The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-15

The War.
mountains


The following, to US, very just views on
American affairs, we take from tue Montreal
Witness hoping that the North will call into
reouisition every available power, and make
as short work with this sangunary war as
nossiblc :-Canada Christian Adrocate,
Noru1NG LosT.-Tne world is holding up
its hands in wonder and horror at the des-
,ruction Of property and life involved III the
American civil war and from every quarter
remonstrances, counsels, and entreatles are
offered to both parties to terminate Their an
! natural and SUI cidal strife The expenditure
OF blood and treasure IN this war Is not de
precated so much on account of its absolute
amouot--tor that has been exceeded in wars
which have elected no such deep sympathy on
the ,art of on-looking nations but because
of its assumed uselessness and trullcssness
The South had, according to the opinion of
the world no sufficient reason to rebel against
the federal government but, having done So
the North has, according to the same public
opinion, no sufficient reason for coerclng the
South. Whether, therefore, the TWO div
sions of the Union shall remain permanently
separate or reunte as before, all the suffering
and death and destruction Of property which
ha. occurred in the present war Is supposed
TO be so much clear and gratuitous loss,
which might and ought TO have been avoided
Nay, even those who are identified in views
aud feelings with the North, are apt to ex.
claim What has been gained by the loss OF
a quarter OF "a million 0! men and eight or
ten hundred millions OF property1 Are not
the rebels as strong as ever and Is not the
termination OF the war apparently as Tar OIL
and uncertain as il was at first
1t were IL melancholy and depressing
thoueht. were it true, that all these brave
men have laid down their lives for nothing,
and that all the agonies on their account
which have been suffered by their families,
were suffered in vain. But happily this is
BOT the case. These losses have been nee
essary element in the general result. Nay,
it may well be doubted il any one of the
lives that have been poured out like water
if any portion of the terrible suffering incur
red in the process either Oh the field or 10 the
domestic circle-or if any portion Of the gen
eral gigantic waste and destruction OF proper
ty, could have been spared.
The United States were suffering from
!; can GER which had eaten deep into their vi
tails. They were threatened with destruction
moral, spiritual, social and political, by the
rayages Of the disease. Everyw here, in
Senate, Synod, and social circle alike the
Ioathsume evil lnlruded itself. 1t made the
nation, as IA whole, offensive in the sight Of
all other nations and its worst symptom was
its sitting effect upon the conscience ant
Judgment. Statesmen defended it, doctors o.
divinity and religious societies apoIogized fol
tall, with few exceptions, were occupied
in draping over or enameling the hideous anc
offensive sore. And any vino spoke Of prob
ing, cauterlzng, or cutting it out, was locke
upon and treatei AS an enemy of the public
veal. 1t is quite obvious that such fear
fully deprave1 state Of public opinion needec
some terrible remedy, and that remedy ha,
been, and is being applied by this civil war
But 1t takes all that has yet been suffered
and probably great deal more to brin!
public opinion, even in the North, to health,
state on the question of Slavery.
The terrible carnage III battle. the wounded
lying for days neglected on the field, withou
surgica! aid or perhaps even drop of waite
the weary aud endless labor oil the bes
sons of the North In digging trenches through
swamps-the prlvations uospeakabIe to whc
loya! soldiers were reduced for shelter an,
supplies, whilst their prosIavery generals SC
3 guards to protect the empty mansions, tn
cool wells, and the unused stores OF rebels VIII
were Lighting against the Uniou with all thei
r mlght-ihe Insult put upon the army i
= making 1t slave.catching policy Tor th
South, the Infamous policy OF sacrifcin
almost entire armies to long delays in tn
field Tor lear OF hurting the rcbes-ai thes
u have been necessary to bring the Norther
States to the position which they now tax
on the slavery question, and much more pei
. haps will be required ere they come up
tAe ground OF simple aud unconditional ia,
: tice to the oppressed The powsharo {
0 suffering has been ron deep through tn
h ground that was checked by the growth {
prosavery error aud apathy; but may Y,
Q have to go deeper to get at the very roots ,
: the evil.