St. Cloud Democrat., 1861-12-12

isct ii proposed, its propriety will be duly
considered. The Union must be preserved,
and hence all Indispensable means must be
employed We should not be in haste to de-
termine what radical and extreme measures
which may reach the loyalas we'll as the dis
loyal, arc Indispensable. L
The inaugural address at the beginning of
the administration, and tho message to Con
gress at the late special session, were both
mainly directed to the domestic controversy,
out of which tho insurrectiou and consequent
war have spruug. Nothing now occurs to add
or subtract, to or from the principle or gen-
eral purposes stated or expressed in those
documents. - ..:-..' = - ~
The last ray Of hope for preserving tho
Uaion peacsably, expired At the assault upon
Fort Sumter, and a general review Of what
has occurred since, may not be Improbable.
What was painfully uncertain then, 10 much
progress of events is plainly in the right di-
rection. The insurgents confidently claimed
strong support from North Of Mason's and
Dixon e line, and tho friends Of the Union were
not free from apprehension on this point.
This, however, was soon settled definitely,
and on the right side-south Of the line .
Noble little Delaware led Of right from the
first. Marylsnd WAS made to seem against
the Union; our soldiers were assaulted, brid-
ges we're burned, and railroads torn up within
her limits, and we were many days ct one
time without the ability to bring . single regi-
ment over her soil to the capital. Now her
bridges and railroads are prepared and opened
to the Government; she already gives seven
regiments to the cause Of the Union, and none
to the enemy, and her people at a regular
election have sustained the Union by large
majority, and by a larger aggregate vote than
they ever gave before to any candidate or to
any question. Kentucky, too, for some time
in doubt. is now decidedly, and I think un-
chaneably, ranged on the side Of tho Union
Missouri is comparatively quiet, and believe
cannot again be overrun by the insurgsnts.-
These three states Of Maryland, Kentucky and
Missouri, neither Of which would promise q
single soldier at first, have now an aggregate
of not less than 10000 in the field for the
Union, while of their citizens not more than .
| third in number are among the insurgents, and
they of doubtful whereabouts and existence.
After q somewhat bloody struggle Of months
winter closes on the Union people Of Western
| Virginia, leaving them masters of their own
country. An insurgent force Of about 500
dominating the narrow peninsular region con.
stituting the counties Of Accomac and North
amptop, and known as the Eastern shore OF
Virginia, together with some contiguous parts
of Maryland, have laid down their arms, and
the people there have renewed their allegiance
to and accepted the protection of tho old flag.
This leaves no armed insurrection north Of the
Potomac or east of the Chesapeake.
Also, we have obtained a footing at each Of
the island points on the southern coast at Hat
teras, Port Royal, Tybee Island near Savan-
nah, and Ship Island, and we likewise have
had several accounts of popular movements in
behalf of the Union in North Carolina and
Tennessee. These things demonstrate that
the cause of the Union is advancing steadily
southwark.
Since vsur last adjournment Lieut.. General
Scott has retired from the head of the army
During his long life, the nation has not been
unmindful of his merit, yet on calling to mind
how faithfully, ably and brilliantly he has
served the country from a time for back in our
history, whom few of the now living had been
born, and thence forward continually, cannot
but think that we are still his debtor. l sub
init, therefore, for your consideration what fur,
ther mark of recognition is due to him and
ourselves as grateful people.
With the retirement Of General Scott came
the executive duty Of appointing in his stead
General-in Chief Of the army. 1t is fortu-
nate circumstance that neither in council nor
country, was there, so far Is know, any diff
ference opinion - to the proper person to be
selected. The retiring chief repeatedly ex-
pressed his judgment in favor of Gen. McClel-
Ian for tho position, and in this the nation
seemed to give . unanimous concurrence -
The destination of General Mcclellan, is,
therefore, in considerable degree, the sslec-
ton of the country, as we'll as of the exscu-
tive, and hence there is better reason to hope
there will be given him the confidence and cor
dial support thus BY fair implication promised,
and without which he cannot with so full etti-
cheney serve the country.
It has been said that one bad general il bet
ter than two good ones, and the ssying is true
if taken to mean no more-that an army is
better directed by single mind, though infe'
rior, than by two superior ones at variance
and cross purposes, and the same is true in all
Joint operations wheeein those engaged can
have none but q common end in view and diff
fer only in the choice Of means. In q storm
at sea no one can wish the ship to sink, and
yet not unfrequently they all 60 down togeth-
| or because too many will direct and no single
mind will be allowed to control.
It continues to develope, too, that the insur-
rection is largely, if not exclusively, at war
with the frat principles Of popular govern
ment-the right Of the people. Conclusive ev-
idence to this is found in the most grave and
maturely considered public documents:
In those documents, we find the abridgement
of the existing right of suffrage and the denial
to the people Of all right to participate in the
election Of public officers, except the legisla-
tive body, advocated with labored arguments
to prove that large control of the Government
in the people, is the source OF oil political
evil Monarchy itself, is sometimes limited as
possible refuge from the power Of the people.
In the present position could scarcely be
justified were I to omit to raise warning
voice against this approach of returning des-
potism. It is not needed nor fitting here that
general argument should be made in favor
! of q popular institutions; but there is one
point with its connections not so hackneyed
as most others, to which ask brief attention;
It is the effort to place capital on an equal