The New York herald., 1862-01-16

tnan that OF Napoleon against Russia, and the
preparation has been more rapid than that for
any other campaign on large scale recorded
In history. Six months have not yet passed
away since General Mcclellan was called to
Washington and the first serious preparations
were made. Till after the battle of Bull run
the necessity of such preparations was not
demonstrated The energy of Mcclellan saved
Washington and organized a mighty army out
of raw materials. Everything had to be pro-
vided. The federal arms and ammunition had
been stolen by the rebels, through the conni-
vance of Buchanan and the traitOrous members
of his Cabinet. The rebellion had been in pre-
paration for ten years. The loyal States of the
North were taken by surprise. Upwards of
year ago we warned the government of the
danger. We were laughed at even in Congress.
1t was not till towards the close Of last July
that the nation was aroused to the vast dimen-
sions of the war in which it was engaged. The
legitimate object of the war is to conquer a
peace. But that can only be done by decisive
battles. II is for these Mcclellan is preparing
Any other battles are useless; nothing results
from them but mutual destruction. Many such
battles have already been fought, and hundred
more Of the same kind might be fought without
affecting the grand issue. 1t is not mere tight
ing that is wanted, but to make the fighting de-
cisive. 1t is in this that the true general is
Seen; for it can only be achieved by strategical
combinations, and its accomplishment requires
time, especially where the theatre of war is so
extensive, and the nature Of the country so
difficult. General Mcclellan, like all great
generals, desires to save the needless efusion
of blood. The Satanic, bloodthirsty crew, of
whom the Tribune is the organ, are more anxious
for vengeance and blood than for the ultimate
triumph of the Union arms That journal says
we are not playing game of chess with the
South. But, according to the highest military
authorities, that is just the game that illustrates
the art of war; and we have reason to believe
rebellion checkmate. And though the board is
three thousand miles wide, now that change
in the War Department has put at its head a
Carnot, "organizer of victory" who will be in
perfect accord and harmony with the Command
er-in-Chief, the operations of the army will be
80 expedited that the game will be won far
sooner than the ignorant and impatient imagine.
Mcclellan is not ready yet to advance
from Washington, nor will it, perhaps, be ever
necessary that he should give battle on the
Potomac. That river is not now the true base
of operations, but the Mississippi, Tennessee,
Cumberland and Green are. Washington is an
intrenched camp-a great military depot for
nd vonui<iono Of wa ROW1-
ing Green and Nashville just now are of more
Importance than Manassas and Richmond. Field
Marshal Greeley would have Mcclellan begin
| by rushing from the Potomac upon the impreg-
nable position of the enemy at Manassas. But
Mcclellan knows his profession better than that
Instead of beginning with Manassas, he will
probably end with the scene Of our former defeat,
and instead of advancing upon it from the line Of
the Potomac, his blows will come from direc-
ton which will not only insure victory, but
make it a conclusive battle destroying the
whole force of the enemy, and cutting off all
chance of retreat.
We hope, therefore, that General Mcclellan
before he is ready, and that the President and
his Cabinet will sustain him in his course, espe-
cially in view of the fact that next month the
period of enlistment in the Southern army for
one year shall have expired, and great numbers
of the rebels will refuse to re-enlist. Meantime
it is the duty of Congress to replenish an
empty treasury, and sustain the government by
such vigorous and comprehensive fnancial
| measures as the magnitude of the war for the
Union demands.
The News from Vera Cruz-Spain's Inva-
sion OF Mexico.
The news from Mexico which we published
yesterday has awakened fresh interest in the af
fairs of that country, and fully confirmed our
anticipations Of the resistance which the popu-
lation would offer to European invasion. A
| general uprising of the people, and determine
ton to defend all the cities and towns of the in
terror to the last. bid defiance to the invaders;
and the prospect of hundred and fifty thou
sand men being soon in the field, to give battle
to their opponents, augurs badly for the latter.
| The unanimity of the people of all parties, in
joining together against the common enemy, is
only second to the uprising at the North after
the bombardment Of Fort Sumter, and we may
| look for stirring news from Mexico for some
considerable time to come
| The announcement that the Spanish
| feet had sailed from Havana, and ar
| rived at and taken possession of Vera
| Cruz in advance of her allies, created
considerable surprise in Europe, where the
proceeding although generally attributed to a
mistake on the part of the naval officer in com
mand, was by many more seriously regarded as
a deliberate plan to steal march on England
| and France, for some reason best known to the
government at Madrid We have reason to be-
lieve, however, that the advance movement in
question was neither the result of mistake
nor of duplicity towards the other Powers, but
of a preconcerted scheme, promoted by France
and acquiesced in by England.