The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-09
The Difference.

Last april 1t was a serious question whether
Maryland would not secede. The necessity how
ever, OF holding that State firmly in the Union
was apparent. Yet the rebels in Baltimore cut
off the accumulation to Washington, and for
awhile substantially held the General Govern.
ment at defiance. But the Capitol Of the Ma
ton was South Of that State, and it WASH t
possible for even che blindest timidty or the
most hesitating tender heartedness not to see
that the rebellion mus. be Immediately strangled
in sryand, or Washington abandoned Tn,
Government acted at once, though with some
hesitation, even in the face of that stupendous
danger. Federal troops were stationed through
out Inc disaHcoted portions Of the State. The
guns of Fort McIIenry kept Baltimore quiet -
Federal EayCnets and Federal troops saved Ma
ryland not only from secession but from being
The battle ground OF treason, and the same in
strumentaIitios have kept it in the path of 10y
atty, TIL treason in that State has either left for
further South, or Stimulates patriotism.
ye. we believe that Maryland has b ca at no
moment since the outbreak Of rebellion more
loyal than Kentucky if it has been as :. UGH 50.
Had Gov. Hicks convened the Maryland Legis-
iaturc last spring it would have voted that Stale
out OF the Union and it is more than probable,
shat 1t would have seeded late in the summer,
had lot Union troops substantially dissolved the
body at Frederick.
But how was Kentucky treated all through
'he Spring and Summer, by the Government?
1t claimed 10 be neutral, and lis neutrality wac
respected. Unlise Maryland it had q traitor
for Governor, but 1t had a lee islatu,e that Was
loyal. Magoifn endeavorei to get it out Of
The Union, bnt the legislature kept it in. Bu,
chls WIS all done with q sort of understanding
that Kentucky was 10 b, neutral, or, in other
words, take her owu time and methods for aly
ing herself to The Union cause. Magofin was
IN communication with jeff Davis, the legisla
tuIo VAS in communication with President Lin
coin. tAa Eeault was Kentucky was'' let alone. :"
which was exactly what jeff Davis desi, Cd
10 be sure, Ctr Government knew that the only
ROAD 10 East tennessee, which was more LOYAL
Than Maryland. il not moro true to the Union
Than Washing Ion itself, was through Kentucky.
i knew that the line Of railroad from Rich.
anond to Nashville was of nealcuable impor.
'tanee to tho r'hels. Itknew That strong Un-
ION feeling existed in the 10, thorn part Of North
Carolina, which could be strengthened and de.
veloped intoa valuable ally, only by troops sent
shTeGsh Kentucky. IL had thousands of troops
that could any week have been concentrated at
any point on the Ohio river Yet the Govern
Inent allowed the golden moments to 90 by I'M
improved, and never really made the least DEM
onstraton in Kentucky looking to an advance
South, till a rebel army stood with bayonet and
cannon disputing every inch of Federal advance
in that State. The rebels had gained by the
delay jus, the time they desired for their
preparations, and now JEFF Davis meets our ar
mics at every point Of the advance in Kentucky,
as in Virginia, with all army at least equal
in numbers, energy and zeal TO our own.
Does any one suppose that there has been the
Geass necessity for thus giving treason lime to
choose its battle-ground and ortify its positions
except the single on tina. the Government have
deemed it wiser to follow the tmid counsels of
border State Unionsts, than to boldly and def
antly strko at rebellion in the shortest and mos:
direct way? II Kestucky lad been treated last
April aud May as Maryland was, Bowling
Green and Columbus would behind instead OF
in front Of our lines to-day, and occupied by