Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-10-25


the United States in any way, which Congress
passed at the last moment, and which the
President signed 50 reluctantly, has been ta-
ken by Gen. Fremont as his authority for the
edict he has put forth, il may be as we'll to
point out that he goes so far beyond the terms
of the statute as to liberate the slaves Of mas
ters who are in rebellion against the govern,
ment, and so far as his district extends, there
fore, he would, if successful, Iibsrate nearly
AL tho slaves, because there can be but little
doubt that vast number of the masters in
the South are in rebellion against the govern,
ment Of the United States To tue democrats
of the North, who are at this instant talking
of s'guarantles" for the South, and the reyio
sion of the Constitution 10 the same breath ia
which they speak of the vigorous prosecution
of the wsT for the Union and dennunce. .seces-
sion as revolution, the doctrine, founded MS il
IS on The unde6ned powers of martial law, must
be particularly Objectionable. II may be
bold stroke OF General Fremont to attach TO
himself a coherent mass of the Republicans, or
It may DO simple act of war without any
aYiefe pensee, Al all events, it is emba-rass-
ing. Tue Commander of the forces in the
West is an ambitious, bold and enterprsing
man, but will surprise ma to find be proves
very great man. He is profuse in expenditure,
energetic in action aud spec ulstve in plans.
but still doubt Whether lie ecu effect ali that
is expected Of him with the materials at 5is
disposal.
OUR OBSTACLES AND ENcoURAGENENTs.
1t will require success 10 war and great
dexterity to make Kentucky safe tor the I'M
ION; greater still to Missouri, in spite of
'ne extreme weakness, feeeleness aud Ignorance
of the Confederate leaders, aud their inability
to turn their advantages to sccount The var Of
the colonies with Great Britain must have
been conducted very much in the same fashion
on both sides. The vast size pf the states
and tge enormous dislAnces to be traversed
render Il impossible for mere fighters 10 do
nything except kill and wound each other IN
a guerilla war, I'LL a leader, some soldier who
knows something abc4t the A B of bis
profession rises ap aud reduces the efforts of
his followers TO a systematic mode of warfare.
1t is ritiable 10 see che Union distracted as il
is, bat fear the condition OF tbings will be-
come worse instead Of betier
The gleam Of sunshiue from Hatterss nas
thrown a dark -ha3ew across the south. It has
revived tho hoDes Of the north, and glded The
weather cocks of the Navy Department, net
forgetting the much-abused and hard workiae
Secretary, Mr. Gideon Nelles.
la bis letter of September 10b, iir. Russell
writes as follows respecting.
TIE RETIREMENT or THE REBEL LINES.
AL that can be seen or beard leads to the
belief that the eoRtederates are preparing fof
some great effort, aud that fbey have retired
poEkions of their force from before Washington,
eif@sr as device to blind their antagonist
while making IT, on to co operate with the rest I
of the ,army BY a serious demonstration above
ard below the city If the confederates have
moved. they mean 10 do some misebief. They
cap scarcely retire and hope 10 make letter
leap by doing So Ia inactivity on both sides,
coupled with prodigous expenditure, are the
best if not the only chance OF compromise and
peace. Success on either side revives the
hopes of complete ultimate triumph Of the one,
and stimulates the auimosiiy and tbe display
Of the resources of tbe other There s one
thing to be taken into consideration as an
element of peace. During the winter the
armies must 90 into quarters. Evsu so far
south as VirgiGia the weather is frequently
very severe, snow lies many feet deep on the
ground for weeks at time. The Potomac is
occasionally frozen over completely. The
roads, always Indifferent, become rivers Of mud
and slusb, through which il would be nearly
impossible to move men or guns or baggage
When the armies are in winter quarters, will
the politicians work for peace or ware Or will
the readers Of divisions be permitted TO carry
on operations 10 the ice and snow remembering
the great success of Washington after the
trsjcet, which Is so often represented in bad
all over North America? j. is
OBVIOUSLY the interest of Beauregard TO strike.
a great blow before winter sets 10, and thus
strengthen the base for negotiations but Gen.
/ am satisfied, will not move a mao
if he can help it until the very end Of this
month or the beginning Of October. About
that time there will be kiud inquiries about the
second ffty milions of the loan, aud 20 doubt
increased gigor Oh the part Of those opposed TO
the war. But If General Mcclellan obtains
any very considerable victory, and is able to
break through the she'll with which the Con-
tederates have covered heir soft parts 10 the
interior of the states, some measure short of
secession and Independence may satisfy them;
'ud wher they menaced with destruction,
hey may put up with au offer to live on fair
erms wnh their couqnerers. Ii is to be- seen
whether the latter will sheu offer them what
hey might have easily obtained at au EARLIER
'tsge Of hostility.
The Richmond Enquirer announces the ar
ival 10 Richmond, of Sir james Ferguson
Knight, N. p, England, adding that .S,r
James brings letters TO President Davis from
Ion. A. Dudley Mann, now in Europe.' Tie
light objection to this aashiouable intelli t
,euce' ia that there il only Que person named
Snight in the British Parlame0t (nanely Mr
frederick Winu Kpighi, who represents West /
worcestershire and that the only Knight in !