The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1863-12-29
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pleasant y no8 u 81 the ether
hsod. faisrrs rsiF0aeL - silb vaui
n sesi 3 aet5oa or a mistaken jadse.
men, 10 policy, !, sloalA serve g os
Asa lo,ses an5 3 sar ing. Tie ciese
efihe y,ar aaiarslly I'D. as 20 r.
yssu he events wbirh have oeunrrd
daring iis progress. A. We approach
he erd r. - marked period 81 time,
sc almost insebstiy fail 70 estimate z
he results 81 oar iabers in tbe pat.
and calculating our prospects ttr the
future. The merchant counts hi.
gains the Grmgr surveys tie con-
tents ~ be- slose.lsoasc. The student
estimates his prosrrs. the statesman
reviews 81. record And. IN Ike
manner. every iisea should, II ihst
time, remember ihe interests q lbs
country Is aeli AZ his private affairs
and tesiew The nalioaal work = care.
fully nnd in,elligenlly as bis own
Especially Should til, DC the case 10
lhis country, whore every ciijzpn is a
ruler. lie should make himself well
scquaiuiei with the progress Of the
national arms AMI the results of the
national policy. by 50 doing he will
understand what bis duties may be
with regard to the former, and be en-
Rbl,d 20 decide whether his voice
s'ould be heard to sustain. modify, or
ever throw, the latte.
The year 1868 Is now drawing TO
lis close,--.the third year Of the war;
year that began with douhs and
murmurs, and closes with hope and
confidence. We entered this year
under the gloom and distress that re.
suited from The failure Of the army Of
the Potomac under Burnside, AT
Fredericksburg. We close it with
Gettysburg, and Vick.burg, and Port
Hudson, and Chattanooga. inscribed
on the pages Of lis history. The first
relieved the North from invasion, the
Capitol from fear Of capture, and tile
country from the danger Of foreign in
terventon. The second success, in
augurated with Napoleonic strategy
and finally accomplished by persistent
effort under The greatest difficulties.
resulted in great captures Of prisoners
and arms, renewed our confidence in
the military genius Of our newly de-
veloped generals. proved, if further
pr0oe was needed. the foriilude and
endurance 0, our citizen soldiers. and
oyercame the greatest obstacle in the
way Of the accomplishment Of the
highest enterprise Of the war. Tie
third great VICTORY completed the
work which according 10 tie word. Of
jefferson Davis. would soon be GA
lowed hy the downfall Of the South
,ra Coufederary. The fourth sue.
cess resulted ID the capture ola strong
position in the very center of The
Confpdcrcy and The preserving and
rengthebing Of that position against
all attempts to take it. The great
ness of this victory arise not SO much
from the difficulties Of the capture as
from the means il affords us of reach
ing every part of the confede~cy
which still remains in the hands OF its
government. Ii can never be recap.
turej. II prevents the rebels from
making any successful movements in
tbc territory they have lost. II lays
open the whole Of their possessions 10
the advance Of the Union Armies
Chattanooga constitutes the extreme
projecting point Of the natural foriif-
cat ons Of the mountain ranges. be-
yond which Is an open and level couu-
Try With no points capable Of defence
against superior foe. As soon as
this territory Is pcirced and swept by
advancing columns the Confederacy
is a, an end. Never could Wolfe
look doown from the Heights Of Aura
ham upon the plains beneath with
greater confidence than can Grant in
his mountain strongholds surrey with
iiis minds eye territory TOO vas, TO be
reached with the natural vision.
Tue political condition Of the coun.
try has been as much improved dur
ing the pas, year as have its military
prospects. The year that has gone
will stand forever an epoch in history
Al no time Of the past have oil er.
rors disappeared. and a just and hu.
name public opinion advanced. 50 rap
idly a. during the past year. Wele.
gan the year under grand expert
mea,. The Emancipation proclama.
tim % President Lincoln had been