The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-19
The Price Of Cur Liberties.

In the first exultaton over the victory at Fort
Doaeson We found no place for mourning. The
leaping tide OF our enthusiastic hopes over
whelme3 air other considerations, and we re-
joiced as though there was no bitter drop in the
cup o. eur happiness The stimulating nectar
Of the victory thrilled along our nerves and fired
our deains, and deadened all our sense of the
painful casualties Of the fearful strife. The
rainbow light Of our restored faith gildcd every
feature Of the battle and so glori6ed the martial
pageant and the magnificent victory, that for
the moment CUR vision did not take in the long
list Of martyrs to freedom that lay cold along the
suic&ea field, and our ears did not catch the
groans OF the wounded as they mingled with the
shouts Of triumph and the pealing anthems of
success. But as we look with more calmness
over the field, alter the first flush of joy has
passed, we are made painfully aware that the
nation can only live through the sacrifco of
thousands OF its best and bravest children, and
that che way to the hight Of our country res
toration lies through the red sea of the peoples
5Ioad- Coy. Andrew, speaking Of the disaster
At BsN' s Bluff, said that the blood of the brave
sun9 OF The Republic, mingling with the waters OF
tLo Potomac, had made that river ours forever
;!iM well may tnenaton say that the soil enriched
by the Likelihood Of the hundreds who, with a;
lofty eath"slasm, a gallant daring. sublime
iath, an unainching devotion, cheering as they
wcnt, marched into the face Of the encmys fire
as Fora Doneison, and laid down their lives IN
carrying the Old Flag to victory, shall be for.
ever consocrated to Freedom and over it shall
ever wave the flashing banner under which they
40 CALAMITY fought and SO gloriously died.
Their memory shall be enshrined in the heart
OF tte natssa, and their martyrdom shall illus
trats and make eloquent the history of our new
war for independence
Who can seirain from shedding tears as he
reads the terrible news of the three DAYS fight.
Ing at Fort Donclson? The steady, unAinching
daring Of our soldiers, their contempt of tho ia
tgue, aaa hardships, and dangers, and death
With which their pash was beset, their fortude,
strength and courage have made them all heroes.
They "ere the children of the Republic, every
one as good. and brave and noble as his fellow
They have made for themselves record of fame
that shall speak their praises to coming genera
t'o"s- And they have done more they have
not only made their own fame secure. and shown
no" tr"emen can die that Liberty may live, but
they have made the name of the American sol.
dier Industrious for all coming time, and set
shining example that shall provoke most brill.
ian' achievements in every subsequent battle.
And let us be reminded, az we pause over the
iunerai pageant that ever follows the battles of
this waF, OF the cost OF our Liberties. They
were FIRST purchased by the patient toll, the I'M
relaised service, the weary labor, and the price
Ices blood Of the revolution. And IN the mid
die al the nineteenth century, and after eighty
five years OF successful empire, they are costing
mors treasure and more blood to preserve, than
was sacrificed aJ the first. To-day we will not
speak al the paltry dollars that are to be weighed
QUE ia exchange for the preservation of our cuul-
try because they should not be named alongside
the treasure of life that is freely offered on the
altar ct cur liberty. The life that comes to the
Nation through such death, through such be-
rsaveo,ents OF households, such rendIng of heart
strags, such mourning through every hamle,
IN ali our borders, should never again be con-
tAminsted and debased by any departure from