Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-01
NUMBER lsI

A.
4 ~. " tast providence and viqllapt attention
: ar o. TIE line which is tn, surety 10 ~
1892 Ia elsy are under the eve Of their con,
- ss ~ ell pc sustained in csse Of any disas
| Is Z A1erlal Circumstance was that tle
regiments which eoInmeheed ~. hoes ~ -
sOns = -'sns Haiei, and had been allowed ~ s.,
Ut reifeshulenL 70 one familiar wiz o.. T2e,I
- -. :. ~ rsadly occur that the defeat
table to the fact that the Britisk sol5- = -
Jaded by forced march during tbs r;ht -, 80 -.
singular improvldence Of that enternSis,,, &C.,,
were iul1ie1late1y brough5 Up to the assapit AZ
for battle. -i'iis
All these thirgs being taken into sccou7t -.
feat can BE explained WithoBs i1apoachsbe,t AZ 49,
courage Of the soldiers That the defeat became
rout is to be charged to the officers. It Is unfs-s
nstely too true that large pFOpOFkiOa Of epauIe,
were seen in the midst Of the struggling host IN
sesd OF being in the front rank nearest the enemy
infer that little done By the officers % resls-
eitate the cispirited soldiers, and nothing could
have more eisetualy fixed SPOn Us nzii9nal dis
grace.
The late praisewoFthy movement By the Var De-
paTtment, OF iDQuiring into the qualifications Of
regimental Cieers, which has resulted IN the dis.
missa (resignaon as it Is called Of 50 large EuD1-
Der, demonstrates the lamentable incapacity that
must nave existed at the time When the fortunes Of
| our country were stalIed upon great battle.
| nave thus unFeservedly admitted the extent Of
our disaster, and stated its palatOn Il is due 10
our national honor that should notice the repOrs
! OF AF. RusssH 70 The L0nd5n Tines It was in
/ my Judgment, unworthy of the high position which
! that gentleman held A CasuRl neWspapsr CORES
/ pendent might be pardoned for mistake or exag-
geratlon; but the Confidential reporter Of the most
renowned newspaper Ia England il TO be iud-e7 bv
more severe rule His report Of the battle, as is
has come to US from England, 80 far from being a
candid and careful resume of all that should have
| been learned by hin, IS nothing but a pictorial
sketch Of the disorder 10 the rear which II seems
! A Ia .rrff IA NaN.. II A..
admit that be was not present az the battle sgls
nothing OF the c0Bhict, and really knsgo nothing
except the hight Of Transfers and Members Of Con-
gress, ~ teach 1r. RsSs3 D. haze j0atd 0ik
tie gsRtlsnsn afOrssaid.
IL Since the campaign has failed to be decisive in
favor Of the Federal Government-bas. in fact been
disastrous beyond what could have been anticipated
By the most d0ubtful-and we are now cOmpeIed
to fall back upon the resources of the North fora
protracted War-We inYOluniarily look at the con
stituency of the present Administrations to see if il
be such as can command the united support OF the
country in The portentous struggle which we have
before US.
profess adherence to the principles of the Re-
publican party, which is nothing more than coz
fessiOn Of faith in favor Of the North; but do net
believe in the propriey Of using the patronage Ct
the Government for the reward Of Dartisans. The
crisis too portentous to admit Of the exercise Of
any private friendship All political preferences
must yield 20 the one paramount confederation
what is required for the successful issue Of the
struggle in which we are now involved for cur Ia
ti0nal existence.
cannot admit Of question that the ablsst men OF
The country should be called into the National Ad-
ministration. Has il been done! + the Cabinet Of
Mr. Lincoln composed Of the ableHtmen that can be
found in the country? The unauimOus opinion of
the public from Maine to Kansas is entirely opposed
to this. do not know but there Is some emascuia-
ting influence Of the very atmosphere of Washing
ton. Men who have been much relied upon do not
appear to be the same men when brought within
the chasm which seems tc pervad9 the Federal
District This remark applies not only 70 the heals
OF Departments, but 70 members OF Congress. l
hoped 70 have noble selfsacrifcing spirit in
the proceeding of Congress at the last session. On
the contrary, while there was proper disposition
to support the Government by vote 10 favor OF the
oan and Of taxes, &c, there has been no exhibition
1f the spirit Of retrenchment which, in such cri-
rs as is now impending, might have been looked
,Or. The pay Of members Of Congress should have
been reduced. In such strife as we ars now
involved in our representatives should have
been willing TO have served for their bsre expenses
Still more pressing the necessity that the sala-
lies Of public officers, especially diplomatic should
De reduced.
1 think it viii be found sn error, the consequence
# which viii be farreaching, thst no action was
AIKEN upon this subject.
With this brief notice pass from this to another
nd more important consideration
III. Can we successfully mGintsia the contest
With Southern Secession without a change in the
Federal Government There VIII scarcely be a dis
enting voice thrOugOut the whole North that there
a necessity for the change. know not how meul-
ers of the Cabinet can have been so sclfdeceived
not TO have observed the strong influence Of pub
c opinion. It is net merely that have met With
iaGster ia the trial OF military strength Public
Oa61sEce has been weakened 70 q sIil greater IN
ent by the belief Of completely BY the War Depart
nent III the numberless frauds which have been
committed in army contracts. l do MT say that
his belief is well founded. Il is sufficient that the
onyiction is thoroughly fixed in the public mind.
his of itself is sufficient to require q resignation
y the Secretary Of that Department. He may ex-
nerate himself from blame If he chooses, BY an
Investigation, and the Committee appointed by Con-
ress to inquire into abuses has sufficient power for
hat purpose. But know not what justification
here can be for retaining Office when all popular
1ppOrt is wanting.
As to the Navy Department. the charge is not so
lueh completely By TIE Secretary, his utter in
ficiency. Il is now hIgrant that the blockade
Thich our Government announced 90 the world has
cen an utter failure. Time enough has elapsed
have mSde up for any deficiency OF vessels there
light have been az first. The continued ineficisn
y of the action Of the Department in that respect
such as TO expose Us to the contempt Of al com
lsrcisl nations.
The course has usually been in England, when
iastry has exposed itself 70 any charge Of neglect
r incOmpeteacy so serious as to impair public sup
ort, that 1t Is compelled 70 resign vote by the
louise Of Conpons Of want Of confidence Is de
siYe.
80 a resolution Of inquiry into alleged mlscOndues
as often had the same effect The Aberdeen Min
try was thus compelled to resign IN lo55, upon
barge Of misTnanage nant of the CrInean war.
We have no such summary mode Of compelling
he resignation Of Cabinet officers. Yet belieTeis
-ould have been great public advantage If the
.ouse Of Representatives before the late adjourn
lent of Congress. had declared the necessity of a
lange. Il would at least have embodied the opin-
N now universally prevalent
il might have been expected that our capitalists
ould, when called TO determine upon taking the
an asked by the Government, have prescribed the
,ndition thEt the Cabinet should be reconstructed
as to restore public confidence.
1t seems to have been left entirely to the popular
,iee. /. may be that there will be no decisive
-essiOn until new disasters shall have occurred.
hese however. are inevitable. Il seems that IRE
e to learn w;sdom only BY hard experience |
,pe yet 70 see an energy and patriotism developed
hich are now latent There can be no enthusiasm
the people while the belief exists that the affairs
the country arc conducted with meFcenary mo-
res.
Republican as [ am in opinion, would prefer to
e Democrats in Office, if that should be essential
the obtaining Of the ability which the present
ises calls for. Il is my opinion that unauimity Of
bic opinion at the North would be much aided
calling into the Cabinet prominent men, ir-
spectfye Of their former political views. I would
e to see Gen Dix and Mr.. H0lt in Catinst Offices.
lile but express what is the general feeling OF
J North in saying that Gen. Banks ought 70 b. az
head Of tAe War Department., for which he Is,
former experience and his well kno IN exacu-