The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-02-20

I W 'hoP-AeoPels, anu oitel d poOT man o
darkey has to stake that much," to get
plug of tobacco or "thing that ends il
smoke" Credit has gone to the dogs, wher
it ought always to have been. "Pay as yo,
60, is the principle that rules this part O
OF America. Book-keepers are at discount
Their occupation," like Othello's, is gone
and they 60 with it, to seek some other
With the decentralization of the army O.
the Potomac everybody hereabouts has be
come stripped of his integrity, and sin is
once more sweet morsel on the tongue OF
church-membtrs, as of every other man.
In proof of this, backslding is as common
as sliding down hill in snow time, while turn.
ing out of church follows as naturally. as two
slelShs would turn out to pass each other on
the turnpike. Nearly every young member
Of the various churches in this vicinity. and
some of the old heads have, contrary to
Calv;' fallen from grace, and now 20 it with
a" hop, skip, and jump at balls and euchre
parties, with as great a gusto, as though
they had never seeded from Sa:an's domn-
ions. But secession is now the word. The
state seeding from the Union Wis but the
signal for secession Of every kind. The son
secedes from the father and joins the South
eli army. The daughter secedes from the
mothers apron string and allies herself in
forbidden marriage with some licentious rake
Of the neighborhood. The wife secedes from
the husband and little ones, and forms a
wicked partnership with some graceless
scamp who has tired of his better half
The Young member secedes from the church
to take part IN the merry sports of youth
while the Older one withdraws, that he NAV
have fuller play for his vicious propensities.
The debtor secedes from his promises to pa,
and with the money in his pocket, refuses to
liquidate his honest debts. Not one man in
twenty, within the range of my acquaintance,
comes agreeably up to his engagements. If
there is a gap in the pale around his honesty,
he is sure to slip through it, and leave his
credu,ous obiiger to hunt up his " lost rights -
as best he can. Secession has turned the
world upside down. Ii has upset the state,
the church, the family, the indiyidual-upset
the heart and spilled its God-given goodness,
while the gas of lying and hate, deceit and
blasphemy has filed that receptacle and now
controls the actions of mankind
| am 10 preacher, or teacher of righteous
ness, tut blind man couldn't easily fail to
perceive the tendency of the times, especially
if he should keep his ear open. Swearing
and clustering and dram drinking are as
common as household words, while outbreak
ing crimes of every hue follow as naturally,
as the train il the track of lis fiery locomo-
tive.
Such is society in Kentucky, such or worse
it unquestionably is throughout the entire
South.
In imitation of the father and prince Of
Reputation, one Jefferson Davis of Missis-
sippi; everybody is reuouncing his obiga-
tons, and rushing headlong to hades, via the
Southern Confederscy.
Now for a word on politics-the emanci-
patton proclamation. In confirmation of what
the papers assert, it is fact that everybody
here is " down upon that Presidential doc
ument. The opposition is based upon :he
principle involved, they denying the consti-
tuition or other right of the President to is
sue such an instrument or to interfere in anv
way with slavery in the states. But let this
pass. The principal and most popular OBJ
lection is to the policy If the thing. as a war
measure. It is jocosely asserted that Lincoln
ought 10 be impeached for giving aid and
comfort TO the enemy; lst BY uniting and
tnergizinS the South ID, BY dividing and
weakening the North; anI Sd. BY promot-
irg desert.ons and '!iscouraSirg enliStments
ali OF which, it is believed. directly the
reverse Of the proclamation. What say You
to these specifications Wouldn't it nave
been shresd to nave adopted only such war
measures as would have met TIE appro-
val of al. Union men in the free and border
states. and thus have presented solid from,
to dshsartened enemy?
To particulars: Many Of the kentucky
and some other regiments are nearly disband-
ed by reason OF recent desertions. Not less
than 800 OF tnr lG.h Kentucky infantry,ra raised
in this vicinity, have deserted, and are now
lettering about their homes. Many officers
are resigning others remain at their post
under protest, resolved, like their commands
rot to fight to enforce the proclamation, bu,
rather to resist it. These are facts. Thi,
state Of things is disastrous, augurs anything
but happy solution Of the great problem o.
the rebellion.
The democrats, alias, sfcesh sympathizers
are jubilant over the distraction in the Unior
ranks, and are confident of the speedy sue
cess of the rebellion. AS a consequence
they are more than usually loud and foul
mouthed, and disposed to stigmatize every
body who favors further prosecution of tn.
war as i'd aboiitionist." Yet for al
this, the truly loyal men Of the state are fol
a vigorous warfare against the rebels, though
equally disposed to fight, to prevent the en-
forcement of the proclamation in Kentucky
They hope that the President will have th'
sagacity to see the impolicy of this war meas
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