The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1861-12-12

tions which are not of vital military i'm
portance to the more deliberate action 81
the legislature. In the exercise Of my best
discretion, have adhered to a blockade oi
the ports held by the insurgents instead Of
putting in force by proclamation the laws
Of Congress, enacted at the late session,
for closing them:
Also obeying the dictates Of prudence,
as we'll as the obligations Of law, instead Of
transcending have adhered to the act Of
Congress to con6scate property Used fot
insurrectionary purposes. Ii new law
upon the same subject shall be proposed,
its propriety will be fully considered: This
Union must be preserved, and hence all de-
fensib!e means must be employed. We
should not be in haste to determine what
radical and extreme measures, which may
reach the loyal rs well US the disloyal, are
Indispensable. The inaugural address, =.
the beginning OF the Administration, and
the message to Congress at the late special
session, were both mainly devoted to ths
domestic controversy out Of which the in
snrrectioh and consequent war have sprung.
Nothing now occurs to add to or subtfaes
from the principles or general purposes
stated and expressed in those documents.
The las. ray Of hope for preserving tho
Union peaceabIy expired at til. assault up.
on Fort Sumter, and general review Of
what has occurred since may not be un-
} profitable. What was painfully uncertain
then is much better defined and more dis.
i tinct now, and progress Of events is plain
!y in the right direction. The insurgents
confidently claimed a strong support from
north of Mason's and Dixons line, and the
friends of the Union were not free from
apprehension on this point. This, howev-
or, was soon settled definitely, and on the
right side. South of the line, noble little
Delaware led off right from the first. Ma
rylaud was made to seem against the I'm
ion. Our soldiers were assaulted, bridges
were burned, railroads torn up within her
limits, and VIC were many days at one time
without the ability to bring single regi-
ment over her railroad to the capital. Now
her bridges and railroads are repaired 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 larger
aggregate vote than they ever before gave
to amy candidate or any question.
kentucky, too, for sometime in doubt, is
now decidedly and unchanscably ranged ON
the side of the Union. Missouri is com
parativcly quiet, and, | believe, cannot
again be ovcrrun by the insurgents.
! These three States of Mary Ken-
tucky and Missouri, neither OF which would
! promise 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 thi. d in number are among
the insurgents, and they OF doubtful where
abouts and existence.
After somewhat bloody struggle Of
months, winter closes on the people Of
Western Virginia, leaving them masters Of
their own country.
An insursent force Of about $500, for
months dominating the narrow peninsula
region constituting the counties Of Acco-
mac and Northampton, known as the cast
crn shore Of Virginia, together with contig.
uous parts Of Maryland, have laid down
their arms, and the people there have re-
newcd their allegiance to and accepted the
protection of the L. S. flag. This leaves
no armed insurrect!on north of the Poto-
mac.
Also, We have obtained footing at each
OF the isolated points on the southern coast
of Iatteras, Port Royal, Tybce Island,
near Savannah, and Ship Island, and We
likewise have some general accounts M
popular movements in behalf of tho uaion
in North Carolina and Tennessee These
things demonstrate that the cause Of tho
Union is advancing steadily southwark.
Since your last Adjournment Lieut.. Gen.
Scott has retired from the head of the ar
my. During his long life, the Nation has
not bccn uniEindtul of his merit yet or
calling to mind how faithfully, ably and
brilliantly he has served his country. from
Il time far back in our history, when few Of
the now living had been born, and thence
forward continually, cannot but think
that we are still his debtors submit,
therefore, tor your consideration, what
further mode Of recognition is due to him
and ourselves rs u grateful people
With the retirement often. Scott came
the executive duty Of appointing a General.
in Chict Of the army. 1t is a fortunate
circumstance that neither in council or
country was there, SO far as know, any
difference Of opinion as TO the proper per-
son to be selected. The retiring chief re-
pcated'y expressed his Judgment in favor
Of Mcclellan for the position, and in this
the nation seemed to give an unanimous
concurrence.
The designation of Gen. Mcclellan is,
therefore. in Il considerable degree, the Sc
lection of the country, as well as of the ex-
ecutive, and hence there is reason to hope
there will be given him the confidence and
cordial support thus by fair implication
promised, and without which he canuot with
50 full efficiency serve the country. It has
bsea said that "Me bad general Us better
than two good ones and the saying is true,
if taken to mean no more than that an
army is better directed by single mind,
though inferior, than by two superior ones,
at variance and cross purposes; and the
same is true in all joint operations, ,whenev-
er those engaged can have none but conf
mon end in view, and can differ only as to
the choice Of means. In storm at sea no
one on board can wish the ship to siuk, and
yet not untrequently all 90 down together,
because too many will direct, and yet no
single mind can be allowed to control.