Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-04-17
THE WEEKLY FREE PRESS
The Fifteenth Of April.

The Fifteenth Of April.
Two years ago Wednesday April l5th.arpar-
81 the proclamation Of President Lincoln.
announcing formally to the Nation that the
was obstructed in seven States Of the Cuion.
tx, South Caroline, Georgia, Alabama,
Florida, Mississippi. louisiana and Texas,
by combinations too powerful TO be sup
pressed BY the ordinary course Of Judicial
proceedings, or by the power vested in the
msrshals by law and calling forth, in viz
tue Of the power vested in him by the Con-
stitution and tho laws, the militia Of the
States, TO the uuuJber Of 5000, in order to
suppress those combinations, and cause the
laws to Be duly executed. The States above
named, were the only ones which had openly
taken the position Of Secession, though 9TH
ers were deep in the plot and only waited a
convenient hour 10 take the same rchellious
step with most effect.
The fall of Sumter two days before, by
che rebel cannon, like the shock from an
electric battery had struck the heart Of ev-
cry loyal man in the Nation. Men turned
their eyes 10 each other with an inquiring
look, and what next?'' was on every
tongue; and mcu held their breath to hear
the answer. It came in the words Of the
Presidents proclamation and instantly the
cry, "to arms 70 arms =" rang through
out the land. All other business was sus-
T-sni~i the drum 50 long silent was heard
in every village. md old and young, men
and women, Mastered in crowds to tho place
Of meeting, some to give in their names as
ready 10 march alta moment : warning others
20 listen - the ,xhortati5ns Of patriotism
and to offer their hands to d. whatever
might 10 noce' airy = clothe and fur
ni-h the v,lur'ecTs. Money in untold
thousands Ws,s "' once pledged u meet the
wants o. the rccasiln wherever the eve
Wa turnei Tie National flag WE -cen float
ing IN the ais. 1t was, indeed, m upri>ihgof
great pe,lle such as the world never saw
before. Trn., hey had then hot an inadequate
concept "a = the great work that was lcfore
them tn. could MT then realize the iepth
Of wicksdu-ip and insanity which had pos
session Of tie rebel leaders The great con-
spirscy T., tarn a Free government into one
where the millions should he ruled over By
an olga chy Of slave-holjcr- which had
been working up it, plans for many years,
was beyond the conception Of most of them.
When the plotters Of treason had come to
realize that the people Of the loyal State
would s.and by ihc Government Of the coun-
try that the party utilization ct northern ass
ciates, which they had hceu assured would
prevent any attempt TO &c coercc' the seeded
State to obedience. had proved of no practi-
csl value to the rebels in their first hour Of
actual trial, the belief Of millions was that
they would yield at once TO the necessity Of the
cass-that though a few Of the ring-leaders
would fee the country to escape the halter,
the great mass Of their followers would speed
lily return to their allegiance.
Multitudes believed therefore, thai the
trouble would he over in sixty or ninety DAYS.
In regard to al that there was disappoint-
ment in store for both sides So sure were
the rebel leaders that their plots 10 disarm
the Nation and to control the psople of the
Free North by party faction and corruption,
would prove eiectual to bind fast the hands
of the Government, that the reading Of Pres
idsnt Lincoln's proclamation TO the members
or the rebel Confederacy assembled at Mont
gomery, Was received with shouts Of laugh
ter The idea offs geo men responding to the
call of the President seemed to them ridicu-
lous beyond measure We have not heard
of their laughing over any Of his subsequent
proclamation
But the rebellion was neither to prove
success in sixty days, nor to be put down in
ninety days 1t has grown to dimensions
rhica 'rue -, first imagined. and has re-
cciv.,i conference and aid from abroad in
quarters and T., an extent which was never
looked for But the power and determine
ton q the Nation have grown corresponding I
IL; dni taungh occasional and severe re /
vertc- in the ield, incompetency and treach- (
cry il commanders, and alleged want Of .
unitY rud io ecast in Cabinet councils have .
tried tie patience and spirit Of the people, I
tl,. nation Is this day far more powerful for /
the ndi,t than it was when it began , and .
The Thought Of any end to it, except that
Of q total defeat for the rebellion and
Growing victory for the national unity and
authority, Is as distant as possible from the
minds of the loyal people throughout the en-
tire land-a1 the wretched gatherings with I
honor and patriotism o. few, the intrigues
of Northern rebel-sympathizers with the
agents of Foreign governments for destroying
the unity of our great Republic, and the
cabals of those who hate liberty for all men
and love despotism for the few, to the con-
trary, notwithstanding.
fHr WEST VIRGINIA NoTE.-Thirty-iour Of .