The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-04-14
The Overthrow or the Rebellion.


OF the so called "confederacy," was in
our hands-that Gen. Weitzel had
taken possession of it-that President
Lincoln was occupying the house from
which Jefferson Davis had suddenly
fied-that Gen. Shepley was appointed
military Governor for the time being
that the transfer of the State Govern
ment of Virginia from Alexandria to
Richmond was in progress. Gen. Lee
had left for parts unknown ;-Jeffer-
son Davis was fugitive and his cabi-
net had scattered and gone no one
knew whittier. All these facts gave
unspeakablc Joy, inasmuch as they
betokened the downfall of the rebellion
md the prospect of an early restora-
ton of peace.
This week, our dispatches in another
column give assurance that the cam
paign is measurably closed by the final
surrender of the rebel Gen Lee and
the forces under his immediate com
mand. The details of this surrender
win be read with intense interest and
satisfaction. This important event
was forshadowed by the glorious VIC
tories which led to the evacuation of
Richmond and Petersburg and cannot
be said to have taken the country
wholly by surprise.
While Richmond was occupied by
Jefferson Davis and his cabinet, the
rebel government had local habita-
ton and q name, notwit hstanding the
capture and conquest of other impor-
tant places in the confederacy. So
long as Gen. Lee held the city of Rich
mond and could protect his communi-
cations his army was formidable host
But the late evacuation of Richmond
will be regarded, in the Old world as
well rs in the New, as the substantial,
if not final, collapse of the "Confeder-
acy."
Now the rebellion gradually dwind-
les to mere instruction and the reb-
els are no longer "belligerents" but re-
VOTERS. The rebels here and there
may flee to the mountains and play
brigand in unprotected ports of the
country. They may maintain a guer-
lila warfare and thereby gain pre- c.
rious subsistence but the time for large
military operations on their part has,
probably, gone by forever.
A large standing army must for
some time be indispensable. In large
cities and exposed towns, suitable
police force will be needed; but the
integrity of the American Union is an
assured fact and the power of a free
people to protect and defend their ma
tionality has been demonstrated both at
the ballot-box and on the best fought
battle fields ever known in the history
of the world.
Popular interest in learning the de-
tails of the last campaign is very great
but thus far the accounts are confined
to brief dispatches and official reports
The fall of of Richmond, and evacua
ton of Petersburg and surrender o
Lee bring to practical close the great
est campaign ever planned and execut
ed. 1t has taken time, life and money
= to accomplish it. There has been {
fearful sacrifice of blood and treasure
but the life of the nation has beer
preserved: and the leaders of tn,
Union Armies under whom this result
has been attained, will be held in ever
lasting honor. Well speaks the Spring
field Republican of Grant, Sherman
Sheridan, Thomas
Immortal names all, through genius
loyalty and devotion. While Ameri
can history lives, these names will live
Millions of loyal tongues pronounc,
these names to-day, and millions o
grateful hearts breathe blessing oil
them. How much better their fam,
to-day than any that they could VIII
in the presidential chair, or by candi
dacy for it!
1t will be hard for us to take in, a
first, the full results of this magnifi
cent victory. We have been in tn,
habit of saying that slavery is dead
but none of us knew it until Lees ar
my was in our hands. Then tina
which was certain with God was mad
known to men. We are a nation be
yond cavil and dispute, We went in
to the war weak; we have come out O
it strong-one of the strongest power
in government and in arms that live
upon the earth; and we are n free ma
ton. The great curse that bred tn
rebellion will not survive the rebellion
Hundreds of thousands of brave mel
have died, but the years will com
and go, their graves will be whitene,
by winter SHOWS and summer flowers
the scars Of the great conflict will heal
and, at last, be obliterated, and CRATE
full generations will look back wit
wonder and admiration and patriot