Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-02
The End of War.

Rebellion, as an organized body, is dead.
What vitality there was left in it expired with
the surrender OF Johnson's army jeff Davis
may have some OF the records and small por-
ton oil the plumber Of the concern in his carpet
bag, but ali the respectabili,y and character
add power ot treas have vanished. The rebel
army of Nor heIn Virginia so long the bulwark
OF treason Is shattered scattered, dead, deserted
or gone home Johnston's army has followed
It's example. There is no rebel force in all the
States OF Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro-
ina, Georgia and Florida. What traitors re-
main in arms anywhere will quickly dispense
or surrender. The old dag will soon, without
resistance, be uniurled over the capital OF every
lnsurgent State, and the rebel rag will be driven
from every foot Of our soil Aud with this
comes peace.
This is no longer prophecy. It is fact. What
lorcl5n enemies nave eHultingly told us we could
never accomplish, has been fully performed.
What rebel sympAthizers at home said we should
never live To see, rs at our very doors. The day
that timid patriots feared might never dawn,
already reddeus the eastern sky The campaign
which Grant opened on the Rapidan about one
year ago, and which, through all the watching
and marching, and 6ghtug of the brave army
OF the Potomac, has made Eastern irginia one
vast battle held aud grave yard has closed lts
twelve months bloody record by final and de-
cisiyo victories, and has ended the war. Within
lew weeks the brave soldiers who have won
these triumphs for us, with ranks strangely
thinnet utwith the steady trtad and iron front
Of veterans, will march, with their torn but
glorious banners, through our streets, to receive
the wa,mest aud most heartfelt thanks OF the
people, aud then resume their places once more
IN The ranks Of peaceful industry.
VITA US, with most Of the North outside Of q
few branches OF business, and beyond the homes
which viii be gladdeued by the returning sol
dlet', thu change will b. hardly olt The e1-
c'teucn', the anxety, the suspense we have
experienced for four years will pass away, bur
our busy industries will continue the same as
before But the change in tho South will be
sweeping, complete and vital The foundation
Of society Is there to be broken up The new
state Is not there 10 rest upon the old, or to grow
out OF 1t, tu. is to DO Inherently and radical.
i y different irom 1t, and to take the place OF it.
Peace to the South GOES not mean alone the
The return Of soldiers to their families, aud the
tightening the bsrdIus OF tax ,tion, but IL me nus
new birth, new creation, in their political
ideas, aud their civilization.
But whatever peace may bring to any o. US,
u is now al hand, and we welcome it with the
utmost joy. "GriW visaged war shall sme,t
his wrinklei 'front.' hasoliIer, diing adleu
to picket, aud biNouac, aud camp, aud battle.
hald shall beat his ssotd into a ploughshare
and, let u, hope, be compelled to learn war no
more and as he returns from the ted Of his
! glory he eau say
Nos ATE our brows bound viii vc,.fiou, wreath,
outbruised arms huur up Tor monuments
our sierra alarms chAnsed to merry r,etinss,
! Our dreadful marches 10 deli shtfui measures,
And in the future, upon whose threshold We
stand 10 day, II We are careful to make no con.