Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-02-09

ING phenomena OF the war. Many public men
and not a few Independent and honest newapa-
pcrs, believing slavery to be the poison eating
out the heart q our national life, have, from
the commencement lost no occasion to de-
nounce the dangerous system, and to demand
Of the Government that no opportunity should
DO lost in the conduct Of the war, to weaken and
render powerlese this arch enemy Of free insti-
tutione. For thus speaking aud acting, such
men and such newspapers have been often de.
nounced as radical, not unfrtquently as dis
unonsts, and somstimes as traitors Even a
Congress, Republican BY decided majority,
made haste ,lat the outbreak Of armed treason,
to adopt resolution declaring substantially
tina! slavery had nothing TO do with rebellion,
and thalthe latter should be dealt with in such
fashion as oIkeep the former unhurt, or at.least
damage it as little as possible
But while men were striving TO save slavery,
God had determined to destroy It, and, Of
course the work OF man has been lrougEt to
confusion. President Lincoln in September,
1862, fret spoke for the nation when be gave
the rebels one hundred days notice of his pur-
pose to destroy slavery that the Republic might
be saved. Since that moment, timid men have
grown holder, doubling men have bsen con-
WINGED, and tho politicians who always prefer.
rcd to 20 with tho majority, have had new rave
IL
atlons OF the evils OF slavery, and ito incom sEt-
ibllty with Democratic Government Before
that time conservatism WAS quite popular, and
pro-sayery McUlellanlsm seemed o have blind
cd army and people allks to the folly of at
tempting to stop the river Of treason whilo it's
fountain WAS left untouched From that mo.
mont however, She densioE of 80 fighting an
enemy as not to hurt him, in order that political
friendships might 10 as little interrupted as pos.
able " when the cruel war is over, has been
rapidly washing away, and tho Republic seems
now marching with firm and steady cteps to the
only permanent peace which can follow this
strife, peioe within Union wherein slavery
shall find grave without tho hope Of resur-
recton
There are abundant evidences Of this change
in public option, outside Of the Executive de-
partmen.s Of the Administration, outside Of what
recalled the administration journals and outside
OF tne hangers on Of every party when it is in pow.
er, the mere claqusrs who piti,e aud sppl.ud,
because they hope to make itpsy. Journals that
bslong to the opposition, that have seldom found
anything to praise in the conduct of the admins
uation, thsl have ridculed the Emancipation
Proclamation as the Popes bull against the
Comet" that have denounced every measure
put forward by such men as Sumner Tor the Dc.
,ruction Of Slavery, as unconstitutional and the
very madness OF political frenzy, that have work.
ed INCREASINGLY to shacks the administration by
putting tAe State governments in the hands Of
men svowsdly hostile to the war and open advo
Gates Of Slavery, that have seldom bssn temper
ale, and nsvsr charitable in their structures upon
Radicals, "-msuy such journals ore now com
PEELED to admit that Slavery must inevitably
as a result Of the war, be utterly destroyed The
Now York Express, peace and pro-slayery a. it is,
says:
AL feel that slavery ha; gone by The board
Politically, it wis dead before the war began
Physically, it is dead now and ought not for one
moment to enter into any discussion relating to
the war, any more than anything ell" that i, dead
beyond all hope Of resurrection. The Border
State men oil see this. Shareholders In the Cot /
toa States are aso beginning to see and scknowl.
edge .his truth. Nobody nssd. TO be convinced
tsa. both tn. political and physical powers of
slavery are over in the United States. We need
no argument from Mr.. CANT to assure Us OF this |
fact, nor of the folly Of the South in making the
slvsry question prstsxt for the war. War from
the very start WIS more OF al abolitionist than
an army Of Garrisons and Phillipse, and Gsrt
Smiths"
And the Democratic Boston Post gon still
farther, and while declaring thai slavery must die,
uusr,, as reason for congratuAton in tae pros
pecs, truth which has bean for y.an one Of th.
cardinal principles. of the enemies of chste ,,v.-
ry. 1t nys
' That slavery, as system, will be fatally dam
aged by this war, there can be no doubt. 10 20
far a, the saV system is broken down, and the
system 81 tree labor taxes it place, the country
will be prosp.red-the ,chiie man, al least, tcA
Immediately secure permanent benefit. II tGM tend
10 unite The North ,pith The South, 10 break up sec
iiOndI distinctions and political distinctions
We are not SO foolish as to suppose that's every
paper that now praises the policy which is max.
ing the nation free, or that is willing to lcknow.
edge that il will be good thing for lhi, rcpub.
lie to be liberated from the curse of slavery, i,
sntIey honest in its course, or would not, il it
could fad it profitable and polite, esain, as
heretofore work in the prison hou,e Of bondage
but We quote these admission, u, svidense from
reluctant witnesses against the institution which
hey sa,s for years uphsld and which they even
aow at times sps,msd.caly defend. They So.
hat their slave ship is sinking, and like cunning
alta they are getting ready to desert il; and We
AXE pleasure in recording ther testimony for tn,
Encouragement OF those who have for years,
'gainss every obstacle, and ia the face OF dis.
which would have da.nted and
,roken the spirits Of lsm couraseou, and deter
mined workers, abofed to rescue the uaiian from
his blasting evil of African Slavery.
REBEL LACK or CONFIDENCE IN REBRL MoNEr