East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-08-15
Serious Thoughts Since the Bull
Run Battle.


No one, who minges with the people,
can have failed to observe the serious and
thoughtful tone of the public mind since
the unfortunate battle before Manassas
1t amounts to sadness aud really casts a
gloom over the country. Men no longer
speak lightly of the present war, or OF the
manner of conducting it, or OF the time
or conditions of it's termination. j fact,
they speak much less freely upon the sub
iect than before the late disaster-they
are evidently busy with their thoughts.
but they seem reserved and cautious in
giving them expression--as though they
were yet Uniformed and in the PROCESS of
incubation, and hesitatingly and difiidept-
ly entertained.
This is obviously the present condition
of the public mind. 1t is engaged in re-
fiecting most seriously upon the condition
of the country not SO much in reviewing
controverted questions of the past, as in
contemplating the future-what MIR. WEED
calls "b dismal and doubtful fntwe."
The expression employed by this sagacous
man has great significance and is truth.
fully descriptive of the state of mind of
most thinking men, in respect to what is
before and beyond us-They ponder
they commune with themselves-they ask
themselves questions which they dare not
yet ask each other, or utter even in a
whisper. Could we read and report their
thoughts, we should have something such
record as this ''What il to become of
the country? Where is all this to end ?
Have we not been mistaken i'll our esti-
mate of this whole subject? Have we
appreciated it in its whole length and
breadth, and in allits fay-reaching conse
quences What is to be the course OF
this war? Have we not underestimate
the strength of the South-especially its
capacity for strictly defensive warfare
Can we conquer it? Can we crush out
this rebellion-especially Us promptly as
we had expected Is not the war likely
to lnger, perhaps, for years? If we beat
the Southern States in battle and scatter
their armies, so that they can no longer
meet us in force in the field, will that end
the war or restore them to loyalty, or to
their allegiance as citizens or States of the
Union? Will it not be necessary to gar
rison the whole South, and for this pur-
! pose, will not an immense army on our
part continue to be required? May not
the expense OF the war be more crushing
and longer-continued than we have sup
posed How are we to raise money ?
Can we continue to do it by borrowing,
or will not onerous, direct taxes become
necessary? Willour people for a long time
submit to these burdens, and can we point
them to compensating beaefts-can we
assure them of glorious and benehcent
results of the war, which will reward all
the trials which it involves? What is to
be the result of the war? Will it tri-
umphantly re.estahlish the authority OF
the government, as we have been expect
ing-or, dragging its slow length along
for years, with varying shades of success,
will its calamities and burdens at length
lead to truce and then to compromise
What will be the character of that com.
promise Will it restore the Union, or
reconstruct it and if the latter, on what
baSis-or will it recognize and make per-
petual the division which in fact exists ;
rend our flag in twain and accept the DIES
tiny OF two Confederacies What are
we fighting for, and is the war likely to
accomplish the objects for which we are
Taging it-or to work out precisely al
opposite destiny Who can tell, and
where, except from the All.Wise, are we
to get wisdom to gDide US out Of these
troubles?" %
Such, we have not the least doubt, are
the thoughts of multitudes of men at the
present time-not expressed, half hedged,
timidly INDUCED, but yet piercing the
heart with sadness and leading our whole
people reflection. 1t does not become
US to answer such uttered queries, or to
afford relief to minds burdened with such
serious inquiries. They trouble Us, and
instead of being able to impart consola
J ton or wisdom to others, we need 1T our
selves. But the tide of reflection will
flow on and will at last work out in the
public mind some deep.seated conviction
some welldefned opinion, some settled
policy, which will control movements and
events. In the meantime our prepare
tons and efforts--at least for the defence
of the Capital and the maintenance and
vindication of the government--must not
be intermitted, but rather redoubled. an
enemy--no matter Row made so--is IL
arms and in formidable array against us
Whether we are to have continued war
or speedy peace, our self-respect, our man
hood, no less than all our interests, de
mand that we should be strong enough tc
be feared, and especially not to be humil
lated in the conditions Of any termination
of the contest, whether by arms or nego
tiation. At the same time il becomes al
not to exclude from our minds the idea o
peaceful and honorable djustment--espe
cally on the basis of preserving the Unior
land to be prepared to give efficiency t.
tho verdict of the people which may re
suit from the present serious thoughtful
ness---whether it shall be for peace or fol
war; We must arrive at one mind and
DO united in our policy, or the govern
msnt is at an end aud the nation is ruin
ed. May Con, in his mercy, avert such
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