Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-12-13

ture. In the exercise of my best discre
ton ] have adhered to the blockade Q
the ports held by the insurgents, instea,
Of putting in force by proclamation thu
law of Congress enacted at the late SEES
sion for closing those ports. 50, also
obeyng the dictates Of prudence as wei
as the obligations of law, instead OF tran
seending, have adhered to the act o.
Congress to conGscate property used ioI
insurrectionary purposes. Ii new la"
upon the same subject shall be proposed
its propriety shall be duly consid'
cred. The Union must be preserved
and hence all dsposable means mus
be employed. We should not lie il
haste to determine that radical and eX
IRENE measures, which may reach the
loyal as well as the disloyal, are inGis-
pensable.
The inaugural address at the begin
ming of the administration, and the mes
sage to Congress at the late special ses-
sion, were both mainly devoted to the
domestic controversy, out of which the
insurrection and consC qnent war have
sprung. Nothing now occurs to add or
subtract, TO or from, the principles or
general purposes stated and expressed in
those documents.
REVIEW OF THE WAR.
Tie last ray of hope for preserving
the Union peaceably, expired at the as
sault upon Fort Sumter; and general
review of what has occurred since, may
not be Improbable. What was painfully
uncertain then, is much better defined
aud more distinct now, and the progress
Of events Is plainly in the ight direc-
ton.
Tue insurgents confidently clamed a
strong support from the north Of Mason
and Dixou's line, aud the friends Of the
Union were not free from apprehension
on the point. This, however, was soon
eettled definitely, aud on the right side
South of the line, noble little Deleware
led off right from the first. Maryland
was made to seem against the Union
Our soldiers were assaulted, bridges were
burned and railroads torn up within her
fimits, and we were many days at one
time without the ability TO bring a single
regiment over her soil to the capital.
New her bridges and railroads are re-
fsired and open to the government. She
already gives seven regiments to the
cause of the Union, and none TO the enc
my; and her people at regular election
have sustained the Union by a larger
majority and larger aggregate vote than
they ever before gave TO any candidate
or any question. Kentucky, too, for
some time in doubt, is now decidedly, and
think unchangeably ranged on the sid,
of the Unicn. Missouri is comparative
ly quiet, aud | believe cannot again be
overrun by the insurrectionists. These
three states of Maryland, Kentucky and
Missouri, neither of which would prom
ise single soldier at first, have now an
aggregate of not less than forty thousand
in the field for the Union, while OF their
citizens certainly not more than third
of the number, and, and they Of doubt
full Whereabouts and doubtful existence,
are in arms against it. After some
what 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 1900, for months dominating the
narrow peninsular region constituting the
counties of Accomac and Northampton
and known rs the eastern shore Of Nir'
ginia, together with some contiguous part:
of Maryland have laid down their arms
and the people there have renewed theil
allegiance TO and accepted the protection
Of the old flag. This leaves no arme(
instruction North of the Potomac o.
east Of the Chesapeake. Also We have
obtained footing at each of tie isolated
points on the Southern coast OF Hatlera
Port Royal, Tybee Island, near Savan
nah, and Ship Island and we likewise
have some general accounts Of popular
movements in behalf of the Union il
North Carolina and Tennessee.
These things demonstrate that thu
course of the Union is advancing steadil,
southwark.
TIE RETIREMENT or GEN. SCOTT.
Since your last adjournment Lieut.
Gen. Scott has retired from the head q
the army. During his long life the na
ton has not been uumindlul Of his merit
yet on calling 10 mind how faithfully
ably and brilliantly he has served III
country from a time far back in our hi-