The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-12-19
The signs of the Fumes.

, of the fitness of things. We have constantly
counseed patience and confidence III The Patrl-
ct;sm of the men we had elected to sl the high
places of the government While almost the en-
lire western press were clamoring for the DIS
missal of Secretary Cameron, we urged upon
our readers the propriety Of trusting httle
longer to the prudence and good Judgment oil
The President. believing that if there were such
incapacity OF dishonesty in the Secretary OF
War, as was claimed the President would be
the first to discover it and act accordingly. The
sequel has met our most sanguine expectations.
Secretary Cameron has come out OF the ordeal
through which he was then passing, seven times
purified. Those who clamored the loudest for
his dismissal are now the loudest in his praise.
They are the very ones who now declare that
he is the only member of the Cabinet who takes
the true ground in the conduct Of the War
This one example has convinced US that we
should not be too hasty in passing sentence OF
condemnation upon appearances. But notwIth-
standing our hopefulness and trustfulness and
unwihngness to find fault, we must confess
entirely disheartened us.
| We read of the marshalling Of the grandest
army the world ever saw-almost 700 900 men,
armed and equipped, at the expense of humid
reds of milions-of the gathering together
of a wonderful fleet of vessels and ships
of war, at another almost fabulous expense,
and army, navy and all seem to sit down, and
lie at anchor in the most iuexplicabe listless
ness and inactivity. Everywhere, the great
object seems to be to do nothing. Ships laden
with munitions OF var, clothing and I'll other
necessaries enter first one southern port and
then another, and leave as often with cargoes
of cotton, in spite Of Blockading fleets and the
whole combined navy, and pirates and priva-
teers prey upon commerce, taking prize after
prize with perfect mpunity A cursory glance
over the country will convince anybody that
our picture Of inac:ion is not overdrawn.
In Missouri, since the removal of Gen. Ere
mont, nothing has been done but to give up
about half the State to the undisputed sway Of
the rebels and to permit them to go on robbing
| pillaging and murde,ing Union men, without
even the fear of retrioution, while the Federal
forces are quietly going into winter quarters
At Cairo, the army has been employed for
number of weeks, in preparing its winter quar-
ters We were Hattered awhile with the pros
poet of an expedition down the Mississippi, but
any such idea is now rather sneered at as Wis
ionary and improbable. In Kentucky the army
has not yet got settled for the winter. The
troops there have apparently not been in the
field long enough to learn the donothing policy
to perfection.
| In Western Virginia, there seems to be a
fraction of the army that is still active.
The Grand Army of the Potomac the oldest
and strongest-an army of 300, 900 men, who
should equal, by this time, regulars and veter-
ans-has settled down apparently in the most
apathetic quietude. We hear occasionally of a
review of one division another by Mrs. Lin
coin or somebody else, while the rebels approach
and look on, OF take the opportunity to shoot q
sentry Or capture picket guard, or seize pro.
vision train. 1t is stated that during the grand
review Of sore 900 Federal troops by Gen
Mcclellan ard President Lincoln that some q,
600 mounted cavalry approached aud took 1
look at the Review. Afterwards they retired
unmoested.
But the worst feature Of the whole do-nothinG
picture is that at Port Royal drawn by Genera
Sherman. There was every provision made To-
a successful! southern campaign. Comma dor
Dupont did his duty nobly, landing the army
! ,lr !.
persed the only force III that section of the State
1t seemed, really, as if there was nothing to pre-
vent march upon Savannah and Charleston.
The country was looking for great things from
that expedition. But Gen. Sherman sat down
without ever taking possession of Bea ufort tina
was utterly abandoned by ali but the slaves. and
waited for the enemy to rally, erect batteries
burn cotton collect slaves and send them inlanC
without making a movement. Probably in NJ
anticipated result since the war begun have tho
American people been SO utterly disappointed
as in that With the hope Of the most glor
GUS results and Of striking the rebels i'll mos
vital part, and weakening, effectualiy, their army
on the Potomac, aud opening the way for
grand forward movement, we have had to come
down to the contemplation OF the merest abOr
tive attempt
Such are the thoughts that struggling 70,
expression IN millions of loyal hearts to-day
1t may be that everything is being done thai
can be, but intense anxiety and solitude thai
every patriot feels, cannot help but suggest
doubts and questlonIngS. We hope for the best
yet fear that the temporizing, hestating policy
that seems to be becoming more and more ap.
parent in every Department, viii work 10 good
to the cause that we all have AT heart-the
crushing out of this wicked rebellion and the
restoration of the Union.
We have cried patience and trust to our
readers, under the most discouraging prospects
and we still say cherish those Virtues. We have
the fullest faith in the Patriotism and loyalty Of
the Administration. Il may be that it is taking
the best and most speedy method Of conquering
a peace, but the people naturally look for more
apparent activity They are ready to furnish
the men and the means necessary to carry on
this war; but they grow FESTIVE under the ap-
parent wasting of those meal in dilatoriness or
indecision.
| 1t may be. that before this paper is distribu-
ted to our subscribers some forward movement
may be made, that viii, give an entire new and
more favorable aspect to affairs, and make what
We have here said seem oat of place None
would rejoice over such change more heartily
than we. Hoping that such may be the case
we still await with hone some new devotion.