Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-07-19
CLOSING SCENES
Ten Eyentful Years.

Ten years ago to-day the $7th Congress
convened at Washington to provide means
for crushing out Il srca. rebellion. \ nation
that had successfully waged war with foreign
powers was now in danger o. destruction BY
domestic loce. Those high in authority had
for years been plotting treason, under the
very eyes Of honest men and they knew it
not. or il ;hey did, gave no warning voice.
Arms and munitions of war had been taken
from northern ar,cnais ami distributed over
the south. ready for use whenever their party
should be deprived Of power. Tie army was
5 scattered That no considerable numbers
coald BE- made available in our emergency.
The few vessels constituting our navy were
cruising On foreign seas, $50 that months
must be consumed in briuIin, them lack
anI fitting them far use.
Il Wa 20 such an hour rs ta that the
loyal senators and representatives met in
council Men ami money mss. p. raised
ana Cansrc-s. ia the face IT cecry d,scouf-
a.eucnt, set about tins wa-'. with z.ai and
determination which che tut1r. historian can
--.s r.,I - mention There were some men
whose names w.u. Ii century hence, stand
beside thI-- who pllstcd the l.rtle ship of
state through the fearful struggle OF the
revolution. Time alone can make great
heroes Tie lah4rs of great men 1rr seldom
fully appreciated till the ~. ar ages inter-
yencs- For tac present NC dwell too much
upon the faults of our benehctors. while
time. ora-inz these LITTLE stains, SHEDS add
ti2nal lustra upon The n9hler traits of char
aclfr
Wah.t- .l.,.rip, r. r..-,.. tlc r,yorse
ani tri4rnut.- ~ 1lr for.e- 81 nni and -,
i +. an i,nn.r..,u. that g. re,I,l. y,a.
our position f.. thc .,rest f.n,ily Of nations
..,u44r.a with that Of ,,Gl. Al lca-t one
cause If repr,ach has been removed The
yoke Of oppression has been lite! from four
iHllion human leip,-. and the I,i,oriou. task
III c,lae,tjn, them ant fftin.r them for the
dntirs W c.tiz.p.b,r ...s been suddenly
thrown urou as NJ change IS, great and
sudden ever took place-vcstcrIav they were
slaves. to-day thew are citizens. Whatever
,,i,,t have rao ..,i,oi by .lel,y r. * ..r,,i,,
that the National G,vcrnm, ut w,u'I have
been rowerlcss ten years later. AMI it is not
likely that the Southern states themselves
would have ever GRANTED them any priyilc,cs
+ which thcy could protect their lives or
property Wheu these days of mtdu,s- and
persecution are over. then will the South
enjoy season of prosperity Of which she
has never dreamed.
Again. the last decade has made terrible
havoc among our prominent men How
many names, familiar in every household
ten years since, are now ensrayen on .omh-
stones Where are the men who figured =,
conspicuously at Washington the winter he
fore the war commenced. They have many Of
them gone down to the grave. or had the
stamp Of traitors 90 Indeliblv fixed upon
their brows. that they are no loncer c,nn5 IN
public life. As YOU Glance over the present
roll OF the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives and then over the roll or members whose
term of Office expired at the time Of Iinc,ln.s
inauguration. Won will notice but r,,v names
upon both rolls How have the mighty
fallen
In the humber walks Of life We notice
similar changes la every ncighborhood are
the widows and orphans, as well as the