The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-19
Never Despair OF the Republic.

Nj desperdndum ought to be the motto Of the
government, the army and the people in the
war in which they have embarked to maintain
the integrity of the republic. After the capture
of Fort Sumter, when the spirit of the North
was reused, there never was, perhaps, exhibited
in any other country in the world so magnif-
cent spectacle of patriotism. Had we then
government capable Of approaching the depth
and the breadth and the length Of the sentiment
which animated the nation, half million of
men could have been easily Obtained for the
volunteer army; one thousand ships were at
their service, and any amount of money needed
could have been had for the asking. Over fifty
millions of dollars were given outright, in April
and May, to fit out our soldiers, and the wealth
of the people of the North was laid at the feet
of the government. The blockade would
have been rendered perfect at once and 10
privateer could have escaped from the ports or
inlets of the enemy to prey upon our commerce;
while we would have been saved from the
peril which is now so imminent of a rupture
with England, France and other European Pow
ers, arising out of the inefciency ofthe blockade
AT the same time the raw forces of the rebels
would have been whipped in every battle by
overwhelming numbers. But the enemy was
allowed time to organize, drill and prepare,
and wet blankets were thrown upon the ardent
enthusiasm which volunteered life and limb and
all for the Union. Red tape, circumlocution
and the Barnacles stood in the way, while the
insurgents matured their plans and perfected
their Notifications and masked batteries. While
thousands upon thousands of troops were re-
fused acceptance by the Secretary Of War, the
right wing of the army On the Upper Potomac,
and the left wing at Fortress Monroe, were
paralyzed by weak generals and for want of
sufficient numbers to cope with the enemy.
From the same cause Johnston's force was
| enabled to form junction with the army of
Beauregard at Manassas. The disasters at Big
Bethel, Bull run and Davis creek are all at
tributable either to deficiency Of strength or
to incompetent generalship, for which the gov
eminent have no excuse. Cavalry and artil-
lery were sadly wanted at Fortress Monroe
and at the battle in front of Manassas; yet the
offer of cavalry regiments was declined, on the
ground that that arm of the service was not
needed.
Such are our disasters and loss of prestige ON
the land. What has happened on the other Gle
ment on which the people of the United States
were accustomed to pride themselves for their
supremacy!
Some fifteen or twenty privateers have been
permitted to issue from the ports of the enemy
to seize, sink, burn, destroy and plumber our
! ships along the Atlantic coast from Maine to
Texas--indeed, from Maine to the Straits of Ma
| gellan. In the West Indies, In the Gulf under
| the very guns Of cur forts and men-Of-war, and
| in the waters OF South America, they have car
ried on their depredatiens with impunity Some
| fifty Of our merchant ships have been captured
| Our commerce is cutup; foreign and even Anne
rican merchants refuse to ship goods in Anne
rcan bottoms. Our cargoes and vessels cannot be
insured except at ruinous rates. The blockade
is the laughing stock Of all Europe, the standing
joke of the enterprising shippers from the Bri-
fish provinces, who are continually running il
and selling their turpentine and cotton in Bos.
ton, and the source of infinite merriment to the
rebel chiefs and their organs throughout the
world. To the shipowners and merchants Of
tie loyal States it is no joke, and we fear the
time is not distant when it may prove q tragedy
to us all by tempting the Intervention Of foreign