Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1863-01-01
"wATCHMAN! WHAT. OF THE NIGHTS pr


The New Year opens upon US with dark
clouds in the foreground, but with a ray of light
beyond War with all its horrors is upon u.s.
Our brave men are upon the battle field ex-
posed to death from the foe, and death from
sickness. Our leaders are wrangling among
themselves about men and measures, while the
enemy are rallying all therefore for deadly
struggle. The army of the Potomac is at a
stand STILL and our navy is not heard from,
while single steamer ofthe enemy is sweeping
over the deep, destroying whatever may come
in its way. AT the west the hosts of rebels are
again gathering with an evident determination
to regain some of their lost territory; and east
they rush with daring audacity upon our trains,
and depots of supplies, and help themselves to
what they want. jeff Davis has issued proc
amaton which shows what is the spirit of our en-
envy, and the desperate measures they are de-
termined to pursue. In our army there has
been much suffering ard hardship among our
men; good and faithful men have been passed
over; unworthy men have been kept in office,
or raised above more worthy men, and in many
cases great injustice has been done to true and
faithful officers and soldiers. Frauds innumer-
able have been committed by contractors, and
we fear that many are now feeding from the
public crib, who deserve condign punishment.
This is the dark side of the picture.
On the other hand we have the assurances of
the President AMI others high in office, that the
most determined measures are TO he used TO
put down the rebellion. Gen. Banks, perhaps
the ablest man row in public life, has gone to
New Orleans TO take command of the Depart
ment of the Gulf and Texas, with force we
presume adequate to take Mobile, TO bring
Texas under iedaral rule, 10 keep New Orleans
in subsection, and to MD in clearing the Missis-
sippi river from the forces CT the rebels. We
shall expect much from him. He is q host in
himself and he is too far from Washington to
be hafiled by evil counsels from that quarter
Then we presume that our Navy, which ha:
been so much exiolled, is soon to be put in
motion and is 10 do something worthy of the
noise made about it. We should think il
might not only sweep the Mississippi Of
rebel craft, but also take Charleston, $. c.
and Savannah Ga, and other important
cities and towns on the sea coast and the Gulf
Ard now Gen. Butler is removed from New
Orleans. we are not why he might not be sent
to take Charleston and 10 bring its naughty and
quietly inhabitants under his rigid rule. He i.
(; ust the man TO bring them to TERMS and com
pei them 10 fear, if not 10 respect, federal pow.
err. Nor are we hopeless even Tor the army o
the Potomac. After all its losses and repulses
and the blundelings of those who have dis
rected its movements, we still hope, at least
that it will yet do itself credit. If it has I
fit com mander it will yet conquer. We do no
give up Burnside yet; we are quite willing HI
should have another chance TO meet the foe ant
if he does, we think, victory will be on his side
But best of all, Ibis day commences a new err
for freedom. The Presidents proclamation i
to declare liberty to thousands in bondage
Their day of Jubilee commences. Their shac
kles fall off. This is the day OF doom TO slave
ry in this country. From this day freedom i
in the ascendant. To-day it receives blow
from which it will never recover. This is cheer
ing light amid the darkness. This light "
trust will do much to dispel the dark clou
that broods over US, and from this time fort
will shine brighter and brighter to perfec
day. Let the sounds of rejoicing be echoe
over our hills and along our valleys. Let III
church bells send the glad sound all over thi
broad land. Let us praise God for this greG
deliverance of our brethren in bondage, an
trust in that overruling Providence, that bring
light out of darkness, good out of evil, life on
of death, for a happy dcliveronce in his ow
God time from the calamites which we suffe