanced
so did the slavery sentiment Of the State wax
bold and exacting Religion and politics were
deeper tinged every year with pro-slavsryism,
and at the breaking out of the rebellion there
| was despotism Of opinion almost Austrian in
| its character. ~.
There has come great change, and there
will come far greater one. Look around In
Western Virginia to-day, and see 1t. 60 to
| Washington, in the District Of Columbia, and
see it.. Cross over the Potomac, into Fairfax
county and see it. Go into the upper end OF
the valley and see it. Go down to Fortress
Monroe and out through the counties of Eliza
beth City, Warwick and York, and sec it. Cross
over into Accomac and Northampton, and see
it. The change is incredible. Where are all the
busy scenes Of life that we're visible in these
localities but . few months agoff Where are
| all the thousands of slaves! Gonel
And they are going every day. Thefront tier
of counties on both shores of Eastern Virginia,
and Of the Valley are being rapidly rid Of their
negro population. Some are taken South al
ways to remain there, while thousands are
scattering and skedaddling North. They have
flocked into our camps and through our lines
and into the employ Of the war in ono way and
another, in vast numbers. And still they are
flocking to the edges Of the state every day,
and are going and disappearing no one knows
where. And. this too notwithstanding the fact
that our army has scarcely advanced into the
interior Of the State. If therefore this condi-
tion Of things is found in "the green tree, what
will be in the dry Whist will it be when
our army reaches Richmond and sweeps on
down with its extended line into the South
What will become Of the thousands of slaves
that are destined to be left by their retreating
or captured masters, and the thousands more
that will Rock to our camps? This is ques-
tion far easier asked than answered. Our
army is not devoting itself to slaves. 1t neither
makes nor unmakes Q slave. 1t takes no cogni-
rance Of the institution many way. 1t knows
1t governs itself as all armies are forced to gov
ern themselves in an enemy's country. It uses
all its advantages without reference to other
considerations than those of humanity.
This much by way of preface. War brings
its compensations. And no part Of the country
will be more compensated than Virginia; not
rebel Virginia, but Virginia as tract Of coun-
try with o new population and new ideas
Within the next year, Virginia, as she was in
the East at the outbreak Of this rebellion, will
be entirely changed. The process has even
now commenced. Just as Washington City has
been revolutionized socially within the last
twelve months, so has the adjacent country, as
far as the army has progressed, on the Virginia
side. And our army will be more or less an
army of occupation in Eastern Virginia for
year to come. 1t cannot remain there without
effecting remarkable change. Many Of the
old owners of the soil, tired Of the war; long
ing for escape to more congenial atmosphere;
shrinking from the change Of style that will set
in; filed, many of them, with grief and disap-
pointment will only be too anxious to sell out
and leave, Confscation will be q still more
sweeping agency. 1t will complete the social
revolution. 5sssaf.s ras
The old order of things did not pass away
from Spain half so fast as it is passing from the
State of Virginia. That which was radical only
o few months ago has become consecutive now
and that which is conservative in this present
April, will be effete before the next. In spite
of prsjudice-in spite of the natural timidity Of
men to advance IN opinion beyond that which
is orthodo1-in spite Of all time.serving-the
change will be rapid. sa.