Nebraska advertiser., 1861-12-05

A-A -Fra 49, "a $780,
; has -oeeurred since may not be unpr5iiable.-
What was fearfully uncertain then Is much
!, better defined and more distinct now, and
the progress eff events is plainly in the right
direction. The insurgents cOn6dentl Y claim
ed a strong support from north OF Mason and
Dixon's Line, aud the friends Of the Union
were not free from appreheusions OH this one
point. This; however, Was soon settled on
the right sided.
South of the line noble little Delaware
led of right from the hrst. MBryland was
made to seem against the Uuion. Our SOL
diers were assaulted, bridges were burned,
and railroads torn up within her limits, and
were many days, at one time, without the
ability to bring a single regiment over hersoil
to the capitol. Now her bridges and rail-
roads are repaired and opened to the Govern
ment. She has already given seven regiments
to the cause of the Union, aud none to the
enemy, and her people, az regular election,
have sustaised the Union by a large majority,
end larger aggregate vote than they ever be-
fore gave to any candidate or any other cues
ton.
Kentucky, too. for some time III doubt, is
now, decidedly, I think, unchangeabIy rank
ed on the side of the Union.
Missouri is comparatively quist. and I be-
Ieye cannot again be oyeTrun by the insur-
gents.
The three States Maryland, Kentucky aud
Missouri, neither Of which would promise a
single soldier at first, have now an aggregate
of not less than forty thousand in the field
for the Union, Willie of their citizens, not one
third in number are among the insurgents,
and they of doubtful whereabouts and exis-
tence.
After somewhat bloody struggle of sew
|eraI months, winter closes upon the people of
the Western portion Virginia, leaving them
the masters Of their w country. An in
surgent force of about 100, for months DOM
ineering the narrow peninsular region corstftn%
ting the counties of Accomac and Northamp-
ton, and known as the eastern shore of Viz
GINA, together with some contiguous parts OF
MARYLAND, have laid down their arms, and
the people there have renewed their allegiance
to, and accepted the protection Of the nation
al flag.
This leaves 10 armed insurrection north Of
the Potomac, or east of the Chesapeake. Also
we obtained a footing at each OF the insulated
points of the Southern coast, of Hat.eras, Pt.
Royal, Tybee Island, near Savannah, and Of
Ship Island, and we likewise have some gem
eral accounts of popular movements in be-
half of the Union in North Carolina and Ten
nessee. These things demonstrate that the
cause of .he Union is advancing steadily to-
wards the south.
Since your last adjournment, Lieutenant
General Scott has retired from the head Of
the army. During his long life the nation
has not been unmindful of his merit, yet cal
ling to mind how faithfully, how no5ly, and
brilliantly he has served the country from a
time far back in our history when few of the
now living had been born, and thence for
ward continually, / cannot but think that we
are still his debtors, l submit, therefore, for
your consideration is due to him aud ourselves
as a grateful people.
With the retirement of Gen. Scott, came
the executive duty of appointing in his
stead a General-in in Chief Of the army. 1t is
a fortunate circumstance, that neither in coun-
Gil nor country, was there, so far as | learn,
any difference o. OpiGion as to the proper per-
son to be selected. The retiring chief repeat
eddy expressed his judgment in favor of
Gen. Mcclellan for the position, and in this
the nation seemed to give a unanimous con-
c~urrence. The designation of General Nc
Clellan. is, therefore; in a considerable de-
cree. the selection of the country, as well as
of the Executive, and hence there is better
reason to hope there will be given him the
confidence and cordial support, thus by fair
implication promised, aud without which be
cannot, with so full efficiency, serve the
country.
It has been said that one bad General is
better than two good ones, and the saying is
true, if taken to mean that an army is better
directed by a single mind, though inferior,
than by two superior ones at variance and
cross purposes a.; and the same IS true in all
Joint operations wherein those engaged can
Lave none but a common end in view, and
can differ only as to the choice of meaus.-
In a storm at sea no one can wish the ship
to sink, and not ~unfrequently all go down
together because too many will direct, and no
single will can be allowed the exclusive con-
trol.
It continues to d~evelope that the ~insurrec-
ton is largely if not exclusively a war upon
the first poinciples of popular government
and the rights of the people. Conclusive eV-
idence of this is found in the most grave and
maturely considered public documents as well
as in the general tone of the insurgents. In
| these documents we uuu the aOIluS6ul6lb Oi
the existing rightof su ffrage and the denial
to the people of the right to participate in
the election Of public officers except the leg
islative body, advocated with labored argu-
ments to prove that large control of the gov
eminent in the people, is the source Of all
political evil; monarchy itself is even some
times limited at as a positive refuge from the
power of the people. In my present position
l could scarcely be justified were l to omit
raising a warning voice against this approach
of returning despotism, 1t is not reeded nor
fitting here that a general argument should
be made in favor of popular institutions, but
there is one point, with its connections, not
so ~hackneyed as most others, to which | ask
a brief attention. 1t is the effort to place cap
ital on an equal footing with. if not above,
labor in the structure of Government. 1t is
assumed that labor is available only in con-
Dection with capital, that nobody labOrs IN
less somebody else owning capital somehow
.bv the means of it induces him to labor
This assumed, it is next considered whether
it is best that capital shall hire laborers and
induce them to work by their own consent,
or buy them and drive them to it without cOn
sent. Having proceeded so far, 1t IS natural
" conceded that ali laborers are either hired
laborers. or what we call slaves, and further,
It is assumed that whoever is once a hired la
Lar.-;s 6vad in the condition for life.