American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-10-19
From the Richmond Examiner of the 2sth.
THE FORWARD MOVEMENT.
4 Bold, Decided and Energstic Policy
Rec0mme n6ed

If the policy be agreed upon as sound
one that the true way to conduct the war
Is one of attack. then none can deny that
the movement should take place speedily.
Every day adds to the strength and re-
sources of the enemy. McClellan's
army has not fully recovered FROM the
shock to its nerves inflicted at Bull Run
but every day improves the tone OF its
system. Day by day new troops are
pouring in at Washington. and we believe
the journals are actually counting upon
a reinforcement of fifteen to twenty
thousand men. At present. these men
are rather an incumbrance, and can hard
ly be relied on to do more than defend
intrenchments, and perhaps not even
that. But every hour adds to their eff
cheney, and will continue to do SO until
they are converted into soldiers. But,
besides this improvement in drill and or
ganization, the enemy is constantly add
ing to his Notifications. New obstacles
to our onward path are hourly multiplied,
skillful engineers, backed by labor and
zeal, are exhausting the resources of the
art military. and making that difficult
to-day which yesterday was easy. and
tomorrow may be impossible. If we
choose to sit still and permit the enemy
to complete his defenses, the argument
against an advance will soon be made.
with crushing effect, that we have allowed
the proper time and opportunity to pass
by. Time and tide wait for no man"
We cannot call back the wasted hours,
but we can yet secure the present and
the future.
In the short space of time between
now and the approach of winter. a great
deal of work remains 10 BE- done that
ought not be neglected. Kentucky and
Maryland have to be reconquered from
the enemy. and the Yankees expelled
from Missouri. The cities of St. Louis,
Louisville and Baltimore. with their az
tisans, workmen. mechanic skill. fsctO-
ries of every kind, stores and supplies,
must be in our hands. The city Of
Washington, built on Southern soil. the
gift of outraged and oppressed Mary
land, must turn out to welcome Con-
federaie President, at the head of bis
victorious army. The Southern people
in bondage under Lincoln. whose whole
heart are with us, now trembling IN
hourly apprehension of the dungeon and
| the gibbit, or of dishonor, it may be. 10
their hearths. must be gladdened with
| full and near view of the Confederate
/ flag. All of Yankeedom, and treason
and lOathsome fawning upon Lincoln,
and Scott. and Sumner, in Washington.
must be driven out of that city. even as
the devil was driven out of the herd of
swine. But this is not sll. The enemy
must be made to feel the war. They
must be made to realize that there Is
God that Furnishes The wicked, and lhAt
the Southern army is his instrument.
Cincinnati and Philadelphia must be Oe-
cupied by our troops. and the Yankee in
habitants forced to take the same meas
ure as has been melted out TO our own
people in Baltimore aud St. Louis.
All this work is yet before Us. and the
public voice demands that it shall be
performed. We have a competent exec
utive to direct its mighty energies. IL Is
not too much to hope, to expect, that
this programme will be more than resi-
lied. But the time is short. and every
thing depends on energy aud dispatch
Atpresent, a large proportion Of cur
soil is in the hands of the foe. We
should call it large and think it large il i
were but q square foot Of Missouri OF
Maryland, or but one even Of the dry
lands Of the Tortugas. We ehafe a. the
very thought that they can dare to I'M
press their infamous tread anywhere IN
hold two-thirds of Missouri. more than
half of Kentucky. all Of Maryland, and
broad section of our own Stale. Now.
suppose foreign nations were At this time
to offer their mediation to the north and
ourselves. and it is very possible thai
they may tender il. ere long, with the a.
tentative OF war to the party that shall
reject it, what would be the natural basis
of peace? An outsider would say the
,,ti ,1assi9eis Let each side keen What
they already have. aud let the strife end
Let Missouri and Maryland belong TO the
North. with part of Kentucky and 81 Of
Northwestern Virginia. Such terms arc
revolving to the Utmost thoughts Of every
true patriot bat If We fall into lsshsr-
gic. and supine. and defensive policy OF
warfare, We must consider tia, We are
taking the most certain mode Of accom-