New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-17
PEoTr WARRINGTON.
The Chances OF Action.

From Our Special Correspondent.
WAsHiNGrvS. Saturday, Fee H. l8el
You must not urge forward movement, cay
one regular oiIicer Of good experience and high
position; q" il we advance now, we shall bo whipped
" We np,,fsse start" ~. aro,her regular officer,
ar fully eLitled ~ the iiri ~ confidence, we must
take a start or know the reason why. We have
waited 100 ong already" Opinions certainly vary M
il s not the conmandcr-in-cief alone who hestaics
TO eel re for action. Bnt weighing the opposing
iudoms1ts tho balance ia unmisiakably found 10 be
.yaiufi DELAY Many generals have freely ayowed
tlcir csgerucss 10 take advantage Of opportunities
repeatedly opened TO u, bat invariably neglected.
have heard one iignify perfect conviction Of bis
ability TO march 20 Richmond from he north, with
~ 900 good men. know that another, Of great
fame and admitted skill wond jpylully besege the
rebel capital, from southern point Of attack with
only - coo men. Tic reputation Of these offcera
j. second 70 that of none in the army. They
bayo eaYecially sought, from tine to tine,
lie privilege OF achieving something, which
for some reason that we must presume
to be sufficient, hus always been deuiei them.
The arguments Of opposition ace IN TO come mostly
from officers within the direct influence Of the COM
handing General, who, without ever botraying bis
exact views, has certainly secured the devoted adj
hercnce of many 10 the indications Of lis plans
Appearance now tend % the belief that bis inten-
lions passive, consequently the regular opinions
Of saii-ofcers and such are uniformly Of Tranquil
order; but should a single active impulse proceed
from him Tomorrow, the views Of the majority would
undoubtedly experience sudden revusiop, and the
universal cry would he for the eminent propriey and
discretion of an advance.
IL does not seem very probable that the re9resen-
tatioDs OF the military advocates OF action will re-
.ut according to their wishes-although t appears
little strange that general Of eminent rank and well
proved ability should seek in vain the materials with
which 10 strike blow which he knows he can make
effective against the rebels. There must be some
objection OF enormous weight thus to stife PROPOSE
ton which the nation would hail with delight But
must stir, at present, whatever the contingency or
whatever the promised result.
The pamphlet Of Mr.. Ellet, which IL attracting
considerable attention in New-York excites little
comment here, its opinions having been 80 generally
maintained and expressed 10y others, that they pos
sess no novelty. Some OF its statements, however,
are new, and help to swell u conviction which had
already been accepted by vast numbers Of the COM
munity. While twas not especially needed to move
the minds of military men, il certainly will not in
validate the views of those who have lately become
70 convinced of the necessity for action that, were
not the means positively withheld, they wonld as
sumo the responsibility from which the higher au.
thor,ies shrink, and assa the Rebel POSITIONS what
ever might befall. THIS is not random statement.
know that, but for the Withholding of all essential
means, there would have been before this either
with or without the sanction Of headquarters" a
demonstration against the enemy which would have
caused their fabrc of instruction to trcmble, and
o.er which tho country would have feryenty re-
joiced.