Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-01-05
1863,


interest for US, and have, ia a considerable mea-
sure, Withdrawn our eyes from events transporting
IN other countries, except so far as we have con-
sdered those events as intimately or remotely
affecting our own struggle. In the United States
the year was ushered in by the Proclamation Of
Emancipation, the most important State PAPER,
the grandsst and most benifcent national act,
since the Declaration Of Independence. Presi-
dent Lincoln, on the first Of January 1868, bsp-
tised the new year in the glorious name Of Free
dom, and proclaimed liberty to millions of men,
women and children, whose necks all their lives
long have been bent benea tn the yoke Of hard,
brutal and unrequited servitude and that day
must ever stand in our couutry's calendar next
IN importance TO the Fourth ofJuly l776. The
white race in the Republic date their official pa
pers from the earlier period, but another race as
numerous as that which founded our Republic,
will hereafter date their regeneration, the recog.
milton of their manhood, the acknowlt dgment of
their rights, from the year 1863 And SO the
year 10 its very birth was signalized by an event
which will make it illustrous forever.
This Proclamation has been followed by an
unexpected success. 1t has been sometimes said
that President Lincoln is not a leader, and has
only taken steps in advance in the great work of
Emancipation, where the people had already
preceded him. and this is doubtless to some ex-
tent true. But whether the Proclamation would
have accomplished more toward the ultimate en-
REIMBURSEMENT Of the coored race in this country
II It had been issued sooner, or not, its value and
its.efect have been marked and decisive and there
can now be little if any doubt that it will, in the
end, accomplish the work Of liberating every
slave under the Stars and Stripes. Public opin-
ion not ouy in tho Free States, but in the Border
Slave States,-ifwe except, perhaps, Kentucky.
which, however, is rapidly coming round to the
true f4ith-stands by, supports and justifes the
Proclamation, and exults in the anticipation that
it will accomplish perfect work. Indeed now
the most seryile Northern ally of Southern trea-
son sees but one way of saving slavery, and that
IS by the success Of the rebellion; and the militia
ry successes of the last eight months make that
contamination anything but probable The year
1863 has struck fatal blow to slavery in the
United States and, while it may linger in some
localities few years more, death is working at its
vitas.
The military successes Of the year have been
signal, brilliant and decisive We do not need
to recount them. Though in the first months of
the year no marked victories cheered our hearts
and even down to the Fourth of July the fortune
OF war seemed adverse to tie Union cause. vet
then the clouds suddenly lifted, and the sun of
vctory-as glorious as that Of Austertz illumi-
mated the ensign Of the Republic at Gettysburg and
on the Mississippi. Since TINT moment the lin
Its of the rebellion have been gradually contract
ed Zen. Banks is recovering the territory west of
the Mississippi, and Gen. Grant, the consummate
chlefIan, has pushed the rebel, continually toward
the Gulf, redeeming Chickamauga by Chatta-
nooga, where with wild enthusiasm, his brave
troops rushed up the steep and perilous slopes of
Lookout Mountain, and in that battle among the
clouds drove before them, shattered and demon
allied, the rebel army Of the Southwest. The
gallant Burnside captured aad held East Tennes-
see, thus rescung long suffering people from
m uFde nj hal
Wrestling from the Confederacy portion Of eoun.
try OF vital necessity to the rebel cause. II little
progress has been made in Virginia, at least there
the rebellion has gained nothing, the brave Army
OF the Potomac proving more Than match for
the flower Of the rebel army under it, most ac-
complished Generals. AT Charleston most sub.
stantia and most wonderful triumphs Of scie nt6c
warfare have crowned the Union arms, and Gen.
Gilmore has made his name illustrious by his
brilliant successes. Fort Sumter has been re.
duced to heap of ruins and Charleston is now
daily pu! in peril and fright by the shells from
Federal batteries which are almost constantly be-
ing thrown into that nest Of treason. la a word
treason has everywhere received the seyerest and
most damaging blows during the past year its
armies have been defeated, the little credit it had
abroad is almost gone, its finances at home are on
the verge of collapse, and its speedy overthrow
seems assured and certain.
While these great events have been enaetine
here,-the loyal people II the Union successfully
waging war against the most gigantic treason that
ever confronted any Government, and at the
same tim inauguratiug and carrying forward the
humane, benehcent and Christian work of freeing
race from degrading and brutaziug bondage
Europe has been the theatre Of grave and impor.
tant occurrences. Poland has been struggling
with small success to throw off the yoke Of Rus.
STA. Denmark is now threatened with and is pre-.
pairing for war The cunning Emperor Of France
after having partially annexed Mexico to his
realm, has startled his brother rulers with pro.
posal Tor Congress to reconstruct the map Of
Europe and that portion Of the globe seems now
trembling with the premonitory symptoms of
general and terrible war.
But we have neither space nor time to dwell
longer on the history Of the departed year. To
us, although year of suffering toll, hardship and
sacrifice on hundred battle felds,-felds vet
made forever memorable and glorious by hero.
ism of endurance and iortitude, and brilliancy
Of courage and sublimity Of faith never yet re-
corded in the annals OF any other people,-it has
been agar Of almost unparalleled prosperity.
The heavens have given sunshine and rain, and
the earth has borne bountful fruit and the wealth