Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-09-18
c l.0t,JaG Mera d.
THURSDAY SEPT. ls, 1862.
WHITTIER ARE WE DRIFTING?

hin WAS really ddTyt despite tue euortS OF
III worthy rulers, it would seem as though
rcent events might justly diss,pate such
1oubs from any rejecting mind and the
~onar we recognize aud accept the unpleas-
~ fact, the greater will be the likelihood of
IN saving ourselves from utter wreck
That we are drifting is svinced by the
aiecison and want of positive, definite pol
iy on the part of the President. When he
pters those hypothetical words -" Ii | could
ave the Union without freeing any slaves |
soud do it," together with the several other
he not betray an entire absence of
sUnclusive decision in regard to any me hod
4 saving the Union?
Alta time which requires that every rope,
Ind pump and sail should be put to instant
md thorough use, our Chief Magistrate im-
so,enty confesses he has not determined
eolicy Again, that We are drifting is shown
by the management of our armies. The
srmy otthe Potomac so grand and imposing
n numbers, in name, In organization and
eruipment, what has it achieved? What but
In di grace and sorrow? o, well may the
nation mourn her dear fallen ones, heroes
mi idols Of many mothers heart But
nore may we mourn our national deteatl
Much has been said against civilians criti-
Grng military chiefs and their movements !;
md It has been assumed on the part of some,
&at the people must say nothing, bat keep
Hill and trust implicitly to the men who are
Aosen as our servants. They would reverse
/ 6e principle of our government, that the
! apvernment is for the people and not the
/ Fope for the government, that public rulers
/ Re the servants OF the people rather than
ia people the servants OF the rulers. But We
aaim that so long as we bear the name of a
1euublic, it is our right and duty as citizens,
b call our public men to a strict judgment at
Be bar of public opinion, and when we cease
B do th. we are lost The intelligent peo-
ne of the country will not therefore cease to
Slge, as history and all the world will do,
y at our great army OF the Potomac and its
nnsula campaign, have not been con-
bcted with that generalship and determina-
bn, which, as exhibited by the rebel chief
/ WINS, wins success to inferior arms
! 81 And of the army of Virginia that promised
! y we'll and lost so much, what is the record
kays a correspondent from the fieldef its dis
&ter: :. There was Encouragement every
Shere, because at headquarters there was
Incompetence, confusion, no settled plans, no
BEAD"
d 1t is because there is incompentence,
5onfusion no settled plans, no head" that
m our national affairs have gone so disas'
/ housy. Instead Of announcing purpose III
fegard to the one primal moving cause OF the
rebellion, which should command the effor
ef every officer and inspire the enthusiasm o.
Rvery soldier, government has left it to thl:
one, that one, and the other, General, Colo
hel, or Captain, as the case might be, to d.
1s he would, provided only that he showed
Als reverence for the "peculiar institution
a To this lack of purpose on the part of the
government in regard to that for which th'
2avehoders rebelled and are now fighting
8e must attribute the cause lot our reverses
& To this complexion we must come at last.
~ And now the question with every serious
Patriotic mind must be, whittier we are drift
4g? To what are we coming? Must w
five up our friends and property, and at las
ur country toos
Shall We wait, in our places, in abject anC
owardly submission, till, not our rulers, bu
our enemies have bound us hand and foot
Forbid it Almighty GodP, The peril of tn
Jour implores US to wait no longer, but t
&al on our rulers to strike with all the fore
u the nation, ere it be tco late, for Libert
Ind right.
8 The heart of the great people is right; br
the conduct of the war be left in the hanc
Bf fpro-savery politicians or comPromisin
Dnonlsts either North or South, the natio
most assuredly lost, and we may prepar
ither for despotism or death
ISAIAH GREENWOOD.
Fairhaven, VT, Sept. 8, 1862.
COMMENTS.
The foregoing communication has bee
lying upon our table for some days awaitiI
foom for publication.
It's somewhat difficult to ascertain from
precisely what the author desires to be don
n his summing up " that our rulers shou
be too late, for liberty and right as a gel
eral proposition. no loyal man will differ wi
him. If he means, as perhaps should be
ferred from the whole letter, that the saly
tion of the country depends upon an imme'
ate proclamation of emancipation to t
slaves, the answer is that by law, approx
[ by President Lincoln, the slaves of all reb
are already con6scated, so far as law C
effect it, and that a proclamation, so far
We are able to s :, would add no new vital
efficacy or putncity to the law, north
south, among bond or free.
Our correspondent complains that the {
minstration has no policy upon the slave
question. The acts of the administratl
must speak for it. We think decided p,
ey may be inferred from them. As we
derstand it, it is this: 1st, emancipation
the slaves Of loyal men with compensate
ihl' measure " Is proposed by the Presid
himself, and approved by Congress; a
further, the President took occasion aft