Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-10
Views of the OhIs conservatives
Fran the Richmord Rnauiyar. 0,t


We are indebted to Mr.. Crockett, of the Powhatan
Rifles, one of the twelve .Richland Mountain sob
dIers, who returned here last Wednesday eYenin :
on parole, for copy Of the Columbus (Ohio) Crisis
of the 10th September, from which we make the
folio wing extracts, The Crisis is conducted by
Samuel Medary, who was for more than twenty
years the editor of the Columbus Statesman and a
distinguished leader of the Democratic party of
Ohio. The articles in the Crisis doubtless express
the views Of the conservative" men of Ohio
PERTINENT QUESTIONS.
The Cincinnati Gazette speaking Of affairs in Mis-
souri, says
In view of the situation in Missouri the Federal
forces having to contend against great odds, we
may inquire why it that Western troops cont ne
to be ordered to Washington. Canno: the East
defend the Capitol? When will Washington be con-
sIdered safe? Are our brave soldiers in the West
to be sacrificed as they we're at SpringfeldyH
These are very pertinent questions, and deserve
the notice of the Government We are little
inclined probably to be captious, yet we are very
SLOW to fed fault with military Generals Their
labOrs gre great and precarious and little ar, mis-
take o. fsilEra in On order may derange or defeat
the greatest Of military projects History is full Of
this and history should n It be Overlooked CT this
time, and we have withheld our pen from the
paper, often, when our modification would have
prompted US to expose the shortcomings not of our
military men, but Of civilians, Who it seemed to u.s.
were wholly Ignorant of their duties, and suffered
- ''ANA
the was not their OWE.
But as the Gazette has opened very iuIporLanL
question, we hope to be excused for intrudipg
remark that will be found in time to be not out Of
place. # Pennsylvania and New York alone can
not f4rGish s0lqers enough 10 defend Washington
City, then We are in vs. thst we are unable to
prosecute successfully. This may seem Ike bold
expression, but is it not so!
We have up to this time been ineredulous as to
the Confederates ever meaning to attack Washing
ton no horn Az hau doe Int
those who CONTROL military and civil matters South,
certainly knew that they could make more out of
the summer campaign bS drawing al! the forces of
the North to that point, than by any other course
Time, with them. was everything and have they
Bot gaiaed it, and at the same time literally over
run the SoathHest2
The Western RirgiAe esTpaigni is still mere fruit
less. 1t has been little else VI either party that a
conquest of mountains and deep valley 1rE. which
both armies must retreat on the approach of winter,
and that is now close upon
Gen. Lyon fully compreheuded his expedition, as
be WGs familiar with its importance, and had some
attention been directed that quarter in time in
stead of TO Fortress Monroe and Washington city,
our Western affairs would be in very different atti-
tude. 1t is true that Gen Hog made demOnstra-
ton on Birds Point and Cairo but il vas easily to
be seen that it was feint to draw General
FremOnts attention, while Gen. Lyon and his brave
band Eere made the victims. So sensible were we
of this, for We ynow the country we'll that we So
HClIed some OuS acre. VnoSe word would have au
thOrity, to telegraph Fremont to let Birds Point
alone, and look after Gen. Lyon, adding that "any
General who had sense enough to cross the Missis-
sippi with his army had eco mpch sense to attack
Bird Point and Cairo"
Some two weeks followed and Gen. Lyon wGs
the victim, and his fascinated army on the retreat
Birds Point was not attacked, and Gen. Pillow re-
tired to Tennessee.
Now where are we? We have scarcely the cour,
age to tell cur readers where we are. Had the
money and time been spent in sending aid to Gen.
Lyon, that have been spent in a hQmbug AOtilla
Gen Lyon would now be in possession of Fort
Smith, holding all Missouri, Kansas and the whole
Indian country in check, instead of in his grave in
Connecticut Now all is for the present lost, ard
Kentucky likely to give US as much want to
do tor few weeks.
Less than two hundred Thousand men cannot now
do what twenty-five thousand might have done two
months ago. As much as we have objected to the
manner in which this war was brought upon US,
and as great as was cur desire to see the whole
power, patriotism and intaleGt of the country put
in motion to test first peaceable solution of
most sad national troubles; yet, so far as was ne
cessary, and to the extent TO which we may be
forced into it, land we should have persisted in be-
ing on the side of "being fOrced,"O we desire it
conducted so as to be creditabIe to our army and
honorable to our people, for we have reputation
to preserve well as acquire, and at the same time
a country to save.
We should carry with Us the power Of public