Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-09-26
BY Bp WALTON
RAfiS

BAGS.
To hear the common talk Of the streets
one would think that nothing was so easy as
for one army to drive another into bag -
Whenever we hear of an army Of a hundred
thousand rebel soldiers in motion, we begin
TO talk about bagging them, as If all there
was to be done was to set big sack, hold il
open, and drive them in, very much as we
drive sheep into pen. We are not satisfied
with beating them. or routing them. Moth
Ing is done unless they are bagged We
thought it was considerable Of military OPP
Grafton for Mcclellan to take the beaten army
OF Pope aud the fresh levies, and turn the vic
torious hosts Of the South, and force them
from Maryland to whence they came. It
looked like good generalship, and like a real
success TO our arms Of the most ilustrious
character. But no There are those who
will have it that it is all nothing, so long as
the rebel army is not bagged What profit
j. there in all these successes so long as it is
Mcclellan who has won them, What are all
our honoss SO long as Mordecai the Jew sits
in the kings gate This habit Of requiring
of our troops impossibilties, is a sure way
TO make us thankless for their most splendid
victories. Let US have done with all this talk
about anacondas and bags.
The success Of the army in driving back
the invaders, in routing them from their cho
sen positions, in defeating their best generals
and bravest troops flushed with three months
series Of triumphs, is one whose magnitude
we can hardly oyoro.timate. They are now
defeated, not only in their arms, but in their
policy. Ii was the policy Of the South to in-
wade the North. Their generals were hidden
to execute that policy They have tried to
carry into effect the mandate Of the rebel
Congress, and they have failed. The civil
power tried to force the military power to do
au impossible thing The policy Of invasion
j.. nov dead failure And with its overthrow
is fatal loss Of southern prestige abroad. In
trying to accomplish the impossible, they
have gone far towards losing that which was
possible. Their defense is weakened by this
failure Of their offensive stroke They have
exposed their own breast by this desperate
lunge which has been so well parted Prov
idonce has given us great and costly victory
latu us not drcry IT, Our generals and army
have done we'll Nay, more. they have don,
a shat they could do. Letus cheer them OF
60 future victories by our gratitude and admi
ration.
THE PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION
The President has issued his proclamation for
ever cmancipaiing all slaves after the first of Jan
nry prox. in States or parts Of States then to be
designated. Il is done as q wm measure, to the
e1I of restoring the Constitutional relation Of the
Southern States 10 the Federal Government. IA
O. war measure, then, It will be judged II it sue
ceeds in weakening the armed forces Of the South
crIpplng rs military energy, or in subduing 10.
hostile enthusiasm; or if successful in uniting 10,
North, and giving additional strength TO the Union
sentiment IN the whole country, and restoring Oh,
Constitutional relations Of tee rebels, then it will
hc Judged wise and polite Ithas been much de-
precatcd and greatly desired 10y patriotic men o
a., parties Time only can reveal It's wisdom
means 90 Che end il proposes II it accomplishc,
tbe result il aims at, and proves to Doe a lever sui
dioutly strong to overthrow the rebellion good
mon viii everywhere rejoice. fit fails as wai
measure. then it will bat add to the terrible pres
sure of thc evils already weighing upon the coun
tre We have deemed that il would Dee fine great
Get unwisdom. Ii time show, the nlsity of oul
Wow, and expectations and il proves to be Oh,
.anacea of our troubles, thc highway ou which we
,ali march speedily 90 Che end of the war, and DO,
oppression of rebellion and Che restorlto on of
OBJ. Constitution and Union. then we shall thaub
God for the defeat Of our expectations, II sim,
should verify our expressed fears in respect 90 Do.
Hpohcy, then the country will hold It's author
ospousblo for every disaster that may follow "a
ie wake. Il is too soon to be iuhilant. Ou
hopes of tho suppression OF the rebellion ha,,
been too often raised 10y this or that policy, an,
then disappointed to permit "a. to have very rose
.olored anticipations at the adoption of mean.
which its advocates have frequently called " %,
a,, desperate measure We can only hope
against hope and pray against expectation tha
t may prove all that its warnest friends believe 4
viii prove, aud not be the last lost stake OF th'
American Union.
So much from our friend who has often an,
ably discussed the question of emancipation as
,tlr measure W. ars mot auxiotis IA mt thai