New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-13
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Appeals for Action.


From our, Special Correspondent
WAsHIsGros, Dec. 10, 1861.
There a re very strong influences at work here in
favor Of a more active policy than that which has
guided the riny since the establishment of the new
military adm Illustration four months ago, there
about. Som of these influences apparent TO the
public, and are daily developed in the reports of
Congressional proceeding through other lees
Official but qually direct mediums. Others are
more quietly urged, and seek to accomplish the
uniyersaly-dea ired resu by means less oircuitouS
than those Of parliamentary routine. Both political
and military ell ments are united in these appeals,
and it Is cur ous illustration of the diversity of
Judgment as res ards the proper employment Of the
vast materials disposal that officers hardly less
high in, rank, sn certainly not less high in public
confidence, than bose who actually control events,
are even now se, king to stimulate the authorities
into an imniediat demonstration Of some sort.
These latter efora have failed to elicit anything
beyond assurances that the military head cannot be
dictated to- What the political efforts may result in
we are all anxiously waiting to see.
Nobody doubts that Senator Hae's assertion yes-
terday in his speech the Judieary-hat the heart
of the country now longs for nothing much for
IA little activity in cur army-is literally true. Pub
lie impotence ID repressed only by the conviction
that real necessity for limiting progress has up
to the present. time existed. This conviction now
wanes and the reticence which de nice any explana-
ton az to why the popular impulse lis So long resisted
is beginning TO rouse inquiry. Whether rightly OF
wrongly, the course of our Generals now provokes
criticism, and skeptic civilians are taking views not
wholly favorable to the theory of military infllDi-
81 Of ,ieAro .
discussions. If the belief should become general
that further action is positively to be deferred until
Spring. discus sion would terminate in serious dis
content. However imperfect the civil appreeia-
ton may be as to military science, common sense
is an attribute which buttons and bullion do not
alone confer; and common sense is quite as com
petent as tactical profundty to decide the ques-
tons Of the eApediency of Fastening or defer
ring operations against the rebels. It tells
us that we have much to lose by prolonged delay,
and that we have not much gain; that the cry for
perfection in drill and sound experience is not TO be
satisfied by the additional practice of weeks or
months, since not these, but long years, are needed
to make a perfect army that the influences OF
Winter life OF inactivity will be all against The en-
thusasn and the spirit of our troops, and not much
in favor Of their future nvinoibility-for Il rs not
drilling and reviewing that make our volunteers
stand fire. but the freshness and impetuosiy OF their
courage and these qualities are not nourished by the
dull regularity of campfe that our soldiers ere not
and will never be- mere mechanical enginss, even If
decades are wasted in the endeayor to MAKE them So
The more the exubsrance and animation Of our men
are chilled the less valuable will they be when
brought ia masses before the enemy ard it Is odd
enough if the leaders have not yet discovered that
the forces of the Union not moled upon the prin-
cple of foreign armies and that the conduct OF orr
war needs to be fashioned accordingly.
The bnebear OF Bull Run is Continually con urad
up Let us have hurried ana untimely on-
peditions. lest we come to grief again is the evsr
lasting wall. Sometime we shall all know the Fuil
Run ean,paign Was not hurried and untimely. ex-
pedilion; that i was rightly planned, anda was
started at the right time, and that only sad delays III
execution lost lis the victory. There is nc more
stupid error than the suppooion That the march of
lac, July WAS premature. If we adopt tbs theory
that we must attempt no progress until orr troops
have become veterans, NJ shall be. m'king
premature" movements IN she year OF grace 1900.
To wait for the full development OF military skill Ne
tore yeu,urrg an advance, is like waang for III
n red inac.lou TO the AIT OF swimming before ever
waling into water. Coplsaon sense, ia defiance of
military profundity, is SVmy convinced that meu
are no more low ready for actiontheh they wera TWO
mouths ago, and that they will bs no rsore rrsiy
three months hence than they are now. IA to the
sos-o6fcicrs if we are to wait until we thoroughly
educate them, without stirring them rso active life
we may as well bsqueath to the next generatou ths
prospect of the Rebel subugation.
Many people fbd great comfort in the consideration
hat delay is IDnstrously disastrous to the rebels
while it less seriously affects ne. Granting that h be
SO, it is painfully pusillanmOus policy upon which
to prosecute our contest. The feline process OF
mouse watching and starving'out is hardly dknifei
enough to command tho admiration OF the world ri
Urge; aud even ii We conquer by it, we ssial fagair
little of the honor which we are supposed to have
lost by previous reverses. We mus, fight the rebel
lion down, and not wat for il to lansush itsel