The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-10-30
The Record Of Mistakes and Blunders


The Record OF Mistakes and BlunderS.
The New York Tribune admits that the
history of this war, on The part of both
Government and people, is little more than
record OF the discovery of mistakes and
the recti6calion of blunders True, but
who is responsible for these mistakes and
blundersl What was the main instrument
in binding the people to the truth, and
leading them into error? If the people had
believed last summer that they were about
rushing into war of the most fearful mag
nitude, they would have found some means
of averting it-and that they did not foresee
The danger ahead was because they trusted
The misrepresentation OF blind party leaders
Let Us look al some OF the errors of incredul-
ity which the events Of the pas, six months
have dispelled.
The Republican party may be called the
party OF false preteEces. In the last Presi-
Dental campaign it declared that slavery
mus: be excluded from the territories. Not
only was this within the power of Congress
but it was the duty Of Congress to exercise
it. The election was carried on this princi-
pie and then the territories were organized
without excluding slavery. Had !; been
announced before the election that congress
sional prohibition was only theory not 10
be carried into practice, the contest would
have been deprived of much of its bitterness
but then it might not have resulted as it
did
The Republican leaders gave the most
solemn assurances that no danger was 10 be
apprehended-tha the threats of the South
were harmless gasconade intended 10 fright
Ell independent freemen from the honest dis
charge of their conscientious convictions OF
duty, and that as soon as the election was
over the agitation would quiet down. The
success OF the Republican candidates would
cour oil upon the troubled walters. They
ridiculed Democrats for expressing fears
for the safety of the ULion, and some of
them went so far as 10 say that it might
slide for all they cared.
They were positive that secession would
moi be empted up 10 the very time it ac-
tuaIIy occurred-aDd then they maintained
that il was an artificial crisis-thst there
was no real danger-thai nobody was hurt.
and that all would blow over in sixty days.
Alter it became evident that The spirit of
rebellion was spreading throughout The
South-when State after S:a;e declared
against the Union, and when it was no
longer possible 10 ignore the fact that
formidable conspiracy was organized 10 SUBJ
vert The Government, another error OF in-
creduliIy took the place OF those disProved
by stubborn and undeniable events. This
was the error of depreciation. There would
be some fighting. 5ut agains, an inferior
foe. The South could not raise an army.
# could not feed and clothe and pay an army
If il " as raised Like all braggarls and DULLES
The Southern people were towards lney
would moi fight One Northern man was
able TO whip three of their chIvalry. A
short and vigorous campaign would put
speedy end TO The rebellion. While IN Inc
very act of awaking from previous errors. II
is strange that the people should so readily
have fallen into errors equally deluslve !;
and vet at the time OF the Presidents first
proclamation, summoning $4,000 men TO
the defence OF The Capital the great mass of
the people anticipated an easy victory
and speedy restoration OF the Union.
The administration with more correct ap-
probation of The work before it, attempted
to organize an army of sufficient strength 10
march into Virginia and drive the rebels
from their entertainments. But the con-
tempiuous estimate put upon them by the
Republican leaders, forced a premature adj
vance, and the second crop of errors was
dispelIed by the rude shock at Bull Run,
and the North al last opend it's drowsy eyes
to the fact that it had 10 contend against
powerful enemy that would fight.
| Glance over this long list of errors pro-
NOTED by the leaders of The Republican
parry. First no danger-2nd, small danger
third, a contemplate enemy. Truly
have they found the history of the war little
more than a record OF The discovery OF mis-
takes Of their own making, and blundt rs o
their own devising.
Will these blind leaders of the blind con
| ginue TO set themselves before the people
as public teachers or will lne peobIe trust
Ithsm alter so meny proofs of their i'm
| beciiIiy 1-Patriof and Uai0n.
/ Est ss..----------' -.
consIDsaABLE fighting has been done
| lately along fhe Potomac and in Missouri
| Our coiumne. are 100 much crowded vita
- <.s.i~~ rsf