Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-12-06

what has occurred since, may Tot be I'M
profitable. What was painfully uncertain
then is much better defined and more dis
tinct now, and the progress of events is
plainly in the right direction. The insur-
gents confidently claimed a strong support
from North of Mason and Dixon's line, and
the friends of the Union were not free from
apprehension on this point,
This, however, was soon settled definite
", and on the right side-south Of the
line. Noble little Delaware led off right
from the first. Maryland was made to
seem against the Union; our soldiers were
| assaulted, bridges were burned and rad
roads torn up within her limits, and we
were many days at one time without the
ability to bring single regiment over her
soil to the capital. Now her bridges and
railroads are repaired and open to the gov
ernmens; she already gives seven regi-
ments to the cause of the Union, and none
to the enemy, and her people, at regular
election, have sustained the Union by
large majority, and by larger aggregate
vote than they ever before gave any candi-
date or any question.
Kentucky, too, for some time in doubt,
is now decidedly, and | think unchange-
ably, ranged on the side of the Union
Missouri is mparatively quiet, and I be-
lieve eanuot again be overrun by the in
surgents. These three States of MARYLAND,
Kentucky 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 third in number
are among the insurgents, and they of
doubtful whereabouts and existence.
After 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 pc
ninsular region constituting the counties of
Accomac and Northampton, 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, the old flag
This leaves no armed Instruction North of
the Potomac or East of the Chesapeake.
Also we have obtained footing at each
of the Isolated points on the southern
coast, at Hatteras, Port Royal, Tybee ISL
and, near Savannah, and Ship Island, and
We likewise have some general 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 your last adjournment, Lieut.
General Scott has retired from the head of
the army. During his long life tie nation
has not been unmindful of his merit, yet
calling to mind how faithfully, ably, and
brilliantly be has served the country from a
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 debtor | submit,
therefore, for your consideration what fur
Their 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 GeneraI-in-C Chief of the army.
/ 1t Is fortunate circumstance that neither
IN council nor in country was there, SO far
/ as 1 knew, any difference Of opinion as to
| the proper person to be selected. The re-
firing chief repeatedly expressed his opin-
ion ia favor of Gen. Mcclellan for the po-
sition, and IN this the nation seemed to
| give an unanimous concurrence. The de-
! signation of Gen. Mcclellan is, therefore.
in a considerable degree. the selection Of
the country as well as Of the executive,
and hence there is better reason to hope
there will be given him the confidence, and
cordial support thus by fair implication
promised, and without which he cannot
with so full efficiency serve the country.
1t has been said that one bad general is
better than two good ones, and the saying
Is true If taken to mean no more-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 wherein those
engaged can have none but common 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 sink, and yet
not unfrequently all go down together be-
cause too many will direct and no single
mind be allowed to control.
1t continues to develope that the insur-
rection is largely if not exclusively, war
upon the first principles of popular govern
ment-the right of the people. Conclu-
sive evidence of this is found in the most
grave and maturely considered public doe
uments, as we'll as in the general tone Of
the insurgents.
In these documents, we find the abridge-
ment of the existing right of suffrage and
the denial of the people of all to partici-
pate in the selection of public officers, ex-
cept the legislative body, advocated with
labored arguments to prove that large con-
troll of the Government in the people, is
the source of all political evil. Monarchy
itself is sometimes limited at as a possible
refuge from the power of the people
In the present position, | could scarcely
be justified we're to emit to raise warn
ing voice against this approach of return
ing despotism. 1t is net needed, nor fit
ting here that general argument should
be made in favor of popular institutions
but there is one point with its connections
not so hackneyed as most others to which
I ask brief attention. 1t is the effort to
place capital on an equal footing with, if
not above, labor in the structure of the
Government.
T 1 Il II